[SUMO lite] Yobidashi and Zabuton

[achimp@t-online.de (Achim Pawelczyk)]

In the entrance area of the east and west Hanamichi, the way leading to the
Dohyo, sometimes the Rikishi (wrestlers) of a later Torikumi (bout) and
Tsukebito (low ranked Rikishi attending a Sekitori) are shown while
waiting.

One Tsukebito carries the Zabuton, the big cushion the Makunouchi Rikishi
sits on while waiting for his turn beneath his side of the Dohyo, with his
name on it.

While the Rikishi for the next Torikumi are doing their Shikiri at the
lines (Shikiri-Sen), a Tsukebito carries the Zabuton to the Dohyo, gives it
to a Yobidashi and sits down to wait.
The Yobidashi carries it to a place right or left to the Shimpan-Oyakata
(judge) on the respective side, east or west.
In turn the Yobidashi takes the Zabuton of the Rikishi now on the Dohyo
back to the Tsukebito, who carries it out.

Question 1: Whose Tsukebito carries the two Zabuton, the Rikishi outside or
the Rikishi on the Dohyo ?

  After his Zabuton is in place, Rikishi C comes to the Dohyo and goes to his
prepared seat, without forgetting the Rei (salute bow of respect) in front
of the Dohyo.

  From the third last Torikumi on, the Yobidashi get really busy with the Zabuton.
Till then, always two Rikishi sit and wait east and west, one comes in, one
goes out.
  Now the Rikishi for the last Torikumi, "Musubi no Ichiban" arrive, but the
outgoing Zabuton of the winning Rikishi from this match has to be put back
afterwards, just in case he is needed for Chikara-mizu (water of power) in
the Musubi.
  Usually the winning Rikishi gives water to the next Rikishi of his side,
the one from the other side gets it from the Rikishi of the Torikumi after
him on the same side
  In the "Musubi" there is no next, instead the winner of third last T., if
he is from the proper side, gives the water.
If the winner of the second last match is from the same side as the third,
this fails. The third last winner, who otherwise would remain till last,
leaves and the water has to be handed by a Tsukebito. In this case the
looser remains to see the Musubi together with the winner, there always has
to be at least one Rikishi east and west, watching the match.

Question 2: Is there a deeper reason for this ?

  What has happened to the Zabuton in the meantime. The ones of the
third-last-match Rikishi have been replaced by those of the Musubi Rikishi,
as they stepped up, but the Yobidashi have to put them on hold.

  From now on the Yobidashi carry the Zabuton in and out alone.

  That of the winner, the Yobidashi bring back and replace with it that of
the next Rikishi on his side, when this Rikishi steps up. His Zabuton too
goes out on hold, at least that of the winner has to return.
The Zabuton of a Musubi Rikishi goes out when he steps up, not to return.

Now the biggest Question: Will there be answers to the above questions ?


-- Achim Pawelczyk
-- achimp@t-online.de
-- http://home.t-online.de/home/achimp/
-- a chimp at home