Gyōji

Originally there were no official referees in sumo: if there were any close matches the emperor would determine the winner.[1] It was not until the early 16th century, with the help of Oda Nobunaga, that gyōji started to make an appearance.

The gyōji's principal and most obvious task is to referee bouts between two sumo wrestlers. After the yobidashi has called them into the ring, the gyōji will also call out each wrestler's name. It is the gyōji's responsibility to watch over the wrestlers as they go through the initial prebout staring contests, and then coordinate the initial charge (or tachi-ai) between the wrestlers. After he has been signaled by the shinpan (ringside judge) time keeper, the gyōji will indicate that the preparation time (four minutes for the top division) is up by saying "jikan desu, te wo tsuite" ("it's time, put hands down") and signal with his gunbai that the bout is to begin. He will sometimes add, "kamaete mattanashi!" ("prepare, will not wait!") Sometimes the gyōji will shout hakki-yoi (lit. "Go on and spar" or "Put some spirit into it") or "nokotta" ("you're still in") after a good tachi-ai. Although it is the wrestlers that ultimately determine the exact point at which the tachi-ai is initiated, if the two wrestlers' breathing is not synchronized or if one wrestler charges before they both put down their hands then the gyōji will shout "Madamada" ("Not yet!"), while raising his hand between the two wrestlers. This is referred to as a matta or a false start, and only the gyōji can call this. If the gyōji does not call a matta, a wrestler must fight even if he was not ready. Once a matta has been ruled, the wrestlers must return to their starting positions and try another tachi-ai.

During the bout, the gyōji should keep the wrestlers informed that the bout is still live (it is possible for a wrestler to brush his foot outside the ring without realizing it). He does this by shouting "nokotta nokotta!" (残った、残った！), which roughly means: "You're still in it! You're still in it!" The gyōji also has the responsibility to encourage the wrestlers to get a move on when action between them has completely stopped: for instance, when both of them are locked up on each other's mawashi in the middle of the ring. He will do this by shouting "yoi hakkeyoi, eh! yoi hakkeyoi, eh!" (発気揚々, 発気揚々!). If the match is getting very long (four or five minutes) with little movement, then the gyōji may call for a mizu-iri or water break. The gyōji will then record specifically how they were before the break occurred, and will put them back in exactly the same position once the break has concluded. Additionally, the gyōji may call for a short break if he needs to fix a wrestler's mawashi. Mid-match breaks are rare, but do happen. When a wrestler has apparently fallen to the clay, the gyōji is expected to determine the winner of the bout. His most obvious accessory is a solid wooden war-fan, called a gunbai, which he uses in the prebout ritual and in pointing to the winner's side at the end of each bout, and will often shout "Shobu-ari" ("A decision has been reached").

The gyōji's decision as to the winner of the bout can be called into question by one of the five shinpan (judges) who sit around the ring. If they dispute the result they hold a mono-ii (lit: a talk about things) in the center of the ring, linked through an earpiece to a further two judges in a video room. They can confirm the decision of the gyōji (gunbai-dori or way of the gunbai), overturn it (sashi-chigae), or order a rematch (torinaoshi). The gyōji is not expected to take part in the discussion during a mono-ii unless asked to do so. In many cases, a match may be too close to call, or the gyōji may not have managed to get a clear view of the end of the bout. Regardless, he is still obliged to make a split second decision as to his choice of "winner". This creates pressure on the gyōji, especially considering that a reversed decision (sashi-chigae) is like a black mark. Every time a gyōji's call is overturned they must submit a written report about the ruling to the Japanese Sumo Association. Too many overturned calls and it may affect a gyōji's future career (such referees are never demoted; rather they are simply passed over for promotion). The top two gyōji (tategyōji) carry a tantō (dagger) to symbolize their willingness to commit seppuku if they have their call overturned. Instead of actually committing seppuku they will instead submit letters of resignation. Most letters of resignation are not accepted, though there have been instances where they have been; instead the gyōji may be suspended for a number of days.

In addition to refereeing matches, gyōji have a number of other responsibilities. Before a tournament begins one of the top gyoji tategyoji and two other gyōji acting as Shinto priests will perform the dohyō matsuri (lit. ring festival) where they will consecrate and purify the ring. They also officially lead the ring entering ceremonies. During a tournament they announce the following day's matches. They are also responsible for keeping the records of wrestlers' results, and determining the technique used by a particular wrestler in winning a bout. At the end of the tournament one gyōji will stand in the center of the ring and will be tossed into the air by lower-ranked wrestlers as a way of sending off the kami (deities). The gyōji also serve as moderators for ranking and match-combination conferences. Before a tournament they draw up an ornate ranking list called a banzuke written in a special calligraphic style called negishi-ryu. It can take a gyōji up to 10 years to qualify to write the banzuke, and it can take up to three different gyōji three days to finish writing the ita banzuke, which is much larger and rests outside the stadium. The Ita banzuke were used as a promotional billboard during the Edo Period. All gyōji are also associated with one of the sumo training stables throughout their career and have many individual duties in assisting their stablemaster, such as performing clerical work. Additionally, the tategyōji both serve on the deliberation council which is the governing council of the Japanese Sumō Association.[2]

Career progression is based on a ranking system similar in name to that used for sumo wrestlers (see sumo). The rank nominally represents the rank of wrestler that they are qualified to referee for. The biggest factor in determining promotion of a gyōji is seniority. However, this is not always the sole factor; others include accuracy in refereeing, good voice projection, leadership qualities, calligraphy skill, speed, and agility.[3] These are the skills at the heart of the profession and they are passed down by senior gyōji to junior gyōji. While gyōji are not demoted, they may be passed over for promotion if they have had too many of their calls reversed.

Ranks in decreasing order

• tate-gyōji (chief gyōji)
• san'yaku-gyōji
• makuuchi-gyōji
• jūryō-gyōji
• makushita-gyōji
• sandanme-gyōji
• jonidan-gyōji
• jonokuchi-gyōji

Top gyōji (makushita and above) are assigned tsukebito, or personal attendants in their stable, just as top wrestlers (sekitori) are. These may be junior referees or lower-ranked wrestlers. There is a superstition in the sumo world that a wrestler serving a gyōji will not go on to have a successful career.[4]

Gyōji normally join around the age of 19. They are then given a three-year apprenticeship, though they may be promoted during that time. On average it takes a gyōji 15 years to be promoted to officiating juryo matches. It takes another 15 years to be promoted to officiating makuuchi matches. The tategyōji (top two gyōji) usually have anywhere from 40 to 50 years of experience.[3]

The now retired 33rd (out of 37) Kimura Shōnosuke, the top-ranked gyōji, indicated by the solid purple tassels on his outfit.

When refereeing matches senior gyōji wear elaborate silk outfits, based on Japanese clothing from the Heian and Ashikaga periods, with influences from the Edo period.

Technically a gyōji of this rank would not have a tantō and would also wear zōri sandals.

Like the sumo wrestlers, gyōji ranked at makushita level and below wear a much simpler outfit than those ranked above them. It is made of cotton rather than silk and is about knee length. The outfit also incorporates a number of rosettes (kikutoji), and tassels (fusa) which are normally green, but can be black in colour. Within the dohyō (ring) they are also expected to go barefoot.

On promotion to the lowest senior rank of jūryō the gyōji will change into the more elaborate full length silk outfit. The kikutoji and fusa on his outfit will also change to green and white. He is also entitled to wear tabi on his feet.

As he moves further up the ranks there are additional small changes:

Makuuchi ranked gyōji merely need to change the colour of the kikutoji and fusa to red and white.

On achievement of san'yaku rank the rosettes and tassels become solid red and he also is allowed to wear straw zōri sandals on his feet in addition to the tabi.

As described above, the two holders of the topmost rank, equivalent to yokozuna and ōzeki, are the tate-gyōji. The kikutoji and fusa are purple and white for the lower-ranked tate-gyōji (Shikimori Inosuke) and solid purple for the higher-ranked one (Kimura Shonosuke). Furthermore, both the top two gyōji carry a tantō (a dagger) visible in the belt of the outfit. This is supposed to represent the seriousness of the decisions they must make in determining the outcome of a bout, and their preparedness to commit seppuku if they make a mistake. In reality if one of the two top-ranked gyōji has his decision as to the victor of a bout overturned by the judges then he is expected to tender his resignation instead. However, the resignation is generally rejected by the Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. A tate-gyōji's submission of his resignation can usually be regarded as simply a gesture of apology from one of the highest-ranked referees for his mistake. There have, however, been rare cases when the resignation has been accepted, or the gyōji concerned has been suspended from duty for a short period.

As with virtually all positions in the Sumo Association, including the wrestlers and the oyakata, the gyōji take on a professional name, which can change as they are promoted. From around the 16th century and until the end of the Edo period these professional names were taken from a number of influential noble families associated with sumo, such as Kimura, Shikimori, Yoshida, Iwai, Kise and Nagase. Gyōji associated with these families derived their professional names from them. Over time however, noble families' influence on sumo waned until eventually only two "family" professional names remained, Kimura and Shikimori, with the titles having lost their connection with the families to which they were originally tied. The Kimura and Shikimori families date as far back as the early 18th century.[5]

In modern times, all gyōji will take either the family name Kimura (木村) or Shikimori (式守) as their professional name, depending on the tradition of the stable that they join. There are exceptions to this naming convention, but they are rare. The professional name Kimura outnumbers the name Shikimori by about 3 to 1. Additionally there are different styles for how a gyōji will hold his gunbai depending on which family he is in. The Kimura family hold their gunbai with their palm and figures face up, while the Shikimori will hold theirs with their palm and figures face down.[6] The Kimura family is also seen as slightly more prestigious than the Shikimori family. Gyōji will at first use their own given name as their personal/second name which follows Kimura or Shikimori. Later, as they rise through the ranks and begin officiating higher divisions, one of the two family names and a personal name together as a set title is passed down. This will either be passed down from a senior gyōji (often a mentor) or the junior gyōji will receive one of a number of established gyōji professional names that is currently unused. This naming convention can be seen when looking at a list of gyōji such as on a banzuke, where younger, lower-ranked gyōji have modern-sounding personal/second names, while higher ranked ones have antiquated-sounding second names that have been passed down for generations. It is also not uncommon for gyōji to switch between families as they are promoted through the ranks. Rising through the ranks is based largely on seniority, but the accuracy of an individual gyōji's decisions and his bearing on the dohyō are also determining factors.

At the top of the gyōji hierarchy are two fixed positions called tate-gyōji who always take the names Kimura Shōnosuke (木村庄之助) and Shikimori Inosuke (式守伊之助), the higher- and lower-ranked tate-gyōji respectively. They officiate over only the top few bouts in san'yaku, near the end of a tournament day. Both of these professional names have the longest history and they have been passed down through the most generations of gyōji. It is normally the practice that when the higher-ranking Kimura Shōnosuke retires at 65, he is succeeded by the second ranking Shikimori Inosuke after a certain interval.

The 41st Shikimori Inosuke (seen here in san'yaku rank) is the oldest active gyōji as of the January 2019 basho.

In January 2018, the 40th Shikimori Inosuke (Itsuo Nouchi) was suspended for three tournaments for sexually harassing a junior referee.[8] The Japan Sumo Association accepted his resignation in May 2018 when the suspension concluded.

• Glossary of sumo terms
• List of sumo stables
• List of years in sumo

Media related to Gyōji at Wikimedia Commons

• List of current gyōji at the Japan Sumo Association site