Structure of Power in Sumo

[Guest japanjane]

Hey all,

I have been reading this board for a while now. You all know so much!! Finally something has been bugging me so much that I just had to join and post my question.

So Asashoryus oyakata is also the head of the Nihon Sumo Kyokai right? So does that mean that he submitted fraudulent papers to himself? Was he one of the people who decided his as well as Asas punishments. I guess my confusion is about the power structure(s?) in Sumo; the chain of command as well as responsibilities and the like. And how does the Yokozuna counsel factor into all this?? What are the relationships between these organizations? What are each of their duties?

I don

[Kotonosato]

So Asashoryus oyakata is also the head of the Nihon Sumo Kyokai right?

Wrong.

Takasago is just another oyakata. You're confusing him with Kitanoumi, the chairman.

Someone else can explain the structure much better than I can.

[kaiguma]

So Asashoryus oyakata is also the head of the Nihon Sumo Kyokai right? So does that mean that he submitted fraudulent papers to himself? Was he one of the people who decided his as well as Asas punishments. I guess my confusion is about the power structure(s?) in Sumo; the chain of command as well as responsibilities and the like. And how does the Yokozuna counsel factor into all this?? What are the relationships between these organizations? What are each of their duties?

I don

[Asojima]

Probably the best place to answer many of your questions is the Oyakata Gallery. If you go through several of the charts there, you will get a pretty good idea of how the Kyokai or Japan Sumo Association is structured and who is in it. Next you can go to the Beya Guide to get the other half of the organizational structure involving the rikishi, their stables and the heads of the stables. Note that the oyakata who run the stables are the same people who run the Kyokai.

After you digest these two sites, I am sure you will have other questions.

Welcome to the forum.

[Asashosakari]

On top of kaiguma's informative post, I highly recommend the "Income and Ranks" and "Kyokai Departments" sections of the Oyakata Gallery.

Edit: Hmm, beaten to it by Asojima. (Neener, neener...)

Edited August 29, 2007 by Asashosakari

[Guest japanjane]

Thank you all for the helpful responses. The Oyakata Gallery is great!

I think I am beginning to understand much of the structure but I still cant get my head around the Yokozuna Deliberation Council. What is the deal with them? Is it a part of the NSK? What do they do?

[Asojima]

Yokozuna Deliberation Council. What is the deal with them? Is it a part of the NSK? What do they do?

The YDC is a group of civilian busybodies who are appointed to MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS to the Kyokai regarding promotions to Yokozuna and, I think, Ozeki and to make other meaningless comments on the state of Osumo. They are business people, show business types, and politicians. The council came into being as a response to some fan outrage over questionable Yokozuna promotions and other Kyokai actions during the 80's and 90's. They have no control over sumo and are essentially a 'feel good' group.

Edited August 30, 2007 by Asojima

[Hananotaka]

The YDC have no say in anything vaguely Ozeki-ish. Some YDC member may be asked by the media to comment when a rikishi is up for Ozeki promotion, but as a group they issue no recommendations for promotion, and they are not asked for guidance.

Some of the writing in the Oyakata Gallery is directly copied from some posts I made to the SML a couple of years ago. I don't recall giving permission to use that info, but as I'm thanked on the welcome page I imagine I must have. Does anyone know who runs the site? I don't want to give them any trouble or anything. I'm just trying to jog my memory.

Edited August 30, 2007 by Hananotaka

[Anjoboshi]

Does anyone know who runs the site? I don't want to give them any trouble or anything. I'm just trying to jog my memory.

As far as I know it is Tamanaogijima. Please correct me if I'm wrong ...

[Asashosakari]

The YDC is a group of civilian busybodies who are appointed to MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS to the Kyokai regarding promotions to Yokozuna and, I think, Ozeki and to make other meaningless comments on the state of Osumo. They are business people, show business types, and politicians. The council came into being as a response to some fan outrage over questionable Yokozuna promotions and other Kyokai actions during the 80's and 90's.

It's older than that, no? The Japanese wikipedia dates its creation to April 1950. (Usual wiki disclaimers apply...)

[Kintamayama]

The YDC is a group of civilian busybodies who are appointed to MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS to the Kyokai regarding promotions to Yokozuna and, I think, Ozeki and to make other meaningless comments on the state of Osumo. They are business people, show business types, and politicians. The council came into being as a response to some fan outrage over questionable Yokozuna promotions and other Kyokai actions during the 80's and 90's. They have no control over sumo and are essentially a 'feel good' group.

And, as if on cue, the YDC has decided to convene a special session after tomorrow's soken. They are going to discuss the whole Asa affair, and see if he has tarnished the yokozuna image. They have 3 ways of dealing with it: Encouragement, cautioning, and intai. "Each one of us will air his opinions openly on this issue. I'm pretty sure we will reach a consensus", said Ms. Uchidate, member of the YDC. To issue a statement, a majority of two thirds is needed. Uchidate mentioning a "consensus" is most likely because some kind of "advice" is going to be given, and there is a real possibility that an unprecedented "intai advice" will be issued. The YDC has no real power, but its "advice" does carry some weight. In 1999, when Wakanohana went hard MK, he was "advised" to go kyujo, which he did for two basho, and then retired after returning on the third. Asa will be in a real predicament if the YDC issues this advice. All this is true regarding Takasago Oyakata as well.

No real power, but they have the NSK's ear for sure.

[Asojima]

It's older than that, no? The Japanese wikipedia dates its creation to April 1950. (Usual wiki disclaimers apply...)

You are right. 1950. I thought it was a relatively new institution, but it goes back quite a way. ;-)

[Kintamayama]

The YDC stopped short of issuing a 'warning". They will be watching..

"Since the NSK has decided at their rijikai that Asashouryuu should return to Mongolia for treatment all we can do is go with that decision at present. Will the yokozuna devote himself to treatment in Mongolia, or will there be other circumstances? We have no choice but to see what he does in Mongolia", said Chairman Ebisawa. Some members have asked to caution for retirement , it is rumored. To Kitanoumi rijicho, he added: "I would like to see all the Oyakata, and first and foremost Takasago Oyakata, nurture their deshi better!".