26
YOUR GLOBAL CRAFTSMAN STUDIO
Yokozuna
Ozeki
Sekiwake
Komusubi
Maegashira
Juryo
Makushita
Sandanme
Jonidan
Jonokuchi
Sanyaku
Strike the opponent’s side or chest to
push himout of the ring.
Oshidashi(frontalpush-out) Yorikiri(frontalforce-out)
Uwatenage(overarmthrow) Kinjite(forbidden)
Source of Emotions
“I hope to pass on this cultivated
technology.” “Drill a hole by hand
through soap and feel with all of
your senses.” “Daily repetition
makes people strong.”
Even in interviews that start off
on a nervous note, after several
carefully chosen questions there
usually comes a time when
even experienced interviewee’s
let their guard down and open
up their inner thoughts. It is
at thismoment that the really
pertinent points can be expressed
freely and openly and a genuine
article can be written from those
reactions.
Pure emotionsmake people
try harder and they follow their
heart, wherever it leads. Their
strong desires push themalong
and these repeated efforts can
create a breakthrough. People
are attracted to their crystal clear
source of emotions, as these are
the efforts that make them real.
”Your Global Craftsman Studio”
Chief Editor; Hideyuki Ozawa
(Business Development and
Planning Department)
Your Global Craftsman Studio
Vol.2
Published by Business
Development and Planning
Department, Mitsubishi Materials
Corporation
Unauthorized copying and
replication of the contents of
this site, text and images are
strictly prohibited. MIRACLE in
this document is a registered
trademark of Mitsubishi Materials
Corporation.
Sumo basics
There are 82winning
moves in Sumo
Sumo rules are simple. The Gyoji is the referee and
two men wearing sumo belts wrestle until one wins by
knocking the other down or pushing him out of the ring.
If one commits a foul such as intentionally pulling the
opponent’s hair or by grabbing him, he automatically
loses. Tournaments called Honbasho are held six times a
year and each lasts for 15 days. The wrestlers engage in
one bout a day and the wrestler with the most wins is the
champion. The official list showing thewrestlers’ rankings
iscalledthebanzuke.Therearetenranks,fromJyonokuchi
at the bottom through to Yokozuna at the top. In Japanese
sumo wrestling, the banzuke means everything. The
ranking represents the size of each wrestler’s salary and
the level of privileges they are entitled to. Only wrestlers
who have reached Sandanme (third stage) are allowed to
wear leather-soled sandals and only Juryo and above can
wear the formal attire, haori hakama.The promotion and
demotion in ranks is determined at the banzuke ranking
conference held after each tournament. Essentially, the
rank of a wrestler goes up when he wins eight or more
bouts during a tournament and goes down with eight or
more losses. Traditionally therearenoboutsheldbetween
members of the same stable or between brothers. This is
based on the deep-rooted hidden samurai compassion
that would pity both parties confronted in such a situation.
A winning move in sumo wrestling is called a kimarite,
of which there are currently 82. Of these, the most
commonly used is yorikiri, followedby oshidashi. Nearly
half of the kimarite used in post-intermission bouts
during the 2015 Hatsu Basho (January tournament)
were yorikiri and oshidashi, which are classified as
basic kimarite skills. Other skills include sokubi otoshi
where an opponent is struck downs from above the
neck and tsumadori where the opponent’s foot is pulled
back in order tomake him fall.
Sumo Trivia
WA
Push the opponent out of the ring by
attacking the torso andmoving him
backwards or sideways.
To grab themawashi (belt) fromover
the opponent’s extended hand and
throw him.
Sumo wrestler names are larger and
thicker as the rank rises
Wrestlers are
divided into
ten ranks.
Each level has
amaximum
number of
positions.
Dangerous and dirty moves such as
grabbing hair, striking with a closed
fist or slapping both ears at once with
open hands are forbidden.
1.Onlymencanbecomesumowrestlers.
Womenarenotallowed.
To become a sumo wrestler, you need to clear
three conditions to pass as a new apprentice,
known as a Shin-deshi 1) You are amale, under
23 years of age and have completed compulsory
education. 2) You are at least 173cm tall. 3) You
weigh at least 75kg. It is documented in the
sumo rules that “wrestlers are limited to the
male gender”.
2.The“Splits”arean importantpartofthe
trainingtobecomeastrongwrestler.
Themost important thing for a sumo wrestler
is to train his body to be flexible so that he
doesn’t get injured. As part of this routine they
practice the “splits”, stretching their legs to the
left and right. Wrestlers who have completed
trainingmust be able to spread their legs 180
degrees while touching their torso and chin flat
on the floor. Newwrestlers practice in the sumo
training room in the Kokugikan for sixmonths to
learn the basics, including the splits.
3.Ryogoku isfilledwithrestaurantsthat
specialize inchankonabe,asumowrestlers
cuisine.
Chanko nabe is known as standard sumo
wrestler food. It is a huge hot pot with stewed
seasonal vegetables, fish and chicken, eaten
with a dipping sauce or ponzu vinegar. Many
specialty restaurants line the streets Ryogoku,
home of the Ryogoku Kokugikan where chanko
nabe originated.
4.Throwingsaltbeforeabout istocleanse
impurities.
Before a bout sumo wrestlers sometimes throw
salt. This custombegan as a ritual to cleanse
the dohyo, which is considered a sacred place.
During the Honbasho, about 45 kilograms of salt
is used a day. This adds up tomore than 650kg
for the duration of the tournament. Wrestlers are
only permitted to throw the salt after they reach
Makushita status, and only when time allows.
5.Likebusinessmen,sumowrestlersarepaid
salaries.
Sumo wrestlers are paid on a salary system,
but salaries are paid only to wrestlers who are
at Juryo ranking or higher. The Makushita and
lower ranks are paid an allowance for each
Basho. A Yokozuna’s basic salary is 2.82million
yen per month and a Makushita’s allowance
is 150,000 yen per Basho. There is also prize
money and themore a wrestler wins, themore
money he can earn.
6.TheMan-inOnrei(fullhouse)banner is
displayed inaccordancewithticketsales
The banner over the suspended roof reads
“Man-in Onrei” andmeans that it is a full house
(see upper photo on previous page). This banner
is lowered after the Juryo bouts are finished at
themoment the “ki” (wooden clappers) start to
signal the beginning of the Makuuchi bouts. It is
said that the banner is only shown if at least 80%
of the admission tickets for that day are sold by
3:00 p.m.
Fig. Rank and number of wrestlers
Juryo (max. 28)
Sumo wrestler
Under Makushita
Makuuchi
(max. 42)
