Asojima

The connection?? J4 Ohirayama from Tochige prefecture retired in 1947 and acquired the Yamashina kabu as part of the Kasugano heya. He remained there until 1975. The string of Tochi.... shikona for the heya started in 1950. Was Yamashina in charge of assigning shikona to the new recruits?

I haven't seen a direct connection to Tochigi. We may be back to the Brocaded Chestnut.

What the Ho? The Ho (鵬) used in many shikona has the meaning of a giant bird. In China, it is pronounced Peng and is usually connected to a myth involving a monster bird of questionable ancestry. Outside China, it retains its base meaning of a large bird and is usually translated as the Arabian terms of Phoenix, the immortal bird, or Roc, an enormous strong bird. This is the Ho used in Hakuho and 52 other shikona. To complicate things, there is another Ho (鳳), also pronounced as Otori. This one appears in 63 shikona and has the meaning of the mythical male Chinese firebird (Feng) or phoenix. It is found in Shohozan and Chiyootori. For our translation purposes, the first Ho (鵬) will be the Roc, and the second Ho (鳳) will be the Phoenix.

First cut on the new sekitori: Ko-toku-zan - Rugged Austere Mountain Hoku-sei-ho - Northern Blue Phoenix Asa-shi-yu - Dawn - Inspirational Hero Asa-no-waka - Dawn - Youth Hira-do-umi - Peaceful Door Sea - Hirado, Nagasaki is his home town.

A breakthrough! We have discovered that "Tochi" should be translated as "Protege of Yokozuna Tochinishiki". Work has started on updating the list of translations.

In the initial discussions for setting up our little project, we decided to have some fun with the full shikona translations. These are intended to be artistic entries using a lot of poetic license. The connection between the full translations and the mundane character-for-character translation of the shikona is intentionally marginal and playful. Critical analysis of these entries should be done with a few handfulls of salt.

Tochi (栃 ) is problematic. It is a very obscure character that somehow became connected to Tochige prefecture. It is probably one of the old phonetic linkages that have nothing to do with the character's meaning. The prefectural name got carried over into some early shikona. The real problem is in its true meaning. If its meaning were simply horse or orchid, no one would see a need for a some strange manipulation of its translation. I am willing to live with the old chestnut. I would accept shortening it to chestnut for translation purposes. Note: Tochinoshin received his shikona at MZ time. He wasn't the heart of the heya at that time.

Go for it! Most of this work was done over about a 2 week period. A lot of it was done quick and dirty, and there is a need for some cleanup and afterthoughts. It is still a work in progress. Additional inputs are more than welcome.

The day is coming when the USD will be doing worse than the Canadian dollar. Don't look for either to improve.

Maru (丸) is kind of interesting. The Chinese view it as a ball. The Japanese view it as round or rotund. They also use it as a suffix for ship names and military hardware. Its use in shikona could denote a person who is round and rotund (Chiyomaru ) , a monstrous object in motion or a major weapon. Edit: Many of the Maru shikona seem to treat this as a domain.

The mountain was named Fuji before the Japanese started using Chinese characters for its Kanji. The characters for Fu-Ji were used for its name because they sounded like the existing name. The 富士 used in some of the shikona could, in fact, be a reference to Mt. Fuji, but the meaning of the specific characters remains as the aforementioned gentleman.

One of the guys that I kept wanting to return, but knew deep down that it wouldn't happen.

The real problem is that Moti put too many "U"s in the invitation.

A word to the wise: Never participate in a project suggested by an octogenarian. He will do 15% of the work in the suggestion. You will do 85% of the work in the participation. Tremendous job done by Seiyashi-zeki.

Beginner's Guide to Common Shikona Kanji A/Yasu (安) Peaceful. Ex. Aminishiki, Takayasu 174 A/O (阿) Nook. (Usually a Phonetic). Used by Onamatsu Heya. Ex. Amuru 95 Ara/Ko (荒) Rough/Rude Ex. Arawashi, Kotokuzan 214 Asa (朝) Dawn. Used by Takasago Heya Ex. Asashoryu 245 Asahi/Kyoku (旭) Dawn. Used by Oshima and Tomozona Heya. Ex. Asahifuji, Kyokushuzan 162 Azuma/To (東) East. Used by Tomanoi Heya. Ex. Azumaryu, Tochiazuma, Tohakuryu 228 Ba/Ma (馬) Horse. Ex. Kiribayama, Chiyoshoma, Harumafuji, Ama 97 Chiyo (千代) A Thousand Generations. Used by Kokonoe Heya. Ex. Chiyonofuji 124 Conveys the concept of eternal. Dai/Tai/O (大) Large. Ex. Daishoho, Taiho. Osunaarashi 1216 Dewa (出羽) Feathered Departure. Used by Dewanoumi Heya. Ex. Dewanosato 95 In practice, a phonetic reference to an ancient Japanese province. Do (道) Road or Way (Doctrine). Ex. Goeido 59 Fuji (富士) Prosperous Gentlemen. Used by Iseghama Heya. Ex. Hokutofuji 333 Often a phonetic reference to Mt. Fuji Fuji/Do/To (藤) Wisteria. Usually part of real name. Ex.Endo 625 Ga/Ki (牙) Ivory. Ex. Gagamaru, Toki 11 Haku/Shira (白) White. Ex. Hakuho, Shiraishi 127 Hana (花) Flower. Ex. Takanohana 472 Haru/Kasu (春) Springtime. Ex. Harunoyama, Tamakasuga 81 Hi/Ga/Haru (日) Sun/Day. Ex. Kotokasuga, Hitachiryu, Harumafuji 201 Ho (鵬) Giant Bird (Roc, Phoenix or Peng). Ex. Hakuho, Kyokushuho 56 Ishi/Shi/Jaku/Iwa/Seki (石) Rock/Stone. Ex. Ishiura 277 Iwa (岩) Rock/Crag. Ex. Iwakiyama, Takanoiwa 426 Kai (魁) Leader. Used by Asakayama and Tomozuna Heya. Ex. Kaio 95 Kaku/Tsuru/Zuru (鶴) Crane. Used by Izutsu Heya. Ex. Kakuryu 173 Kawa/Gawa (川) River. Usually part of real name. 1024 Kaze/Te (風) Wind. Ex. Yoshikaze, Hayateumi 241 Kiri (霧) Fog. Used by Michinoku Heya. Ex. Kiribayama 36 Kita/Hoku (北) North. Used by Hakkaku Heya. Ex. Kitanofuji. Hokutofuji 314 Ko/Hikari (光) Bright, Shining. Ex. Kotoeko, Hoshihikari 260 Koto (琴) Japanese Zither (Harp). Used by Sadagotake Heya. Ex. Kotonowaka 505 Kuni (国) Nation. Ex. Chiyonokuni 127 Maru (丸) Sphere / (Domain). Ex. Chiyomaru 115 Mi/Chura/Bi (美) Beautiful. Ex. Aminishiki, Churanoumi 94 Moto (本) Source/Base. Ichiyamamoto 404 Nada/Yo (洋) Ocean Ex. Tochinonada 236 Nishiki (錦) Brocade/Success. Ex. Aminishiki 658 O (王) King. Ex. Oho 92 O (皇) Ruling/Leader. Ex. Kaio 25 O (欧) Europe. Used by Naruto Heya. Ex. KotoOshu Otori/Ho (鳳) Phoenix. Ex. Chiyootori, Shohozan 65 Riki (力) Strength. Ex. Takatoriki 141 Ryu (龍) Dragon. Ex.Hoshoryu, Myogiryu 611 Ryu (竜) Dragon. Ex. Ryuden 230 Sato (里) Source/Home. Ex. Kisenosato 234 Shima/Jima (島) Island. Ex. Toyonoshima, Wajima 441 Sho/Matsu (松) Pine. Usually a real name. Ex. Shohozan, Matsutani 400 Sho/Tobi (翔) To Soar. Used by Oitekaze Heya. Ex. Daieisho, Tobizaru 117 Taka (貴) Noble. Ex. Takanohana, Takakeisho 85 Taka (高) High. Ex. Takayasu 439 Taka/Ryu (隆) Prosperity. Used by old Norito Heya. Ex. Takanowaka 86 Tama/Gyoku (玉) Jade. Used by Kataonami Heya.Ex. Tamawashi, Asagyokusei 336 Ten/Ama/A (天) Sky or Heaven. Ex. Keitenkai, Amakaze, Akua 242 Teru/To (照) Shine. Ex. Terunofuji 79 To/Sho/Katsu/Kachi (勝) Victory. Ex. Hokutofuji, Tokushoryu, Shonanzakura, Kachikoshi 179 Tochi (栃) Horse Chestnut Tree. Japanese variant of an obscure Chinese character. 237 Used by Kasugano Heya. Ex. Tochinoshin Tori/Ho (鳳) Phoenix. Ex. Shimotori, Shohozan 65 Toyo/Yutaka/Ho/Bu/To (豊) Abundant. Used by Tokitsukaze. Ex. Toyonoshima, Yutakayama, Hoshoryu 170 Tsukasa/Shi/Ji (司) Caretaker. Ex. Sagatsukasa 76 Umi/Kai/A (海) Sea or Ocean. Ex. Mitakeumi, Keitenkai, Akua 744 Waka (若) Youth. Ex. Takanowaka, Wakanohana 769 Washi/Shu (鷲) Eagle. Ex. Tamawashi, Kyokushuzan 64 Yama/Zan (山) Mountain. Ex. Akiseyama, Kyokushuzan 3117 Zakura/O (桜) Cherry Blossom. Ex. Shonanzakura, Kagamio 153 Translators for Kanji and Chinese. The characters are pronounced differently, but have the same meaning. Good reference for Kanji, Kata and Hiragana. The Doits DB is your friend. To find the kanji used in a shikona, find the shikona in the DB, and then switch the display to Japanese to get the kanji. The kanji can be copied and pasted. To find all shikona that have used a given kanji character, copy the character, ex. 豊 . Go to the Doits DB. Hit Rikishi. Paste the character in the shikona slot surrounded by asterisks, ex. *豊* . Hit Find Rikishi. This can also be done for lists like Waka*, *Waka and *Waka*. Heya links: Several heya have many rikishi with the same single kanji imbedded in their shikona. Most are derived from the active shikona used by a retired rikishi who acquired the kabu/shisho of the heya: Asakayama – Kai (魁) Derived from Ozeki Kaio (from Tomozuna heya). 14 Hakkaku – HokuTo (北勝) Derived from Yokozuna Hokutoumi. 58 Irumagawa – Tsukasa/Shi (司) Derived from Sekiwake Tochitsukasa 44 Isegahama – Fuji (富士) Derived friom Yokozuna Asahifuji 50 Izutsu – Kaku/Tsuru (鶴) Derived from M2 Tsurugamine 46 Kasugano - Tochi (栃) Derived from Yokozuna Tochigiyama. Tochigi Prefecture 198 Kataonami - Tama (玉) Derived from Sekiwake Tamanoumi 144 Kokonoe - Chiyo (千代) Derived from Yokozuna Chiyonoyama. 103 Michinoku – Kiri (霧) Derived from Ozeki Kirishima. Probably from Mount Kirishima 20 in Kagoshima Prefecture (Shusshin) Naruto – O (欧) Derived from Ozeki Kotooshu. From kanji for Europe. 13 Naruto (old) – Taka (隆) Derived from Yokozuna Takanosato 33 Oguruma – Kaze (風) Derived from Ozeki Kotokaze 76 Oitekaze - Daisho (大翔) Derived from Maegashira 2 Daishoyama 36 Oshima - Asahi/Kyoku (旭) Derived from Ozeki Asahikuni. Probably from Mt. Asahidake 104 in Asahikuni's shusshin. Oshiogawa – Kaze (風) Derived from Sekiwake Takekaze (from Oguruma heya) Sadagotake - Koto (琴) Derived from Komusubi Kotonishiki. Probably from Mt. Kotohiki 473 in Kotonishiki's shusshin. Sakaigawa – Sada (佐田) Derived from Yokozuna Sadanoyama 18 Takasago - Asa (朝) Derived from Ozeki Asashio 105 Tamanoi - Azuma (東) Derived from Sekiwake Tochiazuma (Ozeki Tochiazuma's father). 77 Tokitsukaze – Toyo/Yutaka (豊) Derived from Ozeki Yutakayama 52 Tomozuna – Kai (魁) Derived from Sekiwake Kaiki. 47 Tomozuna - Kyoku (旭) Derived from Sekiwake Kyokutenho (from Oshima heya). 12 Dewanoumi – Dewa (出羽) Dewa was an ancient province in Northwest Honshu 78 Names and Places: Many shikona contain placename references or parts of the rikishi's real name. Characters with strange meanings are often, but not always, these kinds of references. Check the rikishi's real name and shusshin for them. Frequently seen placenames and real names: Aki (安芸) (Peaceful art) from Aki Province, Hiroshima Pref. 28 Ara/Ko (荒) (Rough/Rude) from the Ara River (荒川) that flows through Tokyo. The banks of the river are the source of the clay used to build the dohyo. Asahi (旭) (Dawn) from Mt. Asahidake (Mt. Asahi), Kamikawa Pref., Hokkaido Dewa (出羽) (Departing Feather) from Dewa Province, Honshu Fuji (富士) (Prosperous gentleman) from Mt. Fuji Higo (肥後) (Fertile) from Higo Province, Kumamoto Pref. 24 Iwa (岩) (Rock) Northern Japan: 1 Prerfecture, 2 old provinces and 2 Mountains. Kiri (霧) (Misty/fog) from Mt. Kirishima, Kagoshima Pref. Koto (琴) (Zither/harp) from Mt. Kotohibiki, Kanonji City, Kagawa Pref. Musashi (武蔵) (Armory) from Musashi Province (Tokyo area) 99 Mutsu (陸奥) (Interior land) from Mutsu Province, Honshu 59 Tochi (栃) (Horse chestnut Tree) From Tochigi Prefecture Tosa (土佐) (Earth assistant ) from Tosa Province, Kochi Pref. 39 To/Sho (大和 / 倭) (Great serenity) from Yamato Province. Nara Pref. 31/8 ….nosato (の里) (Hometown) XXXXnosato. Frequently hometown town of XXXX. 147 ….umi/kai (海) Many shikona ending with umi/kai begin with a location or real name. 616 Matsu/sho (松) (Pine tree) Often part of the rikishi's real name There are some short term tweaks to the original entries containing some corrections and updates. They may prove useful during the period that the original entries are being revised. Last updated 2/13/22.

I've been retired since July 2001. Still looking for something to do.

Usually because the concept has been evolving over a century or two.

The kanji for Shishi could be read as a great pride of lions. Sounds klutzy, but has an acceptable meaning.

Tough one. The easy part is that it is his given name. The hard part is the kanji means something like "exploding a collection of equestrians" If I were forced to give a translation, it would probably be "A thundering herd of horses (horsemen)."

Little seashore

and then prepare for the transgender controversies to start up.

What was the olympic sport that his father medalled in? This may have been his way of honoring his late father. It was one of his olympic goals.

Replace the sagari with a colorful flag.

That may give Shonanzakura a chance to do some degeiko.

Why did you parachute into a jail?