Re: Shikona (Rikishi name) - long

[abe@kaleida.com (Masumi Abe)]

At  9:05 PM 10/3/94 +0000, Shoujirou Mizutori wrote:
>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.

When Yokozuna Kotozakura was still active, his Sadogatake Oyakata was
former Makuuchi rikishi Kotonishiki. Also from Sadogatake-beya, during
Tochi-Waka Era, there was Ozeki Kotogahama who was very famous with his
Uchigake technique. Kotogahama later became Oguruma Oyakata for
Sadogatake-beya. Current Oguruma Oyakata is former Ozeki Kotokaze from
Sadogatake-beya. Historically, not all Sadogatake-beya rikishi were named
with Koto. Former Sekiwake Hasegawa was one such example. Current Kotonishi
was named after Kotonishiki-I, for his physical apperance including his
face and his sumo style resemble those of Kotonishiki-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.

5 Waka (Young)
        Wakanohana, Wakashoyo, Wakahayato, Kotonowaka, Asanowaka
2 Waka (Japanese Poem)
        Wakanoyama, Tochinowaka

Wakamatsu Oyakata is former Ozeki Asashio, and there are many
Wakamatsu-beya rikishi with Asa in their shikona.
>
>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.

I think originally Wakanohana's hana part was from Hanakago-beya where he
belonged to when Wakanohana-I was active rikishi. He was the first rikishi
at Hanakago-beya. The other rikishi at Hanakago-beya followed his Waka
part, and being named Wakanoumi, Wakamisugi, Wakachichibu, etc.
Wakachichibu was the first rikishi using salt with Mitoizumi style. Then he
was the youngest Makuuchi rikishi ever.

You don't need to have particular reason for shikona, though rikishi tends
to get a shikona with some reason. A kanji character cannot be a registered
trademark, and if a rikishi wants to use particular kanji which is mostly
used by other heya, you cannot prevent him from using that particular
kanji. Once Shikona is used, the shikona will remain with that particular
heya and it seems each oyakata respects this tradition.
>>
>>6 Hana (Flower)
>>        Takanohana, Wakanohana, Tomonohana, Naminohana, Naminohana, Oginohana
>>
Oginohana is using his fathers shikona.
>
>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. 

Sumo started as a religious practice within Shinto, at least as an
organized event. Shinto is a relegious practice of worshipping natural
phenomena particularly the objects men cannot control. Rikishi's shikona
represent these phenomena, rock, mountain, river, thunder, lightning, wind,
lake, island, sea, ocean, light, sunrise to name a few. There are many
shikona do not follow these category, as well, though.
>>
>>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. 

Nishiki represents or symbolizes ultimate promotion. It is the most
expensive textile in Japan.
>>
>>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.

Well, actually the original Wakamisugi was not Wakamisugi you mentioned
here. Wakamisugi-I was Wakanohana-I's ototo-deshi, or younger collegue of
Wakanohana-I at Hanakago-beya. He later became Daigo-I. His phisical
appearence was similar to that of Takanonami.
>
>>
>>2 Ogi (Small Castle: both are from Dewanoumi-beya)
>>        Oginishiki, Oginohana (two brothers with Ogi family name)

As I mentioned above, their father is former Oginishiki from Dewanoumi-beya.
>>
>>2 Zan (Mountain: both are from Oshima-beya)
>>        Kyokudozan, Kyokugozan

Same character as "yama".
>>
>>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.

Former Ozeki Asahikuni was famous with his bump on his head to pass
"shin-deshi kensa" or physical examination for new applicants.
>>
>>2 Asa (Morning: both are from Wakamatsu-beya)
>>        Asanowaka, Asanosho
>>
>Again, Wakamatsu-oyakata was ASAshio.

Shikona "Asashio" belongs to Takasago-beya. When Ozeki Asashio was active,
he belonged to Takasago-beya.
>>
>>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. 

Tochi of Tochi-Waka Era was Yokozuna Tochinishiki. Later he became Kasugano
Rijicho who built current Ryogoku Kokugikan. His oyakata, former Yokozuna
Tochigiyama, was the founder of Kasugano-beya. Before him, there are no
heya in Dewanoumi Group except, of course, Dewanoumi-beya. Yokozuna
Tochigiyama was so impressive and so popular, he was granted to start his
own heya and stayed as a member of Dewanoumi Group. This was the only
exception until very recently. All Tochi-named oyakata used to belong to
Kasugano-beya, when they were active rikishi.

This Dewanoumi-beya tradition was the reason of why Kokonoe-beya (Kokonoe
Oyakata: former Yokozuna Chiyonoyama) was kicked out of Dewanoumi Group and
picked up by Takasago Group.

-Masumi

>(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                                               
>
>>
>>-Masumi
>>>
>>>Adam Gordon
>>>Telogy     Menlo Park, CA
>>sxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxs
>>Masumi Abe                               
>>Kaleida Labs, Inc.                              Tel: (415) 966-0824
>>1945 Charleston Road                            Fax: (415) 966-0774
>>Mountain View, CA 94043                  Internet:  abe@kaleida.com
>>USA                                                AppleLink: ABE.M
>> ScriptX: The New Standard Environment for Interactive Multimedia.
>>
>
>                                                S. Mizutori
>                                                Dept. of Mat.Fys
>                                                Lund Inst. of Tech
sxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxsxs
Masumi Abe                               
Kaleida Labs, Inc.                              Tel: (415) 335-2011
1055-B Joaquin Road                            Fax: (415) 335-2096
Mountain View, CA 94043                  Internet:  abe@kaleida.com
USA                                                AppleLink: ABE.M
 ScriptX: The New Standard Environment for Interactive Multimedia.