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112-530: Concretely, the association maintains and develops sumo traditions and integrity by holding tournaments and tours . The purposes of the association are also to develop the means dedicated to the sport and maintain, manage and operate the facilities necessary for these activities. Therefore, the JSA operates subsidiaries such as the Kokugikan Service Company to organize its economic aspects,

224-431: A "single generation" or "lifetime" elder stock, called ichidai toshiyori ( 一代年寄 ) . This process allows the wrestler to stay as an elder without having to use a traditional share in the association, and enter his retirement duties with his ring name. This exception system has been offered to three former wrestlers : Taihō , Kitanoumi and Takanohana . A fourth, Chiyonofuji , was offered this status but preferred

336-454: A board of trustees called hyōgiin-kai ( 評議員会 ) , votes for the board of the association. Elections are held in even-numbered years or every two years, usually in January or February. The election process is heavily influenced by the stables regroupments to which coaches are distributed in. Each stable belong to an ichimon , or clan. There are currently five ichimon , each bearing

448-524: A diversity of tasks, from selling tickets and security work at the most junior level, to taking charge of one of the Association departments as a director. These members are also the only persons given the authority to train new sumo wrestlers. They do this by opening or taking over stable, which will take the same name as the founder's elder name. Thus someone known as Dewanoumi is the owner of Dewanoumi stable . A few coaches have their own stable, while

560-767: A government institution. In 1932, the last major wrestlers' strike broke out with the Shunjuen Incident , calling for fundamental reform of the Sumo Association and leading to a mass resignation of wrestlers the likes of which professional sumo had never seen before. From 1933 to 1937, the All Japan Sumo Association briefly experienced a secession leading to the foundation of the Dai-Nihon Kansai Sumō Kyōkai ( 大日本関西角力協会 , All Japan Kansai Sumo Association) by members of

672-523: A member of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, Kojima Jo, was quoted in the magazine Bungei Shunjū as opposing the appointment of foreigners, who he felt were too far removed from the hinkaku ( 品格 ), the 'dignity', needed to become one of professional sumo's top ranked wrestler. However, other members of the council and the association maintained that they would consider a promotion if its conditions were met, regardless of who

784-454: A normal share and became known as Kokonoe . These four all achieved more than twenty tournament championships in their active careers. In October 2021, Yokozuna Hakuhō , the Emperor's Cup number record holder, was however denied the ichidai toshiyori kabu and Masayuki Yamauchi (a Yokozuna Deliberation Council member) declared to a press conference that "no such system exists" under

896-403: A press conference during which he tearfully denied making the remarks. He insisted that The Nihon Keizai Shimbun had misinterpreted his remark, and that he had not spoken to The New York Times , and instead a Hawaiian apprentice Koryū had impersonated him on the telephone. In 1993, Akebono , a student of Azumazeki (former Takamiyama), became the first foreign-born yokozuna in the history of

1008-601: A result, the association in 2021 had a deficit of 6.3 billion yen , the biggest in its history. The association's finances recovered by March 2024, with a surplus of 300 million yen. Also in 2020, the association, along with Nippon Professional Baseball and the Professional Golfers' Association of Japan  [ ja ] , withdrew from the Japan Professional Sports Association  [ ja ] . This occurred after

1120-434: A role in the credit given to an application. For example, former yokozuna Takanohana won four straight election bids to become director before his demotion in 2018, despite being the leader of a (now dissolved) small ichimon . Stables aren't equally divided among the ichimon . As of July 2024 , Nishonoseki has the most stables with 17, but Dewanoumi has the most affiliated oyakata (elders) with 37. As in

1232-472: A sports organization. Its status as an Incorporated Foundation makes it an organization of cultural purpose. However, the complex structure of the association means that it carries out its missions as both a company involved in promoting sport, in particular by selling tickets for tournaments, and as a cultural entity due to its historical links with the Shinto religion and its links with the imperial family, which

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1344-551: A strike called the Shinbashi Club Incident  [ ja ] organized by low-ranking wrestlers asked for a new wage reform, securing a bonus (made up of payment in cash and a deposit in a pension fund) distributed to all wrestlers who were not ōzeki or yokozuna . In 1923, another strike known as the Mikawajima Incident  [ ja ] demanded better pensions for wrestlers and

1456-405: A tournament day and may be announced from the dohyō the day prior by a senior gyōji . Although there is no fixed method, for the first half of a tournament the top makuuchi division will generally see its higher-ranked wrestlers ( san'yaku ) paired against its lower-ranked wrestlers ( maegashira ), with the rest of the maegashira fighting among ranks closer in strength. The schedule for

1568-475: A tournament undefeated. Other newspapers quickly followed with their own awards. However, these prizes went unclaimed if no rikishi finished undefeated. Wanting a way to decide a definite winner each tournament, by 1900 daily newspapers such as the Osaka Mainichi Shimbun had begun bestowing awards on the wrestler with the best record of a honbasho . The term yūshō emerged to indicate

1680-502: A wrestler misses will be regarded as losses when drawing up the next tournament's rankings. If a withdrawal results in an odd number of wrestlers in one division, the schedule is filled in by pairing a lower-ranked wrestler against a higher-ranked wrestler from the next-lowest division. The Ryōgoku Kokugikan is owned by the Japan Sumo Association and is therefore the only venue set up for sumo all year round. Preparing

1792-507: A wrestler who had finished with a perfect record, but has since come to denote the tournament champion regardless of his record. Each division has a championship prize for the wrestler with the most wins. The winner of the top makuuchi division's honbasho receives a plethora of trophies and prizes from various organizations, regions and countries, but most notable is the 30kg sterling silver Emperor's Cup . Since 1947, three special prizes called sanshō may be awarded to wrestlers in

1904-500: A year following complicated negotiations over the status of toshiyori and the composition of the board. In order to bring the statutes of the association into line with the stipulations of the incorporated foundations was introduced the hyōgi-in ( 評議員 , counselor committee) , responsible for monitoring the shared interests of the ministry and the association. That council is made up equally of three retired oyakata (elders with no san'yo re-employment) elected within

2016-400: Is also a prerequisite. Retired wrestlers may own several shares at the same time and exchange or loan them, often in order to inherit a name that affiliates them with a particular stable or tradition. The association delegates the selection of the wrestlers who can inherits these shares to former shareholders who, by tradition, retain the power to choose their successors. It however have a say in

2128-491: Is also responsible for training its young students. In order to maintain and develop the traditions and order of Sumo, the association is mainly responsible for holding competitive tournaments (called honbasho ) in January, March, May, July, September and November. The association also holds regional tours (called jungyō ). The Japan Sumo Association holds these tournaments each year with different purposes for each kind. Main tournaments are televised and help to maintain

2240-500: Is an official professional sumo tournament. Only honbasho results matter in determining promotion and relegation for rikishi (sumo wrestlers) on the banzuke ranking. The number of honbasho held every year and their length has varied; since 1958 there are six tournaments held over 15 consecutive days in four locations every year. Since 1926 the honbasho are organized by the Japan Sumo Association , after

2352-564: Is based on efficiency. In addition to this balance, the association maintains a culture of discretion and secrecy in its management of professional sumo. According to West, the reasons for this secrecy are mainly to control the flow of information, whether negative (scandal) or positive (promotion of a popular wrestler). Such control maintains the positive image of the sport and the mystical culture built up by sumo, linked to its religious roots. The Japan Sumo Association relations between its members are primarily shaped by rules and norms related to

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2464-479: Is based on respect for the law and continuity of sumo's traditions, deeply rooted in Japan's history and Shinto religion. It has a reputation for secrecy. In response to a number of scandals, the association has implemented numerous reforms in recent decades. The association has its origins in a Shinto ritual (or festival) that has been held since ancient times to pray for a bountiful harvest. This primary form of sumo

2576-443: Is exchanged as part of the inheritance of a share, the appointment of the new holder may be invalidated and the offender subjected to disciplinary measures, up to and including expulsion from the association. However, the monetization of the shares' inheritance still seems to be tolerated by the association. An exception to the normal acquisition is made for the most successful rikishi , with era-defining yokozuna being offered

2688-524: Is not taken as seriously by the wrestlers. In the Edo period , the locations of sumo tournaments and the rikishi (sumo wrestlers) who competed in them varied. Sumo was particularly popular in the cities of Edo , Kyoto , and Osaka ; with tournaments held twice a year in Edo, and once a year in both Kyoto and Osaka. The tournaments lasted 10 days each. In 1926, the newly formed Japan Sumo Association increased

2800-419: Is only part-time. During the 2010s, the association was also marked by the revelation of numerous scandals linked to its opaque organization. These scandals included wrestlers' links with organised crime and gambling, which is illegal in Japan . The violent nature of training and the legitimacy of violence within the traditional hierarchy of wrestlers was also called into question. Between 2010 and 2011 ,

2912-424: The banzuke and its hierarchy was primarily their decision, and conflicts of interest were common. In addition, the profits from the tournaments were first divided among them before a portion was given to the other elders, who in turn distributed the money to their disciples. Because of the filtering of high-ranking managers, little money reached the bottom of the ladder, and this system was only tolerated because

3024-633: The Cabinet Office issued a recommendation urging the Japan Professional Sports Association to reform its internal organization, which was inadequate to supervise other public interest incorporated foundations. In 2022 , for the first time in its history, the association signed a partnership agreement with a local government, Sumida Ward , to revitalize the district by encouraging sumo wrestlers to visit schools, and promote sport and tourism. In December 2023 ,

3136-671: The Edo period , sumo bouts, called kanjin -sumo ( 勧進相撲 ) , were often held to raise funds to develop provinces (new construction or repair of bridges, temples, shrines and other public buildings) or for entertainment purposes. After the Sengoku period, during the period of peace established under the Tokugawa shogunate , Japan experienced an unprecedented period of vagrancy for many samurai who had lost their social standing (called rōnin ). These masterless samurai, began to be organized in two extremes that coexisted side by side. On

3248-506: The Labor Standards Inspection Office  [ ja ] sent the association a rare demand letter for unpaid overtime owed to its administrative staff. Between June and October 2023, the association had also been the subject of five investigations, a rare number for a public interest incorporated foundation. In addition, the association was criticized for managerial problems, which led to moral harassment and

3360-488: The Sumo Museum . The association is ruled by a series of departments and committees into which the oyakata are divided when they enter their new career as coaches. The association's departments are organised as follows: To this organization adds an advisory body called the Yokozuna Deliberation Council. The possession of a toshiyori kabu is essential for the functioning of association as elders, assembled in

3472-421: The banzuke , the first aim for most wrestlers is to achieve kachi-koshi , or a majority of wins, and thus ensure a promotion for the next tournament. A playoff on the final day is used to decide the winner in case of a tie. Unless a playoff is required, two wrestlers will fight each other no more than once in a whole tournament. The bout schedule is set by a committee of toshiyori a day or two in advance of

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3584-411: The makuuchi division for exceptional performances during a honbasho . With honbasho lasting 15 days, sumo wrestlers ranked in the top two divisions ( makuuchi and jūryō ) wrestle once a day, while those of the lower divisions wrestle seven times total, approximately once every alternate day. The lower division matches begin at 8:30am. As honbasho results determine promotion and relegation on

3696-778: The 1950s through 1984, tournaments were held at the Kuramae Kokugikan in Tokyo. The sumo tournament held in Nagoya every July is scheduled to move from the older Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium (Dolphins Arena) to the new IG Arena starting in 2025, which the Japan Sumo Association will refer to as the Aichi International Arena. The March 2011 tournament was cancelled due to the Japan Sumo Association launching an investigation into allegations of match-fixing involving several sekitori -ranked wrestlers. This

3808-464: The 19th century, a wrestler's record at a tournament was of little consequence, and promotion through the banzuke ranks was more closely tied to popularity. In 1884, the Yomiuri Shimbun began publishing rudimentary summaries of honbasho results in their newspaper. The newspaper Jiji Shinpō began offering the first award for performances in 1889, giving it to any wrestler who finished

3920-585: The Board were three auditors: Itō Shigeru (Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo ), Murayama Hiroyoshi  [ ja ] (lawyer and former Prosecutor General of the Tokyo Prosecutors' Office ) and Jun Yoshino (former Police Commissioner). Although the internal organization was changed following the scandal, the external auditors are not given voting rights on the board and their position

4032-479: The Dewanoumi ichimon . The secessionist association later dissolved, but never had the association been so close to destruction. In 1944, the first successor from the sumo world was chosen and Dewanoumi (the former Tsunenohana ) became chairman of the association. After the war , the association was further modernized, in particular to maintain the sport in the context of the " budo ban" (a ban enforced on

4144-471: The JSA's properties, including the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. In this context, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano also declared that negotiations between the association and the ministry on acquiring Public Interest Incorporated Foundation  [ ja ] status could fail, threatening the association with colossal financial losses, since other foundation statutes in Japan do not offer tax benefits. At

4256-581: The Japan Sumo Associations were formally established as Edo Sumō kaisho ( 江戸相撲会所 , Edo Sumo Club) , later called Tokyo-zumō kaisho . In 1869, the Ōsaka Sumō Kyōkai ( 大坂相撲協会 , Osaka Sumo Association) was founded. Each associations had their own history and changes. For example, from 1888 to 1895 the Kōkaku-gumi ( 廣角組 ) , led by wrestlers Ōnaruto and Shingari, broke off from Osaka-sumo. In 1897, these movements led to reforms in

4368-634: The Japanese tax system. In practice, this means that the association is exempt from taxes, with the exception of consumption , business and property taxes. Although the association is a foundation, it has borrowed particularities from the statutes of corporations. The association's operations are authorized and defined by the administrative agency of the Act on Authorization of Public Interest Incorporated Associations and Public Interest Incorporated Foundation (Act No. 49 of 2006). Professor Mark D. West defined

4480-668: The Minister in charge of Women's Empowerment, Seiko Noda , forcing the association to publicly apologize. The COVID-19 pandemic in Japan forced the March 2020 tournament in Osaka to be held behind closed doors . The last time this occurred was in the June 1945 tournament, when only injured Pacific War veterans were invited to attend. This was followed by the cancellation of the May tournament. As

4592-592: The Osaka-based association, which became the Ōsaka Sumō Kyōkai ( 大阪角力協会 , Osaka Wrestling Association) . From 1789, the Edo-based association began to incorporate religious practices into the sport, under the guidance of the House of Yoshida Tsukasa and the status of yokozuna was created in Edo. In the 1870s, the first wrestlers' revolt was organized by Takasago Uragorō asking for better treatment for

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4704-680: The Osaka-based association. During the tournament, the Emperor's Cup (then the Prince-Regent's Cup) was awarded for the first time. Under the impetus of this tournament, a joint competition plan with a common banzuke was proposed, concluding talks that had been taking place since the early 1920s to merge the two rival associations. To establish a ranking according to the wrestlers' skills, qualifying tournaments were organized in November 1925 and in March and October 1926. The March 1926 tournament

4816-619: The Sumo School to organize training and instruction or the Sumo Museum to preserve and utilize sumo wrestling records and artefacts. Though professionals, such as active wrestlers , referees , hairdressers and ushers , are all on the association's payroll, leadership positions are restricted to retired wrestlers . The organization has its headquarters in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan arena, in Sumida , Tokyo . The association's culture

4928-405: The aggressor. In April 2018 , the association's conduct was also criticized after women tried to come to the assistance of the mayor of Maizuru (Ryoto Tatami), who had collapsed in the ring . Since women are considered impure and are not allowed enter the ring, a gyōji (referee) ordered them to leave it despite the medical emergency. The incident triggered criticism from the public and from

5040-437: The association and four personalities appointed by the ministry. Their rank equals that of a director to the association's board. Elders on the committee are not allowed to concurrently serve as oyakata because of the committee authority that allows them to have a say in the appointment and dismissal of directors. Each counselor serves a term of four years. Also incorporated were bans on the purchase of toshiyori names and

5152-414: The association found it difficult to keep up the number of wrestlers. At the same time, political circles were organized to preserve some of Japan's indigenous traditions, saving on behalf of the association the privilege of wrestlers to wear samurai chonmage (topknot) in 1871. The nobility introduced changes to the way tournaments were organised, reforming the way winnings were distributed and creating

5264-410: The association had to deal with the ties of several wrestlers in all divisions to organized crime. The scandal came to light in January when Ōzeki Kotomitsuki was reported in a Shūkan Shinchō article on 19 January as having participated in gambling circles run by yakuza . Although initially denied, the link between the yakuza and several members of the association was established over

5376-410: The association provides a small allowance to all of them. Depending on the wrestler's performance during tournaments, the association is also responsible of the wrestlers ranking. As wrestlers are not the only employees of the association, it also oversees the recruitment of yobidashi , tokoyama and gyōji to maintain the traditional settings of Sumo. Non-traditional occupations are also

5488-551: The association until retirement age. The association provides their training, usually conducted by seniors in their field of activity, and ranks them. Before the association's transition to the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, the two highest-ranking gyōji (called tate-gyōji ) were on the association's board along with the toshiyori . In addition, a limited number of positions do exist for retired wrestlers who did not fulfill

5600-417: The association with Sports Nippon ' s revelations about Maegashira Takanoiwa 's assault by Yokozuna Harumafuji . The incident generated intense media coverage, prompted by the previous scandals and the change in the association's nature to an incorporated non-profit foundation. The association's reaction was also heavily criticized, with some newspapers condemning a discourse that made excuses for

5712-468: The association's eligibility requirements. In the case of a lifetime share mentioned above, the name merely lapses. The association employs a certain number of other personnel, mainly to assist in the running of tournaments. Therefore, auxiliary personnel such as gyōji (referees), yobidashi (ushers) and tokoyama (hairdressers) are all employees of the association. In contrast to wrestlers, all members employed in these roles may generally stay in

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5824-486: The association's missions, based on the testimonies of former Tenryū Saburō (former leader of the Shunjuen Incident) and Akutsugawa Kōichirō  [ ja ] (former director of the association under the name Sadogatake). The association was further criticized for failing in its duties as a public interest corporation, notably on the subject of sumo teaching, by favoring the pursuit of profit. To sidestep

5936-406: The association, a position he had already held on an interim basis since Kitanoumi's death. Kitanoumi's sudden death launched an election in March 2016, described as "fierce" by the press. After negotiations for the positions of director and chairman, Hakkaku was elected head of the association, ahead of his main rival Takanohana . In November 2017 , the issue of violence scandals resurfaced within

6048-426: The authorities of the towns hosting them. These associations gradually came to depend on the influence of retired former wrestlers who began to organize tournaments. At that time, the Edo-based association (although composed of elders as today) was organized in such a way as to be dominated by a duo of executives, the fudegashira ( 筆頭 ) , the director, and the fudewake ( 筆別 ) , his second. The composition of

6160-454: The bans, forming informal associations that resembled coalitions of interests to protect themselves from any violent repression of their movement. In 1684, these movements bore fruit and a rōnin by the name of Ikazuchi Gondaiyū ( 雷 権太夫 ) obtained permission to hold a tournament after proposing a new etiquette associated with tournaments. The organization of tournaments began to depend more on groups following new standards designed to satisfy

6272-468: The board of directors and the new committee. In 1954, the association moved its headquarters to the Kuramae Kokugikan . The modernizations launched after the war were also notably introduced in response to a scandal highlighting the management of the association's missions and funds. In 1957, a special commission of the National Diet investigated the improper use of money by the association due to

6384-408: The border of a winning and losing record to win and achieve a kachi-koshi ; wrestlers with top records will also face each other to increase the possibility of a decisive bout. Matchmaking in the second-highest jūryō division works somewhat similarly to the top division, although there are no san'yaku . In the third-highest makushita division and below, wrestlers are matched against those with

6496-405: The contests of strength of the street tournaments, created conflicts over money. Tense brawls, even deaths, sometimes occurred. Public order became so disturbed that in 1648 the Edo authorities issued an edict banning street sumo and matches organized to raise funds during festivities. Over the next two decades or so, the wrestlers, now without any income, decided to petition the authorities to lift

6608-608: The course of the year. The scandal triggered a public outcry that flooded the association's switchboard with complaints and protests, and demonstrations were organized in front of the association's headquarters at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. In order to satisfy requests for internal investigations and changes, the association dissolved its Life Guidance Committee, appointing a new committee made up of young elders between 30 and 45 years of age, headed by Michinoku (the former Kirishima ). Chairman Musashigawa also resigned from his position in July, and

6720-609: The criticism, Hanaregoma's commitment during the crisis was hailed for running the association as a man of integrity, respected under the nickname "Clean Kaiketsu" ( クリーン魁傑 ) . In January 2014 , the association shifted to a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation and officially changed its name to Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Japan Sumo Association ( 公益財団法人日本相撲協会 , Kōeki zaidanhōjin Nihon Sumō Kyōkai ) . The change, effectively implemented from March to coincide with new board of directors elections, had been delayed for

6832-405: The debate, the association founded the Sumo School to teach its recruits the basics of sumo. Since he was personally blamed for the management problems, Dewanoumi tried to commit suicide by seppuku . He was replaced by Tokitsukaze (former Futabayama ) who began a series of reforms. Under his chairmanship, the teahouse system was reformed, with 40% of places now reserved for direct purchase, and

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6944-476: The decision-making system for the first time in 63 years. At the time, the association's statutes clearly stated that only former wrestlers could sit on the board of directors but Vice-minister Matsunami insisted that the scandal was "the biggest disgrace in the history of sumo". Some internal voices argued that new blood was needed, opposing the appointment of then-chairman of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, Ebisawa Katsuji  [ ja ] . The new members of

7056-460: The duration of the tournament. In those days the promotion system was decided by the tournament organisers, who then distributed the profits to the elders who then redistributed funds to their wrestlers, with the wrestlers under the protection of the lords receiving bonuses and having financial security and the others being kept in a situation of poverty. In 1757, during the Hōreki era , the beginnings of

7168-408: The entertainment of passers-by. Similarly, a number of street entertainment wrestling groups formed and began touring, sometimes with the support of shrines that occasionally recruited them as part of religious festivities and to help priests raising money for the construction of buildings. Eventually, this mix of professional wrestlers and disgraced rōnins , along with the commoners who took part in

7280-400: The five ichimon . In the 1970's, the association opened up more officially to foreign wrestlers , which led to reflection on the possibility of these wrestlers remaining in the association after retirement. More specifically, the case of Hawaiian wrestler Takamiyama in 1976 provoked a conservative reaction from the association, which declared that sumo being Japan's national sport , it

7392-409: The general inability of the public to reserve seats for tournaments , in opposition to its non-profit status. In those days, the reservation system was mainly based on private teahouses , which gave patrons privileged access to tournaments. The scandal erupted when it was revealed that the wife and daughter of the then chairman, Dewanoumi, were running two of the biggest houses. The Diet also considered

7504-566: The highest-ranking sumo wrestlers in the event of a poor score or consecutive absence from two tournaments, but decided to back down following pressure from traditionalists and purists. Common ground was found and the Yokozuna Deliberation Council was created, definitively detaching the association from the House of Yoshida, and declaring that the appointment of yokozuna would henceforth be based on recommendations from

7616-432: The interest of sumo as a sport by broadcasting the competitions. The jungyō meanwhile are important for the popularity of wrestlers and allow fans to meet them in the form of meet and greet events. The association is also responsible for the recruitment, instruction and training of wrestlers via the heya system or the Sumo School. Although not all wrestlers are salaried (only sekitori ranked wrestlers are),

7728-498: The merger of the Tokyo and Osaka sumo associations. The term honbasho means "main (or real) tournament" and is used to distinguish these tournaments from unofficial tournaments which are held as part of sumo tours, between the six major tournaments. Such display tournaments may have prize money attached but a wrestler's performance has no effect on his ranking. This type of sumo is often called hana-sumo ( lit. flower-sumo) as it

7840-461: The name of its leading stable: Dewanoumi, Isegahama, Nishonoseki, Takasago and Tokitsukaze. The ichimon serves as quasi-political groupings, each clan nominating candidates for the ten positions or so that are available on the association's board each election cycle. Each vote is normally along the interests of the ichimon , which explain why the bigger clans more often holds the association's chairmanship. Former wrestler popularity however plays

7952-410: The new Public Interest Incorporated Foundation statutes of the association, implying that the system would no longer be used. The elders of the Association receive a salary that depends on their rank within the association. They are expected to assist in the running of both their stable, called heya in Japanese (but changed to -beya as a suffix) and the association. They do this by performing

8064-468: The number of honbasho held each year from two to four. In 1928, they introduced rules such as marking uncontested bouts as forfeitures ( fusenshō ) to help guarantee tournaments end with a clear winner. A playoff structure was implemented in 1947 to decide a champion in the case of tied records. In 1949, the length of the tournaments was extended from 10 days to 15. In 1958, the number of honbasho held each year increased again, this time to six. Before

8176-461: The one hand, certain powerful clans formed suites of wrestlers organized into veritable royal households called geisha-gumi ( 芸者組 , lit.   ' geisha troupe ' ) , and elevated them to the status of vassals. On the other hand, a number of rōnin had no choice but to put their martial skills to good use in street sumo tournaments, called tsuji zumō ( 辻相撲 , tsuji-sumo , lit.   ' street-corner wrestling ' ) , for

8288-511: The organization of the Association as a "complex" balance of legal rules and informal social norms , referring to both the respect for the law as well as the rules nominally approved by the Ministry of Education, as sumo's supervising agency; and the traditional constraints not enforceable by law, inherited from the long history of sumo as a sport and the history of the association. The association's choice to apply rules or to defect to norms

8400-462: The other venues for their respective honbasho begins a week in advance. 2020's July and November tournaments and the March 2021 tournament were all held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo to avoid unnecessary travel during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan . The current Ryōgoku Kokugikan was opened in 1985. Prior to that an arena of the same name hosted honbasho in Tokyo from 1909 to 1946. From

8512-463: The ownership and transfer of "elder stocks", or shares , held by the association elders. Of all the employees of the association only them can manage the organization. Each share is associated with a particular name, and in the sumo world the former wrestler will be known by that name, usually with the suffix -oyakata . The members are also often called elders in English. Former wrestlers gain

8624-401: The patronage of local lords also added extra salaries for high-ranking wrestlers. Wrestlers who took part in these authorised tournaments without the patronage of lords did not yet have samurai status or a salary and their finances depended largely on donations they could receive from the organisers of charity tournaments or admirers. The organisers also ensured that they were fed and housed for

8736-549: The political world intrigue, subterfuge, splits and new coalitions are ordinary. The oyakata have a lot of leeway and can decide many things on their own. In fact, some elders change stables, move their stable to different ichimon or break off from their clan. For example, the Kokonoe stable was founded in 1967 after Yokozuna Chiyonoyama failed to gain control of the Dewanoumi stable . The break off that ensued saw

8848-512: The practice of combat training disguised as martial arts gatherings by the authoritarian government) applied by the Allied forces . Thanks to the efforts of Musashigawa (the former Dewanohana ) and Kasagiyama Katsuichi (a wrestler who spoke a little English), the association succeeded in convincing the Americans of the tournaments' good faith, and the first honbasho to be held after the war

8960-508: The rankings, although Yokozuna Miyagiyama (the top ranked wrestler in Osaka) was able to retain his position. During tournaments, Osaka's wrestlers were regularly outclassed by their Tokyo counterparts, with some wrestlers ranked as ōzeki or yokozuna in Osaka even struggling against Tokyo's komusubi or sekiwake . Later in 1925, the first chairman of the association, Lieutenant-General Hirose Seitoku  [ ja ] ,

9072-405: The requirements for inheriting a kabu , and would otherwise have to leave the sumo world upon their retirement from active competition. These former wrestlers are kept within the association as contract employees, customarily retaining their old shikona as their professional name, and are employed to handle various tasks. They are separated into two distinct roles: The JSA is more than just

9184-572: The responsibility of the association, in particular to maintain the operation of businesses linked to the association (such as the Kokugikan sales department, the restaurant or the yakitori skewer factory). Bearing the responsibility of the sport's long history, the association oversees the preservation and utilization of sumo archives. It also collects various types of objects linked to sumo wrestlers (such as keshō-mawashi , tachi or tsuna belts) which are stored and exhibited in

9296-550: The rest are required to be affiliated with one and assist the principal owner. It is common for the most senior members of the Association to concentrate on their Association responsibilities and pass the day-to-day management of a stable to another. If a senior coach wishes to do this, the two may elect to swap names so that the stable can keep the more prestigious name. Examples include, when the Association's chairman Dewanoumi (former yokozuna Sadanoyama ), swapped names with Sakaigawa (former sekiwake Washūyama ) who took over

9408-413: The right to participate in the management of the association by inheriting a share (called a kabu ), of which there are 105. The value of these shares was extremely high and rules only permits former sumo wrestlers who either reached at least a san'yaku rank ( komusubi or higher) or been ranked for a significant number of tournaments as a sekitori to inherit them. Japanese citizenship

9520-485: The running of Dewanoumi stable in 1996, or the transfer of the elder share "Kokonoe" from former yokozuna Kitanofuji to former yokozuna Chiyonofuji in exchange for the title "Jinmaku", allowing Chiyonofuji to inherit Kokonoe stable in 1992. All members are required to retire when they reach the age of sixty-five (with a possible five-year extension if approved by the board of directors), after which they can pass their name to another, provided that person meets

9632-426: The same record almost without exception, with ranks kept as close as possible. Outside playoff bouts, neither wrestlers from the same heya (stable) nor wrestlers related by blood are scheduled to fight each other in any division. If a wrestler has withdrawn due to injury or retirement from a scheduled bout, his opponent wins by default ( fusenshō ). A loss by default is known as fusenpai . Any remaining bouts that

9744-474: The same year, the Tokyo Ōzumō began to think about a project to install an arena at Hibiya Park to hold its bouts indoors, but the project was abandoned for lack of funds. In 1909, the association founded its first arena by inaugurating the first Ryōgoku Kokugikan , in order to avoid having to depend on the weather for tournaments held at the Ekō-in temple. Social movements in sumo did not cease, however, and in 1911

9856-405: The scandal, Hanaregoma succeeded in bringing negotiations on the status of the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation to a successful conclusion. Having reached the age limit of 65, Hanaregoma promptly resigned his post and Kitanoumi was elected for a second time to the head of the association, becoming the first chairman to return to this level of responsibility in the association's history. Despite

9968-544: The second half of the tournament will have mainly san'yaku fighting each other, with the remainder of the ranks determined by their win–loss records up to that point. One consideration is to minimize the necessity for a tie-breaking bout, particularly if a contender for the championship is lower-ranked and has thus far faced only other lower-ranked wrestlers. In the last day, wrestlers with 7-7 records are scheduled to face each other if possible, to avoid any possibility of match-fixing where wrestlers will allow another wrestler on

10080-668: The sport. Between 2007 and 2008 , two scandals hit the association (the Tokitsukaze stable hazing scandal and the cannabis use scandal ) leading to the resignation of chairman Kitanoumi in September 2008 and the appointment of Musashigawa (the former Mienoumi ). In a move to increase transparency, the MEXT (under Vice-minister Kenshiro Matsunami ) demanded the opening of the Sumo Association's board of directors to external auditors, introducing non- toshiyori personalities into

10192-544: The stable leaving the Dewanoumi ichimon to join the Takasago ichimon . Also, in 2010, Takanohana stable (run under the "lifetime share" system by the eponymous yokozuna ) broke off from the Nishonoseki ichimon (with Ōnomatsu stable , Ōtake stable and Magaki stable ) as he wanted to present himself to the board's election and his clan would not permit it. He became the leader of its own group, which

10304-454: The status of association director. In an effort to change its image, the Tokyo-zumō kaisho changed its name to Tokyo Ōzumō Kyōkai ( 東京大相撲協会 , Tokyo Grand Sumo Association) in 1889. The internal reforms carried out at the time included the election of directors, the creation of a fixed income for wrestlers and a change in refereeing decisions from gyōji to shimpan . During

10416-468: The suspension of three administrative executives in September, without the situation changing according to the daily Nikkan Sports . The Japan Sumo Association is a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation since 2014. Therefore, its functioning is of a non-profit organization and its activities are regulated through a top-down system of government supervision, as well as adherence to strict establishment conditions in exchange of preferential treatments under

10528-404: The system placed under a commercial company directly dependent on the association. In 1958, the association took its definitive name by being renamed "Japan Sumo Association". In March 1968, the association's statutes were amended to restrict board membership to toshiyori , high-ranking wrestlers and gyōji . The number of directors was also limited to ten elders after negotiations between

10640-530: The time, the association was involved in negotiations with the ministry to bring its statutes into line with the requirements of a law on public establishments passed in 2008, initially with the aim of achieving this status by the end of November 2013. The crisis, described as the most serious in sumo history, was such that several comments emerged on the fact that the damage could well threaten sumo's recognized position as Japan's national sport. Chairman Musashigawa had to resign, and Hanaregoma (the former Kaiketsu )

10752-410: The transmission, mainly to ensure that eligibility requirements are met, ensuring that only the best wrestlers can in turn become coaches. The association also manages the shares of deceased or definitively-retired former members that have not been reallocated after a five-year period. Before the association became a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, the elder shares were to be purchased and there

10864-474: The widespread expulsion of employees who failed to comply with the association's rules. In November 2015 , the chairman of the association, Kitanoumi, passed away and an official funeral was held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan by the JSA in December under the chairmanship of Hakkaku (former Hokutoumi ), with around 2,500 people attending. During the same month, the board of directors appointed Hakkaku as chairman of

10976-410: The wrestler was. Further controversy arose when The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that Konishiki , at the time the foreigner closest to promotion, had alleged racial discrimination was the reason for his being denied promotion. The New York Times subsequently quoted Konishiki as saying, "If I were Japanese, I would be yokozuna already". The association demanded an apology and Konishiki held

11088-474: The wrestlers (without initial success) and created a split from the Tokyo-based association before merging again. The Meiji Restoration was a period of semi-censorship of sumo, with the adoption of Western ideology leading to the perception of sumo as unworthy of the new era, as the matches were seen as barbaric and the semi-nudity of the wrestlers shocking. With the disappearance of government protection,

11200-482: Was conducted without spectators due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic in Japan and surrounding areas. It was the first time since World War II that a basho had been closed to the general public. The move followed a request from the Japanese Government that major public events be cancelled, postponed or scaled down in order to control the spread of the virus. The Sumo Association added that if any of

11312-418: Was a highly speculative market, which prevented many wrestlers from remaining in the association because the price of a share was too high. At the end of the 90s, this value was around 100 to 400 million yen . Since the introduction of the Japan Sumo Association as a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, the shares are technically no longer purchasable, but rather managed by the Association. Normally, if money

11424-569: Was appointed in his place with his presidency being tarnished by a match-fixing scandal that broke in February 2011 . Under his impetus, the association initially reacted swiftly by cancelling the Haru basho in Osaka outright. However, the association's handling of the scandal soon came under criticism, particularly Hanaregoma's statement that there had never been match-fixing in sumo before. Despite

11536-523: Was called shinji-zumō ( 神事相撲 ) . During the Sengoku period , Oda Nobunaga made sumo a popular sport, aided by the emergence of large cities (like Edo , Osaka , Sendai and Nagoya ), which soon began to compete with Kyoto 's cultural monopoly, as it was Japan's only metropolis at the time. These new cultural centres saw the emergence of wrestling groups, from both the commoners and the warrior classes, who took part in festivities at shrines . During

11648-459: Was in November 1945. Since the tournaments were later expropriated from the original Kokugikan for use by soldiers as "Memorial Hall", the association moved its headquarters to the Meiji Shrine in June 1947. In 1950, following a scandal involving the withdrawal from competition of the three yokozuna of the time ( Azumafuji , Terukuni and Haguroyama ) the association considered demoting

11760-411: Was inconceivable that a foreigner could participate as a trainer. The statement was subsequently severely criticized in the press. This led the association to correct its position in this regard, with the JSA subsequently declaring that Takamiyama and Kaneshiro (a Japanese sumo wrestler of Korean descent) would indeed be eligible to become coaches within the association after their retirements. Takamiyama

11872-636: Was led by Yokozuna Ōnishiki , without success. In the same year, the first Kokugikan was ravaged by fire following the Great Kantō earthquake and most of the association's archives were lost. Gradually, the Tokyo-based sumo association became dominant. In April 1925, Prince-Regent Hirohito invited the Tokyo Sumo Association to hold a tournament at the Imperial Palace , with the implied aim of also featuring wrestlers from

11984-555: Was named. In January 1927, the Osaka-based sumo association officialy merged with the All Japan Sumo Association after a long decline. It saved face in the first tournament after the merger of the two associations, as the championship was won by Miyagiyama. The association formally acquired the status of nonprofit organization , and was placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture , since in Japan this type of organization requires registration with

12096-588: Was officially recognised as the first modern honbasho (professional sumo championship tournament). During the same period, on 28 December 1925, the Tokyo Ōzumō Kyōkai became the Dai-Nihon Sumō Kyōkai ( 大日本相撲協会 , All Japan Sumo Association) , an organization now recognised as the first incarnation of today's association. As a result of the qualifying tournaments, the Osaka-based association lost many top-ranked wrestlers who found themselves demoted in

12208-407: Was succeeded at the head of the association by Murayama Hiroyoshi, a lawyer who had previously been appointed auditor of the association in 2008, and who held the position of acting chairman until the beginning of August. At one point, the revelation of collusion between wrestlers and yakuza was such that MEXT threatened to dissolve the association's public non-profit institution act and confiscate

12320-490: Was the first cancellation of a honbasho since 1946, when the May tournament was not held because of renovations to the Ryōgoku Kokugikan following damage sustained in World War II . The May 2011 tournament went ahead but was described by the Sumo Association as a "Technical Examination Tournament" rather than a full-fledged honbasho , with free admission and no prize money or trophies awarded. The March 2020 tournament

12432-435: Was the first to retire, becoming a coach under the name Azumazeki, the first foreign-born sumo wrestler to do so. In 1985, the association once again moved its headquarters and inaugurated the second Ryōgoku Kokugikan , acquiring the land by purchasing it from Japan National Railways . In the early 1990s, an internal debate also shook the association over the fact that a foreign wrestler could become yokozuna . In 1992,

12544-546: Was then formally recognized as an ichimon (called Takanohana ichimon ) in 2014. The ichimon was however short lived and was disbanded in 2018 after the Takanoiwa affair . Until 2018, there have been non-aligned stables, or loose coalitions that weren't formal ichimon , but in 2018 the association ruled that all stables had to belong to one of the current ichimon . Honbasho A honbasho ( Japanese : 本場所 ) , or Grand Sumo Tournament in English,

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