In sumo wrestling, a is a ring-entering ceremony ('' dohyō-iri'') performed by a former '' yokozuna'' in celebration of his 60th birthday (called ''kanreki'' in Japanese). If he is a '' toshiyori'' (a sumo elder), the ceremony is usually held at the

Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The fist ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the lands of the Ekōin temple in Ry ...

, the main sumo hall in Tokyo. Those who are not current members of the Japan Sumo Association must hold it at another location. A special red '' tsuna'' is created and worn, instead of the usual white ''tsuna''. Reaching your 60th birthday is an important occasion in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

and is celebrated by wearing a red item. This is commonly known as an but this term is unofficial. If the dew-sweeper or sword-bearer is a former ''yokozuna'', he wears his own ''tsuna''.

History

The first ''kanreki dohyō-iri '' was originally held to celebrate the achievements of legendary '' yokozuna'' Tachiyama, who had recorded just three defeats since his promotion to the supreme title of ''yokozuna'', on the occasion of his sixtieth anniversary. The ceremony took place at the Ueno Seiyōken, a renowned French cuisine restaurant in Tsukiji (

Chūō, Tokyo is a Special wards of Tokyo, special ward that forms part of the heart of Tokyo, Japan. The ward refers to itself in English as Chūō City. It was formed in 1947 as a merger of Kyōbashi, Tokyo, Kyobashi and Nihonbashi wards following Tokyo C ...

). The , the ''yokozunas supporters association ('' koenkai'') when he was still active, organized a 300-cover banquet for the event, attended by, among others, Tōyama Mitsuru and , two influential members of the nobility to whom the Japan Sumo Association owed much of its influence.

Kanreki performed at Kokugikan

Hwangab Kanreki Dohyo-iri from Tsunenohana 1956 Scan10058

Wrestlers are listed using their ring name, followed by their then ''toshiyori'' name in brackets if they were retired at the time of the ceremony.

Kanreki performed at other locations

Tachiyama's was the first ''kanreki-dohyo-iri'' and the only one to use the ''

shiranui is an atmospheric ghost lights, atmospheric ghost light told about in Kyushu. They are said to appear on days of the noon moon such the (29th or 30th day) of the seventh month of the lunisolar Japanese calendar when the wind is weak, in the ...

'' style until Asahifuji's in 2021. Mienoumi performed an early ''kanreki dohyō-iri'' seven months before his 60th birthday, on the 25th anniversary of the founding of Musashigawa stable.

Other eligible Yokozuna

Minanogawa Tōzō,

Akinoumi Setsuo , born , was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Hiroshima. He was the sport's 37th ''yokozuna''. Career Akinoumi made his professional debut in February 1932 and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in January 1938. He was the man who ...

and

Hiroshi Wajima was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Nanao, Ishikawa. He was the sport's 54th ''yokozuna'' and remains the only wrestler with a collegiate background to reach its highest rank. Entering professional sumo in 1970, he won a total of 14 ...

also reached the age of sixty years whilst retired, but did not perform a ''kanreki dohyō-iri'' (all three had left the sumo world many years before). Kagamisato Kiyoji (Tatsutagawa),

Tochinoumi Teruyoshi was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Aomori. He was the sport's 49th ''yokozuna'', earning promotion in 1964. He was somewhat overshadowed by his ''yokozuna'' contemporaries Taihō and Kashiwado, but he was a noted technician and ear ...

(Kasugano), Sadanoyama Shinmatsu (Sakaigawa) and

Kotozakura Masakatsu was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kurayoshi, Tottori. He was the sport's 53rd ''yokozuna''. He made his professional debut in 1959, reaching the top division in 1963. After several years at the second highest rank of '' ōzeki'', ...

(Sadogatake) received red ''tsuna'' but did not perform ''dohyō-iri''. Kagamisato and Kotozakura did not perform due to poor health. Similarly Tochinoumi did not perform due to muscle problems in his right arm dating back to his active days. Sadanoyama declined because at the time he had just lost the chairmanship of the Sumo Association in controversial circumstances. Asashio Tarō (Takasago) had a red ''tsuna'' made, but died aged 58 without performing the ceremony. Asahifuji was scheduled to perform the kanreki ceremony on 30 May 2020 but the event was postponed owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic. It was eventually held on 3 October 2021 at the Kokugikan. Ōnokuni Yasushi reached 60 years of age in October of 2022, however, no plans for a ''dohyō-iri'' were reported.

References

External links