Re: [sumo] Ichinoya and money

[Joshua Reyer <circlejar@gmail.com>]

> Ichinoya does not fall under any category currently upheld. He is  a
> sort of an unofficial (maybe it is official) heya manager, not only a
> rikishi. I don't know anything for a fact, but I'm pretty sure he lives
> at the heya, but has privileges that no other non-sekitori has. He is
> probably in charge of everything (maintenance, food, etc..), and most
> probably makes the chanko, or has handed down his knowledge of it. He
> definitely does not receive the "usual" treatment reserved for juniors.

It's worth noting that while the sumo world is very much ruled by the
banzuke, status due to age and experience is embedded in the Japanese
culture, and still shows up in sumo as well.  For example, Wakakaze
was well-known as the yumitori-shiki rikishi when Takanohana was a
yokozuna.  But he was also the tsukebito-gashira for Wakanohana; the
tsukebito in charge of the other tsukebito.  He was Wakanohana's
sempai, so Wakanohana continued to refer to him as "Wakakaze-san" even
after becoming a sekitori, asked him for advice and tactics, and
otherwise showed him great respect.

[EndPost by Joshua Reyer <circlejar@gmail.com>]