Kintamayama 47,114 Posted December 28, 2002 Hi! Ichinoya, the world's oldest active rikishi, is 42 today. If you are inclined, please drop him a line at: wakamatsu@mue.biglobe.ne.jp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fujisan 533 Posted December 28, 2002 Is that the Rikishi from the second from bottom division,the one Sid Hoare talked about? Was he ever in the Makuuchi division? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoseiya Yuichi 3 Posted December 28, 2002 Is that the Rikishi from the second from bottom division,the one Sid Hoare talked about? Was he ever in the Makuuchi division? The same man. His highest rank ever is Sandanme 6 (#197 or #198 (of about 800 rikishi) depending on his tozai (east/west) rank) where he was ranked in July 1991. To repeat the number of rikishi in each division (in January 2003): Makuuchi, 40 Juryo, 26 Makushita, 120 Sandanme, 200 Jonidan, 220 Jonokuchi, 68* * Varying number from basho to basho. Total number of rikishi is currently 674. That's unusually low, isn't it? I think it used to be over 800 at some point. Also that 220 sounds strange. Wasn't it 300 at some time? I'm digressing... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubiquitoyama 4 Posted December 28, 2002 Jonidan, 220Jonokuchi, 68* * Varying number from basho to basho. Total number of rikishi is currently 674. That's unusually low, isn't it? I think it used to be over 800 at some point. Also that 220 sounds strange. Wasn't it 300 at some time? I'm digressing... Note that Jonidan is also varying from basho to basho and is indeed very low right now. In May 1998 for example, there were as many as 841 rikishi, of whom 348 were ranked as Jonidan. I don't think the number has been as low as it is now for at least a decade. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zentoryu 154 Posted December 28, 2002 In following the lower divisions since Doitsuyama began posting the results to the SML about a year ago, I've noticed that getting a KK in Jonokuchi *almost* always guarantees a promotion to Jonidan. This is probably the best explanation for why the size of Jonidan varies from basho to basho. Though this basho, the chief reason appears to be all the retirements that occured after Kyushu. Some 25 rikishi retired/dropped off the banzuke with only 7 newcomers/returnees replacing them, a number drop off similar to what occcured after the Aki basho. This means that in the last two basho alone we've gone from 709 rikishi ranked on the banzuke to just 674. That's a loss of about 17 banzuke ranks. Doitsuyama seemed to think that this number will be even lower next basho. A sign of Sumo's declining popularity? (But, but...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubiquitoyama 4 Posted December 29, 2002 This means that in the last two basho alone we've gone from 709 rikishi ranked on the banzuke to just 674. That's a loss of about 17 banzuke ranks. Doitsuyama seemed to think that this number will be even lower next basho. A sign of Sumo's declining popularity? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoseiya Yuichi 3 Posted December 29, 2002 The reason is, as I understand it, that because of the Japanese school system, most rikishi who finishes school comes in to the March basho, and therefore is first ranked on the banzuke in May. This is my understanding as well. This is even reflected in the course of Haru Basho in Osaka. Usually the debutants are introduced to the public in nakabi (middle Sunday of the tournament) wearing borrowed kesho-mawashi in a ceremony called shinjo shusse hiro. Because of the high number of new deshi in March, the usual single-day ceremony is spread over three separate days (8, 9 & 10). Then there's still another occasion on senshuraku. For more about the ceremony (also called ichiban shusse), see Peter Parbrook's and Doreen Simmons's messages on SML. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
