Judge (sumo)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

:''This article about a judge in sumo. For a kind of a feudal domain in the Edo period, see
Shinpan (daimyo) was a class of ''daimyō'' in the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan who were certain relatives of the ''Shōgun''. While all ''shinpan'' were relatives of the ''shōgun'', not all relatives of the shōgun were ''shinpan''; an example of this is the M ...
.'' or Shinpan are the ring-side judges of a professional
sumo is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a ''rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring (''dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by thr ...
bout. In a sumo ''
honbasho A is an official professional sumo tournament. The number of ''honbasho'' every year has varied along the years; since 1958 there are six tournaments every year. Only ''honbasho'' results matter in determining promotion and relegation for ''riki ...
'' tournament five ''shimpan'' sit around the ring to observe which wrestler wins the matchup. When judging tournament bouts they wear formal Japanese dress of '' otokomono'', ''
haori The is a traditional Japanese hip- or thigh-length jacket worn over a kimono. Resembling a shortened kimono with no overlapping front panels (), the typically features a thinner collar than that of a kimono, and is sewn with the addition of ...
'' with '' mon'', and ''
hakama are a type of traditional Japanese clothing. Originally stemming from (), the trousers worn by members of the Chinese imperial court in the Sui and Tang dynasties, this style was adopted by the Japanese in the form of in the 6th centu ...
''. At the end of each bout an initial decision is given by the ''
gyōji A ''gyōji'' () is a referee in professional sumo wrestling in Japan. ''Gyōji'' usually enter the sumo world as teenagers and remain employees of the Sumo Association until they retire aged 65. There are currently a little over 40 active ''gy ...
'' (the ring referee), which is usually correct and no action is taken by the ''shimpan''. Five ''shimpan'' sit around the ring during the tournament. The order of importance of the ''shimpan'' is determined by where they sit. The order of importance goes North, East, South East, South West, West. They will rotate where they sit every day to maintain equality. However, during the top division only the chief ''shimpan'' and his two deputies may sit in the North. The South East ''shimpan'' also acts as the timekeeper and gives a signal to the ''gyōji'' (referee) when preparation time is up and the wrestlers should fight. Prior to September 1952 the raised shire roof (''tsuriyane'') was supported by columns and the ''shimpan'' would sit in front of the columns. If one of the ''shimpan'' disagrees or is unsure about the decision then he raises his hand and the five of them climb into the ring, or ''
dohyō A ''dohyō'' (, ) is the space in which a sumo wrestling bout occurs. A typical ''dohyō'' is a circle made of partially buried rice-straw bales 4.55 meters in diameter. In official professional tournaments (''honbasho''), it is mounted on a squa ...
'' to hold a ''mono-ii''. A ''mono-ii'' (of the ''shimpan'' only) can in principle also be called by any of the four sumo wrestlers awaiting their bout around the ring, although it is an extremely rare occurrence. During the ''mono-ii'' the five ''shimpan'' give their views on what happened. The ''gyōji'' is usually able to listen in but is not expected to take part unless invited to do so. (In a famous case in January 1972, when the ''shimpan'' overruled the ''gyōji'' and said that
Kitanofuji is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Asahikawa, Hokkaidō. He made his professional debut in 1957, reaching the top ''makuuchi'' division in 1964. He was the sport's 52nd ''yokozuna'', a rank he attained in 1970. He won ten tourn ...
was the winner because his opponent was ''
shini-tai is a term used in sumo wrestling. In general, the first sumo wrestler to touch any body part outside the ring, or have any part of his body other than the soles of his feet touch the ground loses. There are exceptions to the rule, ''shini-tai'' ...
'' and Kitanofuji was entitled to put his hand down first to prevent injury (''kabai-te''), the ''gyōji'' was seen to be arguing with the officials.) Overturning a call can be a serious matter for a ''gyōji'' as he has to file a report and it can hinder his promotion, lead to suspension for a number of days, or in very rare cases resignation. For top division matches, the deliberations are further advised by two further ''shimpan'' in a video room, in communication with the chief ''shimpan'' (who is always one of the three senior members of the judging committee) via an audio link in his ear. The use of video was brought in at a result of a famous bout in March 1969 in which the ''
yokozuna , 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 on ...
'' Taihō was adjudged to have lost the bout despite subsequent replays and photographs indicating otherwise. The referee had originally given the victory to Taihō, but the judges reversed his decision. The loss of this bout broke an extremely unusual 45 bout winning streak by the ''yokozuna'' and consequently the decision received much adverse publicity. One of the two ''shimpan'' in the video booth must now also be one of the three most senior judges. This rule was brought in as a result of judging controversies in the 1990s. The result of the ''mono-ii'' can be to uphold the ''gyōji's'' decision (so-called ''
gunbai The is a type of signal baton and Japanese war fan. Once held by military leaders (such as daimyō) and priests in the past, it is used in the modern day by umpires in sumo wrestling. Description ''Gunbai'', from the Sino-Japanese roots mea ...
-dōri''), reverse his decision (''gunbai-sashichigai''), or call a rematch (''torinaoshi''). Prior to 1926 draws (''azukari'') were allowed. The head ''shimpan'' is responsible for making the announcement and a brief explanation to the wrestlers and spectators. All the ''shimpan'' are ''
oyakata The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...
'', or sumo elders, of the
Japan Sumo Association The 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). ''Rikishi'' (active ...
and are members of its judging committee. At the end of each ''honbasho'' tournament the judging committee members also have the responsibility to decide the ranking of the wrestlers for the following tournament, which includes making the initial formal recommendation for the promotion of a wrestler to the rank of '' ōzeki'' to the Sumo Association board of directors. A special advisory body of external members is responsible for initial recommendations of promotion to the top rank of ''yokozuna''. The judging committee has 23 members at any one time. The three chief ''shimpan'', who are nearly always former ''yokozuna'' or ''ōzeki'', serve two-year terms, while the other 20 members serve one-year terms. An ''oyakata'' is normally expected to have reached at least a high ''
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 on ...
'' rank as an active wrestler and must usually wait at least five years after retirement to become a ''shimpan''. One exception was Nishonoseki (the 72nd ''yokozuna''
Kisenosato is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Ibaraki. He made his professional debut in 2002, and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in 2004 at the age of just 18. After many years in the junior ''san'yaku'' ranks, he reached the seco ...
), who was named to the judging committee just three years after his retirement.


References

{{Reflist Sumo people Sports officiating