Japan Sumo Association

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Japan Sumo Association
日本相撲協会
Nihon Sumō Kyōkai
PredecessorEdo-sumo Kaisho
FormationDecember 28, 1925; 98 years ago (1925-12-28)
Merger ofOsaka Sumo Association
TypeNonprofit
Legal statusPublic Interest Incorporated Foundation
PurposeOrganization of sumo tournaments and promotion of sumo culture.
Maintenance and operation of sumo training schools, Ryōgoku Kokugikan and Sumo Museum.
HeadquartersRyōgoku Kokugikan
Location
Coordinates35°41′49″N 139°47′36″E / 35.69694°N 139.79338°E / 35.69694; 139.79338
Region served
 Japan
Membership
~ 1 200[1]
Official language
Japanese
Chairman
Hakkaku Nobuyoshi
See below
Key people
Shibatayama Yasushi (current Operations director)
Sadogatake Mitsumune (current Judging department chairman)
Yamauchi Masayuki [ja] (current Chairman of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council)
Parent organization
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
SubsidiariesKokugikan Service Company,
Sumo Museum
AffiliationsYokozuna Deliberation Council (advisory body)
Revenue (2022)
¥27,830,537,000
($ 190,221,720)[2]
Websitehttps://www.sumo.or.jp/En/
(in English)
https://www.sumo.or.jp/
(in Japanese)
Formerly called
Greater Japan Sumo Association (大日本相撲協会)

The Japan Sumo Association (Japanese: 日本相撲協会, Hepburn: Nihon Sumō Kyōkai), sometimes abbreviated JSA or NSK, is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling (called ōzumō, 大相撲) in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). This means concretely that 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.[3] Therefore, the JSA operates subsidiaries such as the Kokugikan Service Company to organize its economic aspects, the Sumo School to organize training and instruction or the Sumo Museum to preserve and utilize sumo wrestling records and artefacts.[3]

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.[4]

Following a number of scandals, the Association has implemented numerous reforms in recent decades.

Overview[edit]

The Association has a long and rich history that dates back to the ancient rites of Shinto. Established in 1925 to award the "Prince Regent Cup" (later Emperor's Cup) during main tournaments, the Association became a Special Incorporated Foundation then a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation in 2014.

History[edit]

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 was called Shinji-zumo (神事相撲). In 1757, during the Hōreki era, the beginnings of the Association were established as "Edo-sumo Kaisho" (江戸相撲会所), later called Tokyo-sumo.[5]

The premises of the Ekoin Temple in Edo, during a kanjin-sumo tournament (1842)

During 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.[6] Sumo wrestling was also actively practiced among samurai as a form of combat training called buke-sumo (武家相撲).[7]

Buke-sumo practiced by samurai

Local rulers, or daimyō, controlled sumo and gained financing from it. On the other hand, their protection to wrestlers was a guarantee of status. Rikishi were appointed as vassals of feudal lords and became samurai as well as being the champions of the feudal domain to which they were linked. Shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu specifically wanted "street" sumo prohibited and determined sumo should only be held for charitable purposes (perpetuating kanjin-sumo). The wrestlers were also paid with extra revenue from these events. Written rankings, known as banzuke, were introduced from 1761 and the assembly of lords that organized these rankings began to emerge as a full fledge organization. In this time, sumo came to be called "ōzumō" (大相撲), "grand sumo" or professional sumo. As sumo began to showcase the power of daimyo, lords began to codify the sport and negotiated with each other to secure ownership of wrestlers under a system called kakae (抱え).[8] Slowly, noble houses (the most prominent of which was the Yoshida family) began to develop methods of sponsor to ensure dominance over this popular form of entertainment. Licenses began to be introduced in the eighteenth century, creating the rank of yokozuna (in 1789), or the rank of tate-gyōji ; both of them still existing today.

In the 19th century, the Meiji Restoration leaders abolished the shogunate and the feudal system that supported it. To adapt and survive, the lords introduced the change to the system of salaries and directors that is known today. In 1884, Emperor Meiji began to support sumo tournaments which helped to give sumo wrestling a reputation as a national event. However, due to the diminishing power of lords that regulated the sport, parallel organizations began to develop their own form of tournaments. In 1869, the Osaka-sumo Association (大坂相撲協会, Ōsaka zumou kyōkai) was founded and created a rivalry that emulated the history of sumo.[9] Each associations had their own history and changes. For example, from 1888 to 1895 the "Kōkaku-gumi" (廣角組), led by wrestlers Onaruto and Shingari, broke off from Osaka-sumo.[10] In December 1925, Tokyo-sumo became the Greater Japan Sumo Association (Dai-Nihon Sumō Kyokai, 大日本相撲協会).
In January 1927, Osaka-sumo merged with the Greater Japan Sumo Association after a long decline. The 88 elders of the Tokyo contingent and the 22 elders from the Osaka contingent merged and disputed their first common tournament with a common banzuke during the Hatsu basho (January tournament). In the run-up to the merger during 1925 and 1926, a series of three joint tournaments was held to assess the relative strength of the rikishi in both organizations. Confirming the prevailing opinion that Osaka-sumo was inferior, the Tokyo camp largely won out and wrestlers as high as ōzeki in Osaka sumo were relegated to the third makushita division in the new merged rankings. However, the yokozuna from both sides were maintained, as there was no precedent for demoting them, allowing Osaka-sumo to save face. Later that year, the first chairman of the Association, Lieutenant-General Hirose Masanori, was named. From 1933 to 1937, the Greater Japan Sumo Association briefly experienced a secession during the Shunjuen Incident. The strike of the wrestlers led to the foundation of the Kansai Sumo Association (Kansai Kakuryoku Kyokai, 関西角力協会) by members of the Dewanoumi ichimon. The secessionist association later dissolved.[11]
In 1944, the first successor from the sumo world was chosen and former Tsunenohana became chairman of the Association. After the war, the Association was further modernized. Due to sumo being seen as the national sport, the Association was ancillaried to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 1958 as a Special Incorporated Foundation and named Japan Sumo Association. In 2014, it shifted to a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation.[12]

Missions[edit]

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 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.[13]

The Association is also responsible for the recruitment, instruction and training of wrestlers via the heya system or the Sumo School.[13] Although not all wrestlers are salaried (only sekitori ranked wrestlers are), the Association provides a small allowance to all of them when they enter Grand Sumo. 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 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.[13] 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 the Sumo Museum.

Organization[edit]

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 the tax system.[14] Its 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[15]). Professor Mark D. West defined the organization of the Association as a "complex web of formal legal rules and informal social norms" while the association's choice to apply rules or to defect to norms "is based on a calculation of comparative efficiency".[1] In this case, "legal rules" refers to the legislative and judicials provisions as well as the organizational rules nominally approved by the Ministry of Education, as sumo's supervising agency, where social norms are traditional constraints not enforceable by law.[1]
The Japan Sumo Association relations between its members are primarily shaped by rules and norms related to the ownership and transfer of the "elder stocks" held by the Association elders.[1] Of all the employees of the Association only them can manage the organization.

The toshiyori kabu system[edit]

Former wrestlers gain the right to participate in the functioning 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 permitted 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 purchase them. Since the introduction of the Japan Sumo Association as a Public Interest Foundation, the shares were no longer purchasable, but rather collectively managed by the Association.[16] Japanese citizenship is also a prerequisite.

JSA chairman Musashigawa-oyakata (former Mienoumi) addresses the public at the beginning of the last day of the 2008 September tournament.

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. An exception to the normal acquisition is made for the most successful rikishi, former yokozuna, who may be offered a "one generation" elder stock (called ichidai toshiyori) without having to use a traditional share in the Association and enter their retirement duties with their wrestling name. Since this exception system has been in place, three former wrestlers (Taihō, Kitanoumi and Takanohana) have obtained this status.[17][18] A fourth, Chiyonofuji, was offered this status but preferred a normal share and became Kokonoe-oyakata. These four all achieved more than twenty tournament championships in their active careers.[17] 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".[19]

The members of the Association receive a salary and are expected to assist in the running of their stable and the Association, 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 a training stable, or heya (changed to beya as a suffix) which will take the same name as the founder's elder name. Thus Dewanoumi-oyakata will be the owner of Dewanoumi-beya. Typically about 50% of the Association members have their own stable, while 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 oyakata wishes to do this, the two may elect to swap names so that the stable can keep the more prestigious name. A recent example was in 1996, when the Association's chairman Dewanoumi-oyakata (former yokozuna Sadanoyama), swapped names with Sakaigawa-oyakata (former sekiwake Washūyama) who took over the running of Dewanoumi stable.

The Association members are also split into various ranks. A new retiree will begin his career as a coach at toshiyori rank (commonly called oyakata), except for former ōzeki and yokozuna who are automatically granted Committee Member rank. The most senior Association members are Committee Members.

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 the Association's eligibility requirements. In the case of a one-time membership mentioned above the name merely lapses. Like the toshiyori kabu system there can be only a limited number of them.

Other personnel[edit]

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 the Association until retirement age. The Association provides their training, usually conducted by seniors in their field of activity, and ranks them.

In addition, a limited number of positions do exist for retired wrestlers who did not fulfill 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:

  • Up to eight wakaimonogashira (若者頭), or "youth leaders", serve as officials of the Association. They typically work at their former stables or within the associated ichimon. Wakaimonogashira are tasked with arranging maezumō matches and supervising young sumo wrestlers from makushita and below. They also appear in public next to the dohyō during the honbasho closing ceremony, receiving the trophies given to the tournament winner to return them backstage.[20]
  • Up to 13 sewanin (世話人), or "caretakers", work as transportation and storage managers, handling Association equipment used for tournaments and regional tours. In addition they deal with miscellaneous, primarily physical tasks, as instructed by the master of the stable they belong to, or other Association members (including wakaimonogashira) or.[20]

Departments[edit]

Association organization[edit]

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.

Department Role Notes
Sumo School An institution that educates and train new apprentices for 6 months (1 year for foreign wrestlers).
Guidance Promotion Department A department that aims to hand down the techniques and traditions of sumo through training, sumo classes, and the publication of works. Even though it is called a department, all the toshiyori below the "committee member" rank (iin) belong to it.
Ethics Committee Deals with sumo wrestlers to prevent polemics to emerge from the wrestlers' attitude. In addition to the directors, deputy directors, and special executives, all the masters in the Association belong to it, therefore each stables must comply to what has been decided by the committee.
Also provides second career support for former sumo wrestlers.
Also called Life Guidance Committee
Crisis Management Department Established in 2012 for the purpose of preventing scandals and responding appropriately in the event that they do occur. In the event of a scandal, it is responsible for conducting investigations such as interviewing the parties involved, reporting to the Association and compiling a punishment plan.
Compliance Department Established in 2018 "to eradicate violence in the sumo world" by creating a network of whistleblowers. Each of the five ichimon (clans) have an appointed oyakata in charge of compliance.[21]
Operations Department Department responsible for the implementation and operation of the honbasho in Tokyo.
Judging Department Department that coordinates the shimpan, judges the honbasho outcomes and prepares the matches. The number of committee members is limited to 20.
Regional Honbasho Department Department responsible for the implementation and operation of local tournaments in Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka.
Jungyō Department Department responsible for the implementation and operation of local tours.
Public Relations Department Performs public relations work both domestically and internationally. In addition, the department in charge of filming, production and management of videos.
Competition Supervision Committee A department whose purpose is to prevent, monitor, and punish intentionally lethargic techniques and match-fixing during tournaments. Members are elected and appointed by the board of directors from among the toshiyori.
Social Contribution Department Conducts disaster support (disaster site visits, fund-raising, donations and support fund planning proposals); regional contribution (cleaning activities, planting activities, participation in festivals, visits to kindergartens and elementary schools, holding sports classes); welfare activities (promotion of visits to welfare facilities, understanding of activities by the Association) and commendation activities (visiting historical sites of sumo wrestling throughout Japan, paying homage to sumo figures of old and promoting exchanges with each region). Created in 2017 by Hakkaku Nobuyoshi.
Museum Steering Committee Operates the Sumo Museum and maintains, stores and exhibits historical materials related to sumo. The Sumo Museum is also in charge of publishing researchs. Directors are appointed for a three-year term. Most of them are former yokozuna who have retired from the Association. Several directors participates to the running of the museum.
Sumo Association Clinic The center mainly provides consultations for Association members. There are departments of internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, and physical therapy, and they are located in the Kokugikan. Injured wrestlers are treated here after their bouts.

Advisory body[edit]

To this organization adds an advisory body called the Yokozuna Deliberation Council.

Department Role
Yokozuna Deliberation Council An organization composed of experts outside the Association and mainly recommending
rikishi for promotion to yokozuna.

Elections[edit]

The possession of a toshiyori kabu is essential for the functioning of Association as elders (assembled in a board of trustees called hyōgiin-kai, 評議員会) votes for the board of the Association. 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 is currently five ichimon, each bearing the name of its leading stable: Dewanoumi, Isegahama, Nishonoseki, Takasago and Tokitsukaze.[22]
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 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 small ichimon.[23]
Stables aren't equally divided among the ichimon. As of October 2022, Nishonoseki has the most stables with 15, but Dewanoumi has the most affiliated oyakata (elders) with 35.[1][22]

As in 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 the stable leaving the Dewanoumi ichimon to join the Takasago ichimon. Also, in 2010, Takanohana stable (run under the "one in a generation kabu" 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 was then formally recognized as an ichimon (called Takanohana ichimon) in 2014.[24] The ichimon was however short lived and was disbanded in 2018 after the Takanoiwa affair.
Until 2018, there have been non-aligned stables, or lose coalitions that weren't formal ichimon, but in 2018 the Association ruled that all stables had to belong to one of the current ichimon.[22]

To strengthen the bonds between each stables of a same ichimon, the various ichimon hold joint practices (called degeiko) prior to tournaments.

Board of the Association[edit]

As of July 2023:[25]

Board of directors[edit]

Directors (called riji) are elected by a single anonymous vote by all the elders assembled in a board of trustees (called hyōgiin-kai, 評議員会) from candidates selected among the toshiyori and external candidates. Prior to 2014, 4 active sumo wrestlers serving as representatives and both the tate-gyōji had the right to vote, but with the transition to a public interest incorporated foundation, sumo wrestlers and referees no longer have the right to vote.
In September 2008, at the Ministry of Education's insistence after a series of scandals hit sumo, three external directors were appointed. One of the three, Murayama Hiroyoshi [ja], served as acting chairman for the July 2010 tournament while the then head, Musashigawa, was suspended.[26]
The board of directors elects a chairman (called rijichō, primus inter pares) from among themselves. Directors other than the chairman serve as department heads. Each board member serves a two-year term.

Position Name[2] Ichimon and occupation[25]
Chairman
Rijichō
理事長
Hakkaku Nobuyoshi Takasago
Director
Riji
理事
Operations director Shibatayama Yasushi Nishonoseki
Public Relations director
Ethics Committee director
Museum Steering Committee
Regional basho director (Fukuoka) Sakaigawa Hideaki Dewanoumi
Guidance and promotion director Kasugano Kiyotaka Dewanoumi
Competition Supervision Committee
Director of the headquarters security
Regional basho director (Nagoya) Dewanoumi Akikazu Dewanoumi
National Maintenance Committee director Michinoku Kazuhiro Tokitsukaze
Responsible for general planning
Museum Steering Committee
Judging Department chairman Sadogatake Mitsumune Nishonoseki
In charge of new apprentice inspection
Sumo School director Hanakago Tadaaki Nishonoseki
Crisis Management Department director
Compliance Department director
Museum Steering Committee
Regional basho director (Osaka) Isenoumi Hayato Tokitsukaze
External Directors
Gaiburiji
外部理事
Yamaguchi Toshikazu President of Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Head Office
Takano Toshio Attorney,
Head of Takano Law Firm, Former Superintendent Public Prosecutor of Nagoya High Public Prosecutors' Office
Imai Tamaki Managing Director at NHK Enterprises Inc
Auditors
Kanji
監事
Kajiki Hisashi Public prosecutor,
Former Superintending Prosecutor of Takamatsu High Public Prosecutors Office,
Member of Japanese Supreme Court (Supreme Court Administrative Appeal Review Committee)
Fukui Ryōji Former Vice Minister (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, MIC)
Kozu Kanna Writer
First woman appointed to the Japan Sumo Association board.

Deputy Directors[edit]

Position Name[3] Ichimon
Deputy Director
Fukuriji
副理事
Judging Department deputy general manager Kumegawa Yoshihiro Nishonoseki
In charge of new apprentice inspection
Operations Department manager Fujishima Takehito Dewanoumi
Judging Department deputy general manager (in charge of bouts organization)
Museum Steering Committee
In charge of new apprentice inspection
Jungyō Department deputy general manager Wakamatsu Takehiko Takasago
Headquarters Security deputy general manager

Special Executives[edit]

Position Name[4] Ichimon
Executive treatment committee
Yakuin taigū iin
役員待遇委員
Guidance and promotion deputy general manager Asakayama Hiroyuki Isegahama
Judging Department deputy chairman
Jungyō Department deputy general manager Irumagawa Tetsuo Dewanoumi
Headquarters Security deputy general manager
Guidance and promotion vice-director Nishikido Masayuki Takasago
Business Division deputy general manager (entrance and exit of the audience) Katsunoura Toshiro Tokitsukaze
Regional basho deputy manager (Fukuoka) Shiratama Katsuyuki Nishonoseki
Jungyō Department deputy general manager Kokonoe Ryuji Takasago
Headquarters Security deputy general manager
Guidance Promotion Department deputy manager Isegahama Seiya Isegahama
Crisis Management Department deputy general manager Kagamiyama Shōji Tokitsukaze

Counselor committee[edit]

Introduced in 2014, the counselor committee (Hyōgi-in, 評議員) is responsible for monitoring the shared interests of the ministry and the Association. Therefore, it is made up equally of retired oyakata (with no san'yo re-employment) elected within the Association and 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.
Having the task of "overseeing the execution of duties by the directors", auditors may attend meetings of the board of directors and the Board of Trustees, but have no voting rights.

Name[5] Occupation Note
External Ebisawa Katsuji Former NHK President
Former Chairman of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council
Former External-Director to the Association's board
Committee chairman
Kimura Keiji Former Mitsubishi Estate chairman
Kinya Takino Former Deputy Chief to the Cabinet Secretary
Michinari Kujō Meiji Shrine Chief Priest
Former wrestlers Morita Takeo Former Director at the Association's board Former Isenoumi oyakata
Ishida Yoshikazu Former Director at the Association's board Former Dewanoumi oyakata
Kozuka Hajime Former Wakafuji oyakata

List of past rijichō[edit]

Name[6] Year(s) Notes
Hirose Masanori [ja] 1925-1938 Army chief budget lieutenant general. First Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association.
Held the position until his death.
Fujishima Hidemitsu / Dewanoumi Hidemitsu 1944–1957 First president from the ranks of wrestlers. Founded the Kuramae Kokugikan. Changed kabu in 1949, in middle of his term.
Attempted to commit suicide by seppuku and gas in May 1957 after internal conflicts within the Association prompted a reaction from the National Diet. Rescued, he stood down of the chairmanship but stayed the head of his stable.
Tokitsukaze Sadaji 1957–1968 Started a series of reforms.
Remained in charge of the Association until his death from hepatitis in 1968.
Musashigawa Yoshihide 1968–1974 Pursued the efforts for modernizing sumo.
Kasugano Kiyotaka 1974–1988 Longest serving chairman to date.
Founded the current Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
Futagoyama Kanji 1988–1992
Dewanoumi Tomotaka / Sakaigawa Sho 1992–1998 Pursued the efforts for modernizing sumo. Changed kabu in 1996, in middle of his term.
Resigned in the middle of his fourth term in 1998 after the Association's board became mostly occupied by a rival faction.
Tokitsukaze Katsuo 1998–2002 Before being chairman of the Association, elected as a director at the age of 32 years old (the youngest ever for a director of the Japan Sumo Association). First ōzeki elected to the position.
Kitanoumi Toshimitsu 2002–2008 First chairman under the age of 50 in half a century. His first term was marked with scandal such as the 2007 hazing scandal and cannabis use by wrestlers.
Resigned his post in 2008.
Musashigawa Akihide 2008–2010 Suspended in 2010 after a series of scandals involving wrestlers gambling and associating with organised crime members.
He announced his resignation the month following his suspension.
Murayama Hiroyoshi [ja]
acting chairman
2010 Former Chief Public Prosecutor.
Appointed acting chairman of the Japan Sumo Association following the baseball gambling scandal in 2010.
It was the first time in 66 years that a non-professional sumo wrestler was appointed to the top of the Japan Sumo Association since Takeshita Isamu.
Hanaregoma Teruyuki 2010–2012 Entangled in a match-fixing scandal in 2011, he announced an independent investigation and drew criticism from sumo commentators.
Stood down from the chairmanship in 2012 as he was close to the mandatory retirement age of 65.
Kitanoumi Toshimitsu 2012–2015 Became the first person to head the Association twice. Died in office in 2015 due to hydronephrosis and anemia.
Hakkaku Nobuyoshi
current
since 2015 Appointed after defeating Takanohana Koji in a contested ballot. Re-elected for additional two-year terms in 2018, 2020 and 2022.

Controversies[edit]

In the decade from 2007 to 2017, the Association had to deal with a number of affairs like the Tokitsukaze stable disciple assault death case (2007), the case of foreign sumo wrestlers possessing and smoking cannabis (2008), the baseball gambling and match-fixing scandal (2010-2011), yokozuna Harumafuji's assault incident (2017) and the ban on women. While the Association had always benefited from leniency on a certain number of its practices, the evolutions of Japanese society and the ever more frequent media coverage of the scandals surrounding the Association contributed to the reaction of the latter and to the establishment of reforms in this world yet governed by immutable rules.

Links with criminals[edit]

In 2010, the Japan Sumo Association announced its decision to dismiss ōzeki Kotomitsuki and the Ōtake-oyakata (former Takatōriki), for betting on baseball games in a gambling ring run by the yakuza.[27] At the same time, two stable masters were demoted and an unprecedented 18 wrestlers banned from the July 2010 tournament.[28] Sumo Association chairman Hanaregoma declared in August 2010 that "violent groups or antisocial forces" were being banned from accessing tournament venues, training stables and other facilities.[29] The Association issued a statement on the matter, stating "the Japan Sumo Association are aware of their social responsibility and declare that they will work to eliminate anti-social forces such as organized crime groups".[30] Since then, members of organized crime groups are not allowed in sumo venues (such as the Ryōgoku Kokugikan), stables, supporters' associations and celebrations.[30]

Unequal treatments and accusation of racism[edit]

As the Association have the mission to perpetuate sumo traditions, a certain number of its practices and comments are often seen as dated. The treatment of injured wrestlers is often pointed out as unfair. In recent times, both yokozuna Hakuhō and Kakuryū drove criticism from the Yokozuna Deliberation Council for extended periods where they sat out tournaments due to injury. However, in the meantime, injured Japanese yokozuna Kisenosato did not get any critics and rather had encouragement from the council. The difference of treatment prompted criticism on the supposed preferential treatment.[31]

The inequality of treatment between wrestlers also drove suspicion of racism within the institution. The controversy arose when The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that Samoan-born ōzeki Konishiki had alleged racial discrimination was the reason for him being denied promotion to sumo's top rank of yokozuna.[32] The New York Times subsequently quoted Konishiki as saying, "If I were Japanese, I would be yokozuna already."[33] The Japan Sumo Association demanded an apology. Konishiki held a press conference during which he made his apology and tearfully denied making the remarks.
More recently, during the retirement of era defining Hakuhō , the "Experts' Meeting on the Succession and Development of Grand Sumo" (directed by Yamauchi Masayuki, a member of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council), which the Japan Sumo Association consulted on how sumo should be in response to the new era, suddenly came up with a proposal for "the abolition of the ichidai toshiyori kabu." The reason mentioned was that "there is no provision in the articles of incorporation of the Association that serves as a basis."[34] The Association faced severe criticism in particular on the basis of previous suspicions of racism.[35] However it is assumed the decision was taken to prevent the rise of another Takanohana controversy by giving a wrestler too much prestige.[34]

Violence and hazing[edit]

Sumo stables were well known for their systematic hazing and physical punishment of young disciples in order to "toughen them up".[36] Stable masters have often been proud to show to the media how they frequently use a shinai to beat those who fall out of line, and elder wrestlers are often put in charge of bullying younger ones to keep them in line, for instance, by making them hold heavy objects for long periods of time.[36] Also, the strict sumo hierarchy where senior and high-ranking wrestlers take responsibility to train their juniors often led to violence as in sumo the rank is a symbol of status.

The system of hazing was widely criticized in late 2007. A hazing scandal was exposed in which a Tokitsukaze stable's 17-year-old sumo trainee died after a serious bullying incident involving his stablemaster Jun'ichi Yamamoto hitting him on the head with a large beer bottle and fellow rikishi being subsequently ordered to physically abuse him further. The stablemaster and three other wrestlers who were involved were arrested in February 2008, after which Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda demanded the JSA take steps to ensure such an incident never happens again.[37] In May 2009, Yamamoto was sentenced to six years in jail.[38]
Violence affairs also came up to light in 2017, when Japanese newspaper Sports Nippon reported that yokozuna Harumafuji had assaulted fellow Mongolian wrestler Takanoiwa during a regional sumo tour in Tottori in late October. According to the report and other sources, Harumafuji was drinking with other sumo wrestlers (including Hakuhō, Kakuryū and Terunofuji)[39] and was admonishing Takanoiwa over his behavior. Angered that Takanoiwa was looking at his cell phone at the time, Harumafuji struck him in the head with a beer bottle and punched him 20 to 30 times.[40] Harumafuji was then questioned by the Sumo Association's crisis management panel, where he admitted to assaulting Takanoiwa.[41]

On October 25, 2018, the Association issued a statement introducing external experts involved in training, operation of procedures, and other measures to prevent the recurrence of violence.[42] However, this did not stop the violence scandals, and, on December 26, 2022, Isegahama-oyakata announced his resignation as director after a case of violence, where two junior wrestlers in his stable acted violently against younger wrestlers, with the victims beaten with wooden beams and burned with chankonabe hot water poured on their backs.[43] In May 2023, Michinoku stable's senior wrestler, Kirinofuji, assaulted another young wrestler, Yasunishi, who had to take the matter to the press to trigger a response. Stablemaster Michinoku was accused of having covered these facts of violence by contributing directly to the fact that the aggressor can remain within the stable then letting him retire with dignity and without any charges brought against him. Hanakago-oyakata, the director of the Compliance Department, is also criticized for having let the aggressor go unpunished, despite having been informed late and by the victim.[44]

In March 2023 a former lower-ranked wrestler in Sadogatake stable, Daisuke Yanagihara, sued the Japan Sumo Association and his former stablemaster (ex-Kotonowaka) on allegations that he was forced to quit the sport. Yanagihara claimed that his human rights were violated and that, during the COVID-19 pandemic when the Sumo Association instituted health protocols, he was denied his request to sit out of the January 2021 tournament over fears of contracting the virus following cardiac surgery. In the lawsuit, Yanagihara also alleged mistreatment of lower-ranked wrestlers in his former stable, such as being served meals containing meat that was years beyond its expiration date. As of July 2023 the Sumo Association has not commented on the allegations.[45]

Communication[edit]

[edit]

The cherry blossom shaped logo of the Association

The Japan Sumo Association, like most institutions, owns a mon. The design is based on cherry blossom, which is the national flower of Japan. Around the flower, two stylized "dai" (大) characters, extracted from the kanjis of professional sumo (ōzumo, 大相撲), can be seen.[46] The logo was created in 1909 for the opening of the first Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
This symbol can be found in various places when the Association holds celebration. It can be mainly seen on the tsuriyane's (suspended roof above the dohyō) curtains (called mizuhiki, 水引).[47]

Ukiyo-e[edit]

In 1985, the Japan Sumo Association created a partnership with nishiki-e artist Kinoshita Daimon [ja] in the hope of reviving old sumo ukiyo-e works.[48] He collaborated on the official ebanzuke. His portraits of wrestlers are sold at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.[49]

Mascots[edit]

Hiyonoyama, the chicken mascot of the Japan Sumo Association

On August 31, 2009, the Japan Sumo Association unveiled a group of official mascots under the title Hakkiyoi! Sekitori-kun (ハッキヨイ!せきトリくん). Designed to get more children interested in the sport, the characters are chickens (鶏, which can be read as とり, tori in Japanese) as chicken are considered good luck in sumo. A chicken walks on two legs, not four; similarly, a sumo wrestler loses the match if he is knocked off his feet and touches the ground with his hands or any part of his body.[50] The characters compete in sumo and are centered around main character Hiyonoyama (ひよの山), a pun on hiyo (ひよ) meaning chick, and his rival Akawashi (赤鷲).[51]

YouTube channels[edit]

The Japan Sumo Association launched its first YouTube channel on November 5, 2018, with content all in Japanese language. The channel offers light-hearted and humoristic videos, such as a golf competition between former yokozuna Hakuho, Kisenosato and Kakuryu or Chanko-nabe receipes with small skits featuring low-ranking wrestlers. It also provides more serious contents with insights on ceremonies held in the Kokugikan, such as the consecration of the dohyo before each tournaments or danpatsu-shiki (hair cutting ceremony). Old tournaments are also regularly reruned on the channel.
In August 2022, the association launched an English-language YouTube channel called Sumo Prime Time in hopes of drawing a larger international audience to the sport.[52] This new channel, presented by former NHK sumo sportscaster Hiroshi Morita, provides basic sumo explanations such as rikishi routine or training and kimarite moves. It also provides exclusive interviews of oyakata and rikishi, generally the winner of the previous tournament. The general tone of the channel is light-hearted.

Partnerships[edit]

In October 2021, the Japan Sumo Association formed a partnership with The Pokémon Company to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pokémon Red and Blue. During the Wanpaku National Championship (a kid sumo tournament held in October) and the November tournament, 200 Pokémon themed kensho banners were displayed and gyōji wore Poké Ball themed kimono. The Japanese YouTube channel Pokémon Kids TV also created a series of videos involving oyakata (former Kisenosato, Wakanosato and Toyonoshima) training Makuhita and presenting sumo culture to Pikachu.[53]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

1.^ As of January 2023, Nishonoseki have 15 stables, followed by Dewanoumi (14), Isegahama (6), Tokitsukaze (5) and Takasago (4). However Dewanoumi have 35 affiliated oyakata, followed by Nishonoseki (30), Tokitsukaze (16), Isegahama (12) and Takasago (10).
2-5.^ ^ ^ ^ Former wrestlers use their toshiyori kabu during their terms.
6.^ Counselors are referred with their birth name as they hold this position after their retirement.

References[edit]

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External links[edit]