|
Kōtetsuyama Toyoya
(July 9, 1942 – April 14, 1996), born , was a sumo wrestler from Otaru, Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank was ''sekiwake''. After his retirement he became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and the head coach of Onaruto stable. Career He made his professional debut in March 1957, joining Asahiyama stable. He won the ''yūshō'' or tournament championship with a 13-2 record in the ''jūryō'' division in July 1963 and was promoted to the top ''makuuchi'' division in the following tournament in September 1963. He was demoted back to ''jūryō'' after only two tournaments and changed his ''shikona'' to Futasegawa, which had been the fighting name of his stablemaster. He won promotion back to ''makuuchi'' in July 1964 but was demoted again, this time after three tournaments. After switching back to the Kotetsuyama name he won promotion to ''makuuchi'' for the third time in May 1965 after a 12-3 ''jūryō'' runner-up performance, and this time stayed in the top division ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Asahiyama Stable
was a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Isegahama ''ichimon'' or group of stables. It had a long history. It closed its doors in January 2015, and its staff and wrestlers transferred to other stables. History In its active period, Asahiyama stable was one of the oldest continually-running stables in sumo, dating back to 1896. At the time of its closing it was the only stable still in existence that could trace its lineage back directly to the days of the once-rival Osaka sumo organization where it had a strong base, producing the 28th ''yokozuna'' Ōnishiki Daigorō in 1918. During the 1970s the stable was home to six Tongan wrestlers (including Sione Vailahi and Tonga Fifita) recruited by former ''maegashira'' , but when he died in 1975 they were caught up in a succession dispute between former ''maegashira'' and the man who eventually became the new head, former ''komusubi'' Wakafutase. They sided with Futaseyama's widow, who preferred Ryūō to take over, and were ultim ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kinboshi
is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked (''maegashira'') wrestler's victory over a ''yokozuna''. It is believed that the term stems from the usage of the terms ''shiroboshi'' (lit: white star) to designate a bout victory, and ''kuroboshi'' (black star) to designate a bout defeat. Thus, a "gold star" designates it as a special victory. The word ''kinboshi'' first came into popular use in the Taishō period (1912-1926), and the system of monetarily awarding a ''maegashira'' who defeated a ''yokozuna'' in an official tournament began in January, 1930. A ''kinboshi'' victory increases the balance in the ''maegashiras '' mochikyūkin'' account by 10 yen. This balance is converted using a multiplier, presently 4,000, and added to the wrestler's bonus in every subsequent tournament in which he competes as a ''sekitori''. With six tournaments a year, this one victory corresponds to a pay increase of 240,000 yen per annum for the remainder of the wres ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sekitori
A ''sekitori'' (関取) is a ''rikishi'' (力士, sumo wrestler) who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: ''makuuchi'' and ''jūryō''. The name literally translates to having taken the barrier, as only a relatively small fraction of those who enter professional sumo achieve ''sekitori'' status. Currently there are 70 ''rikishi'' in these divisions. The benefits of being a ''sekitori'' compared to lower ranked wrestlers are significant and include: * to receive a salary and bonus (those in the lower divisions merely receive an allowance) * to have one's own supporters' club * to wear high quality men's kimono and other items of attire * to have a private room in the training stable * to be able to get married and live away from the training stable * to have junior ''rikishi'' to effectively act as their personal servants * to wear a silk ''mawashi'' with stiffened cords (called ''sagari'') in tournament bouts * to participate in the ring entrance ceremony and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kimarite
''Kimarite'' ( ja, 決まり手) is the technique used in sumo by a ''rikishi'' (wrestler) to win a match. It is officially decided or announced by the ''gyōji'' (referee) at the end of the match, though judges can modify this decision. The records of ''kimarite'' are then kept for statistical purposes. The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) have officially recognized 82 such techniques since 2001, with five also recognized as winning non-techniques. However, only about a dozen of these are frequently and regularly used by ''rikishi''. A sumo match can still be won even without a ''kimarite'', by the virtue of disqualification due to a ''kinjite'' (foul), such as striking with closed fist. Basic The basic techniques ( ja, 基本技, kihonwaza) are some of the most common winning techniques in sumo, with the exception of ''abisetaoshi''. ''Abisetaoshi'' is a rarely used basic ''kimarite'' that pushes down the opponent into the ground back-first by leaning forward while grappl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mawashi
In sumo, a is the loincloth that (sumo wrestlers) wear during training or in competition. Upper ranked professional wrestlers wear a as part of the ring entry ceremony or . For top ranked professional , it is made of silk and comes in a variety of colours. It is approximately in length when unwrapped, about wide and weighs about . It is wrapped several times around the and fastened in the back by a large knot. A series of stiffened silk fronds of matching colour called are inserted into the front of the . Their number varies from 13 to 25, and is always an odd number. They mark out the only part of the that it is illegal to grab on to: the vertical part covering the 's groin, and if they fall out during competition the (referee) will throw them from the ring at the first opportunity. Sometimes a may wear his in such a way as to give him some advantage over his opponent. He may wear it loosely to make it more difficult to be thrown, or he may wrap it tightly and spl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yakuza
, also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media, by request of the police, call them , while the ''yakuza'' call themselves . The English equivalent for the term ''yakuza'' is gangster, meaning an individual involved in a Mafia-like criminal organization. The ''yakuza'' are known for their strict codes of conduct, their organized fiefdom nature and several unconventional ritual practices such as ''yubitsume'' or amputation of the left little finger. Members are often portrayed as males, wearing "sharp suits" with heavily tattooed bodies and slicked hair. This group is still regarded as being among "the most sophisticated and wealthiest criminal organizations". At their height, the ''yakuza'' maintained a large presence in the Japanese media and operated internationally. At their peak in the early 1960s, police estimated that the ''yakuza'' had a membership of more than 200,000."Police of Japan 2 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Match-fixing In Professional Sumo
Match-fixing in professional sumo is an allegation that has plagued professional sumo for decades. Due to the amount of money changing hands depending on rank and prize money, there had been numerous reports of (corruption, bout-fixing) in professional sumo for years before it was finally definitively proven to exist in 2011. The hierarchical structure of the sport, in which a minority of top-ranked wrestlers have great advantages in salary, privileges, and status over the lower-ranked wrestlers that make up the majority of sumo participants, may have contributed to the use of match-fixing in order to prolong careers for top-ranked wrestlers and assist in the distribution of promotions. Previous speculation In 2002, Steven Levitt and Mark Duggan published a paper using econometrics in order to suggest that corruption in sumo exists. Popularized in Levitt's book ''Freakonomics'', the study found that 70% of wrestlers with 7–7 records on the final day of the tournament (i.e., seven ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ballet Training
Classical ballet is any of the traditional, formal styles of ballet that exclusively employ classical ballet technique. It is known for its aesthetics and rigorous technique (such as en pointe, pointe work, turnout (ballet), turnout of the legs, and high extensions), its flowing, precise movements, and its ethereal qualities. There are stylistic variations related to an area or origin, which are denoted by classifications such as Russian ballet, French ballet, British ballet and Italian ballet. For example, Russian ballet features high extensions and dynamic turns, whereas Italian ballet tends to be more grounded, with a focus on fast, intricate footwork. Many of the stylistic variations are associated with specific training methods that have been named after their originators. Despite these variations, the performance and vocabulary of classical ballet are largely consistent throughout the world. History Ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance courts and was brought to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ishinriki Kōji
Ishinriki Kōji (born 24 January 1961 as Kōji Iibashi) is a former sumo wrestler from Suginami, Tokyo, Japan. His highest rank was ''jūryō'' 1. He was one of the smallest '' sekitori'' ever at and . After his retirement in 1990 he became a professional wrestler for a number of organizations including Super World of Sports, WAR, Pro Wrestling Crusaders and IWA Japan. Sumo career Despite his family having a background in professional wrestling he took part in many regional sumo competitions in elementary and junior high school. He entered professional sumo in March 1976, joining Onaruto stable. He was recruited by the former '' sekiwake'' Kōtetsuyama. He initially fought under the '' shikona'' of Wakakotetsu, based on his stablemaster's, but in 1984 he became Ishinriki ("renewal power"), the name which he was also to use in pro-wrestling. He had a muscular build quite unlike other sumo wrestlers, but despite his weight disadvantage he managed to reach the ''jūryō'' divisio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Itai Keisuke
was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Usuki, Oita, Japan. His highest rank was ''komusubi''. He held the record for most consecutive victories from entry into sumo for several years before it was broken by Jōkōryū in 2012. After his retirement, Itai caused controversy by claiming that the outcomes of many of his matches were set by match-fixing. Career He played baseball at elementary school but was converted to sumo at Oita Prefectural Ocean Science High School where his older brother was active in the school's sumo team. Despite being scouted by ex-Yoshibayama of the Miyagino stable and solicitations from the Nihon University and Komazawa University sumo teams, he did not think he could make the grade as a pro. Instead, after graduating from high school he worked in the ceramics industry until he was 22. He was active in his company's sumo division and won many national youth competitions as an amateur. He did not turn professional until September 1978 when he joined Onarut ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maegashira
, or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the only division that is featured on NHK's standard live coverage of sumo tournaments. The lower divisions are shown on their satellite coverage, with only the ''makuuchi'' broadcast having bilingual English commentary. ''Makuuchi'' literally means "inside the curtain", a reference to the early period of professional sumo, when there was a curtained-off area reserved for the top ranked wrestlers, to sit before appearing for their bouts. Wrestlers are considered for promotion or demotion in rank before each grand tournament according to their performance in the one previous. Generally, a greater number of wins than losses (''kachi-koshi'') results in a promotion, and the reverse (''make-koshi'') results in demotion. There are stricter criteria ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
