Re: Question about Yakata

[abe@zoom.com (Masumi Abe)]

Bandey:

Before Akibasho in 1952, there were 4 poles supporting the roof. 
The roof structure is from the traditional dohyo and sumo performance 
had been held under the sky. Although when rains they used to call 
postponement until the day without any rain, when rain is not that bad, 
just very light shower, they could continue the matches, thanks to the roof. 
If there were no roof, the surface of dohyo would be very slippery.

After building the old Kokugikan Dome in Ryogoku, the other side of
Ryogoku Station from the present Kokugikan, they kept the roof
structure, though it was not practical and necessary for indoor sumo
matches. Without roof structure, it seemed too bare, I guess.

The four poles supporting the roof were set at each of the four corners
of the square-shaped dohyo mound. The four judges used to take seats
at the foot of each pole and on a zabuton-cussion.

A year before TV broadcast started, Sumo Kyokai decided to take out
these poles for they cut the good view from audience. Instead, Kyokai
came up with the idea of using tussles with four different colors, 
ao-busa (green, northeast), aka-busa (red, southeast), shiro-busa (white, 
southwest), and kuro-busa (black, northwest). These four tussles
respresent four seasons, green for spring, red for summer, white for
fall/autumn, and black for winter. The size of each tussle is 212 cm
tall, 66 cm in diameter, and 18 kg in weight. the height from the surface
of dohyo to the lowest end of tussles is 212 cm. Originally, it was set 
at 197 cm, but Ouchiyama, the tallest rikishi at that time and later
became an Ozeki, was 202 cm and touched the tussels at the top of his
head easily with his mage on.

In old days, the poles were decorated with red and white cloths, like
the sign for barbershop.

-Masumiriki

BANDEY さんが 11:43 AM 9/4/96 -0800ごろに
「Question about Yakata」の件で：
>I'd like to ask what do the roof above the dohyo and its 
>colored "busas" (shirobusa, etc.) symbolize.
>Or maybe they're simply decoration?
>Thanks to Abe-san for reply on Tozai, so far I didn't have time to 
>write.
>
>Many thanks, 
>Bandey 
>
>
>
>
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