Shikona (Rikishi name)

[Shoujirou Mizutori <MIZUTORI@shogun.matfys.lth.se>]

In the message on Thu, 29 Sep 1994 18:50:03 -0700 (PDT), Abe-san
(abe@kaleida.com (Masumi Abe)) wrote

>Which Koto? Actually, all rikishi-names from Sadogatake-beya start with Koto.
>
and kindly show the list of the frequently used parts of rikishi-names
(Shikona) (quoted below). I think it is worth to comment further. 
In my classification, there are three reasons why so many Shikona 
has same parts with each other. 

Firstly, not only in Sumo world, but also in old days in Japan or
in many other traditional arts surviving now (Kabuki, Rakugo, etc), 
apprentices or sons are often named to have one common 
kanji(chinese character) with his master or predeceder, or (fore)father(s).
It is often seen in the names in histrical person's, such as Samurai's.
(In this case, he has common kanji with his father or forefather(s) as well as
sometimes with his liege lord). Good example is Minamoto no YoriTOMO.
(who was the first Samurai who ruled all Japan, in 13 C.) His father is
Minamoto no YoshiTOMO. Both TOMO is a kanji meaning morning.
Yoritomo's half brother, a legendary Samurai Yoshitsune, has the common 
kanji YOSHI with his father. 

Such relations of the names are often expressed that he is given his
kanji from his father(or someone eles). 
It is not very common in these days and for us peasants :-), 
but sometimes we meet father and sons with similar names.
I'm not sure about the origin of such customs, but I think it express
worship and also hope that a similar achievement he can do.


In the case of Sadogakate-beta, the Shikona of Sadogatake Oyakata
was KOTOzakura. And all TAKA's are given their kanji from their Oyakata,
TAKAnohana I.
And sometimes it came not from his Oyakata but from other great Rikishi. 
Typical example is Futahaguro, which Abe-san introduced sometime ago.
He took his name from FUTAbayama and HAGUROyama.
 

>There are so many Koto, Waka and Taka.
>
>These are the list of common name parts from Sekitori (as of Aki-basho).
>
>7 Koto (Harp: all are from Sadogatake-beya)
>       Kotonishiki, Kotoinazuma, Kotonowaka, Kotobeppu, 
>        Kotogaume, Kotofuji, Kototsubaki
>
>7 Waka (Young or Japanese Poem)
>        Wakanohana, Wakanoyama, Wakashoyo, Wakahayato, 
>        Kotonowaka, Tochinowaka, Asanowaka, 
>
In the case of these Waka's it is a little bit confusing. First of all, 
at least Tochinowaka uses different Kanji from wakanohana, the former 
means Japanese poem and the latter means young. And although Wakashoyo 
was given his waka from Wakanohana I, Asanowaka seems to be given
from the name of his Heya, WAKAmatsu-beya. (I'm not sure, it's a guess.)
So, it is not a monopoly.

And I have no idea why so many Hana's.
Takanohana I and Naminohana seems to be given from Wakanohana, but I have no 
idea for others.
>
>6 Hana (Flower)
>        Takanohana, Wakanohana, Tomonohana, Naminohana, Naminohana, Oginohana
>

And the next two , Shima and Yama have another reason for their frequenct
appearance. I don't know why, but it seems that traditionaly Rikishi was 
often named with geographical terms, like Shima, Yama, Umi, etc. It is 
also common to use a place name(expecially traditional name) like Dewa, 
Sado, etc. These two ways are often combined, like Akinoshima, 
Mienoumi(retired), etc. Akinoshima is from Kochi prefecture, which used to 
be called Aki. Sometimes one has the name of real places. Kirishima is a 
famous volcano in Kyushu Island. Among the retired Rikishis, Masuiyama is 
the mountain in Himeji city and Washuyama is the mountain in Okayama 
prefecture. 
>
>5 Shima (Island)
>        Hamanoshima, Akinoshima, Kirishima, Shikishima,
>        Kushimaumi
>
>5 Yama (Mountain)
>        Musoyama, Wakanoyama, Aogiyama, Daishoyama, Zenshinyama
>
>4 Taka (Noble: all are from Futagoyama-beya)
>        Takanohana, Takanonami, Takatoriki, Takamisugi
>
>4 Nishiki (Japanese Brocade Textile)
>        Kotonishiki, Konishiki, Oginishiki, Kirinishiki
>
>4 Fuji (Mount Fuji)
>        Kasugafuji, Minatofuji, Tomoefuji, Tochinofuji
>
>3 Umi (Sea)
>        Mainoumi, Kushimaumi, Toyonoumi
>
>3 Sho (Flying)
>        Daishoho, Daishoyama, Asanosho
>
Please add here WakaSHOyo. It's the same kanji, isn't it? 
This SHO has the third reason of the frequenct appearance. It is
also common to use kanji with good meaning. In this case, Sho implies
rising to the sky or heaven.  
Nishiki above may belong to this category. 
>
>2 Dai (Big: both are from Tatsunami-beya)
>        Daishoho, Daishoyama
>
>2 Nami (Wave)
>        Takanonami, Naminohana
>
>2 Misugi (Three Japanese Cedar Trees: both are from Futagoyama-beya)
>        Misugisato, Takamisugi
>
Well, is this come from WakaMISUGI, later Wakanohana II? Or was there
other good Rikishi before Wakamisugi with this Misugi? I don't think
Misugi itself has particulary good meaning. But not only these two, but
retired Misugiiso had this Misugi. And all from Futagoyama-beya.
On the other hand, the former Futagoyama-oyakata was not very pleased with 
Wakanohana II, after the latter had a scandal and was divorced with his 
daughter. So there must be other reason than Wakamisugi.

>
>2 Ogi (Small Castle: both are from Dewanoumi-beya)
>        Oginishiki, Oginohana (two brothers with Ogi family name)
>
>2 Zan (Mountain: both are from Oshima-beya)
>        Kyokudozan, Kyokugozan
>
>2 Kyoku (Sunrise: same as Asahi, both are from Oshima-beya)
>        Kyokudozan, Kyokugozan
>
>2 Asahi (Sunrise: both are from Oshima-beya)
>        Asahiyutaka, Asahizato
>
Actually, these two (Kyoku and Asahi) are exactry the same kanji, and
thier Oyakata, Oshima-oyakata, was ASAHIkuni.
>
>2 Asa (Morning: both are from Wakamatsu-beya)
>        Asanowaka, Asanosho
>
Again, Wakamatsu-oyakata was ASAshio.
>
>2 Tochi (Japanese Horse Chestnut Tree: from Tochigi Prefecture, both are
>from Kasugano-beya)
>        Tochinowaka, Tochinofuji
>
And former Kasugano-oyakata, who used to be the Rijicho of Sumo-kyokai,
who made one era with Wakanohana I, namely Tochi-Waka jidai,
was, was, was, Tochi____.....AAAArgh, why I don't remember his name?
Not only these two, but many other retired Rikishi now Oyakata
in Dewanoumi-ichimon has this Tochi. 
(Readers who are not aquainted with the name of retired Rikishi
can refer the Sumo.FAQ Section 5, "Heya Listing", by Abe-san.
It is not the list of retired Rikishi, but you can find out
Oyakata's Shikona. You will find out not only Tochi but also other 
kanjis listed above appears frequently.)

Of course, the above three reasons are not exclusive with each other.
In the case of TomoeFUJI, his oyakata was chiyonoFUJI, but also
FUJI is a name of mountain, furthermore it has good meaning.
(Mt. FUJI is regarded superb. To have a dream of Mt. FUJI as the first 
dream of a year is the best token of good luck.)
So in a sense, Tomoefuji is an ultimate Shikona :-)

In other sense, Wakashoyo is also an ultimate Shikona. One kanji(WAKA) from
his (former) Oyakata, the second (SHO) has good meaning and the last
kanji (YO) is a geographical term (means ocean) :-)

S. Mizutori                                               

>
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>Masumi Abe                               
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                                                S. Mizutori
                                                Dept. of Mat.Fys
                                                Lund Inst. of Tech