Re: Sumo - tachiai & other questions #1 - soc.culture.japan #26463

[Richard Webb <webb@phys1.physics.wsu.edu>]

In article <C7Lqn5.Cqz@ulis.ac.jp>, hiraga@ulis.ac.jp (Yuzuru Hiraga) writes:
|> An attempt to answer SUMO related questions (some information incomplete)....
|> 
|> (1) TACHIAI
|>    
|> In article <1993May19.205438.25442@til.til.com> tanaka@til.til.com (Yokichi Tanaka) writes:
|> >Does anyone know the rules regarding "tachiai" (the start of a bout)?
|> >This is what I see.
|> >1.  One of the wrestler puts both hands on the dohyo (the "mat"),
|> >    but he can not initiate the bout.
|> >2.  The other wrestler touches the dohyo with at least one hand,
|> >    and the bout starts.
|> >
|> >This is normally what I see.  But on other occasions, I've seen
|> >both wrestlers down on the dohyo staring at each other without
|> >the bout starting.  And what is "jikan-ippai" (no more time)
|> >anyway?  Is it measured in seconds, or is it determined by the
|> >number of times tachiai fails?
|> 
|> John Crossley and John Swain (as well as others) already gave some
|> detailed accounts, but let me reformulate and elaborate.
|> 
|> # BTW, will Mr. Swain please correct his name "Jhon" in his
|> # .mh_profile (or equivalent) entry (the one that appears in From:).
|> 
|> The meaning of TACHIAI is to surge the fighting spirits facing and
|> staring each other, seeking a synchronized timing to start the bout.
|> The wrestlers may start any time if they are in mutual (implicit)
|> agreement to do so.
|> 
|> In the old days, there was no time limit on how long a TACHIAI may take.
|> As would be expected, there were culprits who won't go, out of tactics to
|> tantalize the opponent, and long TACHIAI's would take 10mins. or even longer.
|> Thus, the last bout may go well into night.
|> Now, there are time limits on each TACHIAI, which was introduced with
|> the advent of sumo broadcasting (in the radio days).  I believe the
|> limit is around 3 mins. (maybe incorrect, but not far off).  I also
|> think it's variable so that the 6:00pm limit for the TV broadcast can
|> be met (no kidding).
|> 
|> When the time comes, as John Swain (JS) writes in
|> <1993May21.041400.12515@rusun.cs.reitaku-u.ac.jp>:
|> JS>The real signal is not the feet, but the judge's "gumbai" or battle fan.
|> JS>When it comes up with its face toward the TV camera it is "show time".
|> 
|> and John Crossley (JC) in <CROSSLEY.93May21134546@ueno.trc.mew.mei.co.jp>:
|> JC>As Todd Allaria mentions in a separate post, the
|> JC>referee (gyouji) will stand differently, hold his fan forward and say
|> JC>"jikan desu" when it is time for tachiai to begin, ...
|> 
|> yes, the GYOUJI show the other side of the GUMBAI, called "GUMBAI WO KAESU"
|> (flip the GUMBAI=fan).
|> The time, though, is kept by one of the SHIMPAN's (referees sitting by
|> the DOHYOU).  The first and more visible sign that time has come is that
|> the YOBIDASHI stands up and informs the wrestlers.
|> YOBIDASHI's are the fellows that call out the wrestlers' names, hit the
|> sticks (HYOUSHI-GI), broom the DOHYOU, and do other all sorts of misc. jobs.
|> They're the ones that build the DOHYOU before a tourney.
|> 
|> Even when the time comes:
|> JC>...it's still up to the wrestlers as to exactly when they go.
|> 
|> Yes, provided that they can no longer leave the DOHYOU, e.g. to take the salt.
|> If one carelessly steps out, he automatically loses the bout.
|> There actually are a couple of these incidents in the past.
|> 
|> JC>This is communicated partly through the hands touching the dohyou:
|> JC>I believe that both wrestlers are *supposed* to touch both hands
|> JC>before starting.
|> 
|> Yes.
|> There was a time when this was seriously violated (e.g. by WAJIMA),
|> and the KYOUKAI (Sumo Organization) took to a strong enforcement.
|> 
|> JC>Gordon's post also mentioned false starts ('mata'), where one rikishi
|> JC>starts before the other.  There is a fine for these (10,000 yen, I think)
|> JC>and one or both wrestlers may be fined, depending on later judgement.
|> 
|> Correct (except for the fine amount: 100,000yen?), provided that MATTA
|> only applies to the TACHIAI after the time limit.
|> Usually, the one who makes a premature start gets fined (by not synchronizing
|> with the other = KOKYUU WO AWASERU), though in cases both are charged.
|> The fining rule is a recent introduction (last year, or the one before).
|> 
|> 
|> (2) KENSHOUKIN (reward money)
|> 
|> The cumulative information provided by many netters seems to cover
|> the subject (including the panning camera by the non-commercial NHK :-),
|> so just adding a few points:
|> * The sponsors often present rewards to the wrestlers of a particular
|>   HEYA (stable(!?): can't we at least say something like "gym" or "club"?
|>   they're not horses, you know).  Of course, if the opponent wins,
|>   the investment will be in vain.  The sponsors promoting a particular
|>   HEYA are called TANIMACHI.
|> * The ritual for the winning wrestler to receive the envelope is to
|>   imitate a knife shape with his hand (TEGATANA) and make three cutting
|>   motions, in the order of right, left, and center (I thought) as a sign
|>   of appreciation.  Some (most?) wrestlers actually don't make a clear
|>   motion.
|> 
|> 
|> Since it's already getting long, the rest will follow in a separate post.
|> But before that, some comment on GYOUJI's (ring referees).
|> 
|> GYOUJI's, just like the wrestlers, are associated with a particular HEYA.
|> They are strictly rank-ordered, and the uniforms, as well as their
|> "ring names", are in accordance with the rank (e.g. a low-ranked GYOUJI
|> must go barefoot).  There are two family names for the "ring" names:
|> KIMURA and SHIKIMORI.
|> The highest ranked ones are called TATE-GYOUJI (finalist referees),
|> and the names (fixed) are KIMURA SHOUNOSUKE and SHIKIMORI INOSUKE
|> (of the two, former has still higher rank).
|> The TATE-GYOUJI, just like the YOKOZUNA, bears a strong responsibility.
|> If he makes a mis-ruling (SASHITIGAE) as in the Akebono-Wakashouyou
|> bout this tourney, he (must?) send in a resignation.
|> Normally, these are nominal and not accepted, but, for example, if one
|> makes two mis-rulings in one tourney, he actually does (must?) resign.
|> As I hear, in the old days, they had to (as one might expect :-)
|> commit SEPPUKU, a.k.a. HARAKIRI.
|> 
|> 
|> -Yuzuru Hiraga (hiraga@ulis.ac.jp)