Mawashi Colours ?

[Guest Mojo]

In Ozumo or any Sumo what is the difference between the different colours of Mawashi ? (Applauding...) Does the colour show rank, or is the colour just by choice of the rikishi ?

[aderechelsea]

i am not the right one to answer this but i think that the colours don't have a certain meaning, such as rank or heya, but is up to the rikishi to chose.

We see guys,like Toki with his great orange mawashi, to change he colour without actual promotion or change of heya.

i am sure someone will post facts to prove me wrong now and make me look like a jerk........ (Applauding...)

[Kotoseiya Yuichi]

Basically only allowed colours are black, purple and dark (navy?) blue (I think). However, ever since November 1957 when maegashira 14 Tamanoumi (not to be mixed with later yokozuna) wore a gold mawashi and most surprisingly took his first and only yusho, rikishis (superstitious as ever) have worn mawashis of various colours and the original rule is practically just a very loose recommendation. The colour has no special meaning. White mawashi is not allowed, I believe. Musoyama's & Chiyotenzan's silver mawashis are probably the lightest allowed.

I've personally always favoured black mawashis. Oh, BTW, you can tell a kesho-mawashi belongs to an ozeki or a yokozuna if its bottom fringe is coloured imperial purple as holders of lesser ranks are not privileged to wear purple. I'm not sure about tachimochis and tsuyuharais, though.

Edited March 6, 2004 by Kotoseiya Yuichi

[Takanobaka]

What about lower divisions? They don't seem to wear different colors.

(I basically know the answer, but I don't feel comfortable to the extent that I'll probably screw something up, so I feel it would be better for someone else to answer this one...)

[QttP]

What about lower divisions? They don't seem to wear different colors.

(I basically know the answer, but I don't feel comfortable to the extent that I'll probably screw something up, so I feel it would be better for someone else to answer this one...)

Indeed lower divisions (below Juryo) are only allowed to wear black mawashi. Their mawashi are made of cotton, too, as opposed to the silky mawashi of the sekitori.

[Naganoyama]

Musoyama apparently chose his mawashi colour from a Mercedes brochure.

[Asashosakari]

Musoyama apparently chose his mawashi colour from a Mercedes brochure.

Silver Arrow Musoyama? (I was stupid...)

[Mark Buckton]

Musoyama apparently chose his mawashi colour from a Mercedes brochure.

Silver Arrow Musoyama? :-D

:-| :-| :-| :-| :-| :-| :-| :-S :-S (Arguing...) ;-) ,

ah - a joke - (I was stupid...) (Sign of approval)

Missed that one - sorry.

[Guest Mojo]

Thank you all for you replies here (Eh?) (Eh?)