Irakusamaru 77 Posted October 10, 2015 Would anyone be able to point me to a resource that explains how the heyas work? That is, how they're funded and the benefits they receive from having good wrestlers and the politics of the ichimon? I can find information online about most of the workings of the sumo world, but not this! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 34,809 Posted October 10, 2015 I have nothing about how they work and haven't updated the page for over 15 years, but some of the funding is explained. http://www.achimp.de/kyuukin2.htm#oyakata 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Irakusamaru 77 Posted October 10, 2015 Thanks, that's definitely the kind of thing I'm looking for! Are the oyakata amounts there yearly or monthly? Is the basho bonus solely for the head of the heya? And would that bonus move with a change of name or would it stay with the name? I'm thinking of the Miyagino kabu in that last case - would the bonus for Hakuho have gone to the (current) Miyagino-oyakata while he was Kumagatani-oyakata? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 34,809 Posted October 10, 2015 (edited) Oyakata get so far monthly salaries and the heya are part of the sumo kyokai. With the new corporate status of the sumo kyokai they had announced that the heya will be independent and the oyakata raises the rikishi for the sumo kyokai, with a new type of contract that is neither employment nor delegation, but some special one. I haven't found any details reported/published about that yet so far. The basho bonus for raising sekitori is only for the individual oyakata, like the rikishi has his merit bonus, it stays with him also when he changes the name of the heya or merges another heya into his. Hakuho and Miyagino is an interesting question. Anybody knew that the now sacked Kumagatani was only the shisho by name. When he acquired the heya, it was made clear by the riji-cho that responsible for Hakuho was "so far Kumagatani (the present and former Miyagino), from now on Kumagatani". The bonus for that would also influence the retirement money for the oyakata. Ex-Kumagatani now gets none anyway. The 2nd and at least as important source of funding for a heya are the koenkai, the supporters group they have, some have them at several different locations - and the tanimachi, the sponsors - wealthy individuals or firms, as part of the koenkai or in addition. Often from members of the koenkai or through their activities come food donations (food is a very big part in the heya expenses), mostly by locals at the place the heya is located or stays - and also the providing of (usually) free lodgings at out of Tokyo basho and jungyo. Edited October 10, 2015 by Akinomaki 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Irakusamaru 77 Posted October 10, 2015 The situation with Hakuho makes sense. The whole NSK structure is fascinating! As for koenkai, I was looking at the Otake-beya website last week and wondering how much I'd need to spend to possibly get ringside (well, dohyo-side) seats if I was going to be Japan for a basho again. Thanks again for the info. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
