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[sumo] Yokozuna Dohyo-Iri Q&A
With Kaiou's imminent...OK...OK....a possibility of
Yokozuna promotion, there were some questions posed on
the yokozuna dohyo-iri form, Unryu and Shiranui so I
put together some information on it. Please make any
corrections necessary as most of them I did from my
head but I did check a few like the year of Tanikaze
and Onogawa dohyo-iri so that should be correct.
Dohyo-iri Q & A
------------------
Q: Where does a newly crowned yokozuna perform his
first Dohyo-Iri?
A: At the Meiji Jungu Shirine in Tokyo.
Q: Does the East Yokozuna always enter from the East?
A: Yes.
Q: If there are more than one yokozuna, from which
side they enter first?
A: On odd numbered days, East first. On even numbered
days, the first yokozuna enters from West.
Q: What are the dohyo-iri forms?
A: There are two - Unryu and Shiranui.
Q: What are the major difference between the two?
A: 1. how the knot is tied - Shiranui has two coils
while Unryu has only one.
2. how a yokozuna raises himself up ("seriagari").
Q: Elaborate on the above answer number 2.
A: After the yokozuna performs "shiko", he will raise
himself up slowly.
While doing this, in the Shiranui form, the yokozuna
will extend his both arms wide and display a scooping
motion from below. This is said to display the form of
offense.
In the Unryu form, the yokozuna will hold his left
side (around his waist) using his left hand and with
his right arm, he will perform the scooping motion
from a lower level. This is said to display the form
of defense using his left hand and the form of offense
using his right hand.
Q: Who were the originators of each form?
A: The Shiranui form is said to be originated by
Shiranui Kouemon, the 11th Yokozuna. The Unryu form is
said to be originated by Unryu Hisakichi, the 10th
yokozuna.
However some maintain that the current Shiranui form
started with Umegatani Toutaro II, the 20th yokozuna
and the current Unryu form by Tachiyama Mineemon, the
22nd yokozuna.
Basically you can say no one is really sure. However
it is being said that the two forms were kept on as
they displayed more grace and beauty than other
earlier forms.
Q: Who decides which from to use? Does the Kyokai
advise or recommend one to the new yokozuna?
A: It's determined by the new yokozuna and his shisho,
sometimes after consulting with those close to them
professionally. The Kyokai has no say in their
selection. There is no form set by heya or Ichimon.
Q: How does a Yokozuna dohyo-iri ceremony performed?
A: There are four men present including the yokozuna.
The others are Tate-gyoji (Chief gyoji, Shonosuke or
Inosuke), Tsuyuharai, Tachimochi.
They follow the same order coming in from Hanamichi -
they enter in order, first Tate-gyoji, then
Tsuyuharai, Yokozuna and Tachimochi. If you look from
the front side for the East and West dohyo-iris, the
position of Tsuyuharai and Tachimochi is reversed on
the dohyo.
When a yokozuna enters the dohyo, he will bring both
hands together, shows his hands clearly and then
extends his arms to side. He claps twice and moves to
the center by walking three steps and does shiko.
He will follow it with extending his arms. then he
will rise up following his Unryu or Shiranui form.
Then he will go back to the side he came in and does
the same procedure as when he came in initially (like
clapping twice.)
He will leave the dohyo after Tsuyuharai. The yokozuna
is followed by Tachimochi and tate-gyoji. In the
earliest time the yokozuna dohyo-iri ceremony was
performed alone but it is said at a Sumo tournament
held for Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa (in 1791), two
yokozunas (the fourth yokozuna Tanikaze and fifth
yokozuna Onogawa) accompanied to assume the role of
Tsuyuharai and Tachimochi.
Q: What are the roles of Tsuyuharai and Tachimochi?
A: Tsuyuharai assumes a role of leading the yokozuna.
He always walks in front of yokozuna.
A Tsuyuharai comes from the old days of outdoor sumo
tournaments. He was supposed to "wipe away" (harai)
dews (tsuyu) with his hands for the yokozuna so he
would not get wet. He carries no item.
A Tachimochi carries a small sword wrapped in a cloth
with his right hand and his left hand is normally on
his knee. He is said to protect the yokozuna.
Both are supposed to be Makuuchi rank rikishis from
yokozuna's heya but if there is no Makuuchi rikishi,
they can come from the same Ichimon (exception to this
rule is when the yokozuna dohyo-iri is performed at a
retirement sumo or other purely ceremonial occasion
held at a shrine or temple.
A Tsuyuharai rikishi has a lower ranking than the
Tachimochi rikishi but both will never be performed by
Juryo or lower ranked rikishis.
Q: When and where do they make the yokozuna's tsuna
(rope)?
A: It is made at the yokozuna's heya. It is done three
times a year, just prior to a Tokyo basho. The cost of
the rope is paid by the Kyokai and provided to the
heya's oyakata.
=====
.....Jonosuke
< Heart Technique Physique 心　技　体　>
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