Re: Yokozuna Quiz

["Nashinokawa" <nashinokawa@parbrook.free-online.co.uk>]

As one might expect Abe-san was correct in all he said.  Here are my answers
for the record.

>since we have been discussing Yokozuna's recently I thought I'd put
together
>the following quiz:
>
>1. What is the Yokozuna Hawser made from?


I believe it is hemp covered in cotton stiffened with copper wire

>
>2. Who makes it?


(Junior) Rikishi from the ichimon of the Yokozuna.  (sometimes extra advice
is needed -- apparently it was so long since any one in Futahaguro's ichimon
had made Yokozuna that they needed outside assistance)

They all were gloves to prevent contamination of the rope, and for a new
Yokozuna they all wear celebratory red and white headbands.

>
>3 How often does a yokozuna get a new one?


Before every Tokyo hon-basho (3 times a year) is what I have heard.

>
>4. The rope is usally cut to fit. What happens to the excess and what is
>their peculiar reputed lucky property


It is given to supporters of the rikishi / heya
It is supposed to act as a charm to protect woman in childbirth

>
>6. How do the two dohyo-iri styles differ, (both in performance and in the
>hawser) and what is the irony in their nomenclature.


Unryu -- one loop knot, left arm bent during the rise
Shiranui -- two loop knot, both arms outstretched during the rise
Irony -- Study of woodblock sumo prints suggests that Unryu performed the
Shiranui style and vice versa.

>
>7. What are the zig-zag strips called and how many are there.


Gohei, there are 5

The reason 4 is unlucky is that it can be said in two ways: yon and shi.
Shi, also can mean death (different chinese character).  Hence why 4 is to
be avoided more so than other even numbers.  The "odd" aspect refered to is
that these numbers are supposed to be masculine (hence rikishi always have
an odd number of sagari (usually 13) draped from their Mawashi

>
>8. Who was the first modern yokozuna to perform the shiranui style and who
>is reputed to have taught him.


Tachiyama was the answer I was thinking of.  Reputedly the tate-gyoji of the
time was heavily involved in the research of the style, which had not been
performed in anyone's living memory.

>9. What is to stop a new Yokozuna coming up with his own style.


(sorry if this question was ambiguous)
There is nothing official to stop a Yokozuna developing his own Dohyo-iri
style that is different from the presently used types.  However it would I
guess have to be very carefully researched etc.  with justifications of
meaning for each segment of the ceremony.

It seems at present the only scope is in the interpretation of the ceremony
(as per the Akebono / Takanohana discussion on the way they rise from the
first Shikiri.  I too believe that Akebono's style is more pleasing in this
regard.  I especially like the way his feet gradually move in as he rises
(Taka's tend to be parallel)  But I guess this is one area where his long
legs can add to the impact.)

>10. What would an early yokozuna be most surprised about if he looked at
the
>modern Yokozuna's hawser.


The thickness of the central section.  Early wood-prints show a thin rope of
constant thickness throughout its length.  I doubt it was stiffened either
in those days.

>11. Which family traditionally had the right to grant Yokozuna licences.


Abe-san answered this far better than I ever could.  The Yoshida clan.  The
original holder was a Yoshida Oikaze

Technically speaking it was originally granted for top rikishi performing
sumo in the presence of the Shogun (one of the reasons suggested as to why
Raiden was never granted the licence.)

>12. Who is the only rikishi to have joined the precursor to the present
sumo
>association as a Yokozuna and how did he do it.


Again Abe-san has given a far more complete answer than I could have.
Miyagiyama competed in his first Tokyo tournament in 1927 (Jan) winning it
10-1 after the Osaka sumo association was subsumed into the Tokyo
association. Afterward his record was less good, only winning the Yusho one
further time and making a few Makekoshi in his later career.

>13.  Where is the tradition of using a rope around a yokozuna said to have
>come from (note there are many stories to this -- so there are no correct
>answers in my view -- but it is a chance to look at the possiblities.)


While I guess that Abe-san has hit on the truth. However, the romantic story
I have heard is based on Tyler's account where by over 1000 years ago a
wrestler (reputedly called Hajikami) was involved in a "sumo" tournament at
a shrine.  Apparently he was so strong that the shinto priest, who was
refereeing took the rope from the shrine front and tied it round his waist
as a handicap and declared if anyone could even touch it he would be
declared the winner.  Of course the story ends that no one could even do
this.  I think that there may be many other "histories" on this front that
would be interesting, hence the question.

Cheers

Peter (Nashinokawa)