Re: (Q) Yobidashi-what?

[David Aragon <daragon@mail.cybernex.net>]

No disrespect to Masumi but those are pretty much literal translations.
To put it into more common expressions, nokkotta, nokkotta would mean:
Let's keep fighting, and hakki yoi would mean: Start moving and keep
fighting or, Let's go, get your butts in gear and keep fighting! 

I got the above information and opinions from my Japanese wife who after
just two bashos is already claiming to be an expert. She is the same one
who two bashos ago couldn't even read all the shikona.

Masumi is an invaluable member of this mail list I always look forward
to his explanations, please don't be angry with me for adding to your
explainations.

Masumi Abe wrote:
> 
> Yobodashi is the callers and sweepers who aren't allowed
> to be on the dohyo during the match. Only time they use
> their voices on the dohyo is when they call the shikona of
> the two rikishi of the next bout, and the side (East or West)
> they belong.
> 
> The people you mentioned are called "gyoji" and they are
> the referees. There are two kinds of callings they use
> during the bouts. When the two rikishi are actively pursuing
> the match, they call "nokotta, nokotta....". This means the
> match is not over yet. And when the two rikishi are not
> active and seem waiting something to happen, they call
> "hakki yoi" or sometimes sound like "hakke yoi". There are
> two major and different interpretation of these words,
> but the overwelming majority of sumo scholar believe
> that "hakki yoi" was originally "hakki yoyo" and means
> "push the energy level up". The minority interpretation
> is that "hakke yoi" means "you have a good luck".
> 
> -Masumiriki
> 
> kudonogame wrote:
> >
> > This must be a frequently asked question: sorry.
> >
> > The yells of the yobidashi during a bout sure add to the general excitement.
> > In fact I found the sound so compelling, I just had to reproduce it in the
> > morning shower for a while, along with selected shikona (my roommates were
> > just thrilled :)).
> >
> > But what is being shouted and what for?
> > (Is it no(na?)katte-nokatte-nokatte? Does it mean STAY!-STAY!-STAY!?)
> >