Former Yobidashi Hideo-san was popular with sumo fans, who nicknamed him the “elf of the dohyo.”
The former top yobidashi eloquently discusses the work of sumo’s urakata (men behind the scenes); the yobidashi, gyoji, and tokoyama, as well as the rikishi, oyakata, heya, bouts, and other topics. This book will make watching bouts even more enjoyable for you, and will deepen your understanding of sumo! With a glossary of 90 items.

元立呼出の秀男さんが「呼出」「行司」「床山」など裏方さんの仕事から、力士や親方、部屋や取組の話まで、伝統や歴史もふまえて幅広く語った『呼出秀男の相撲ばなし』の英語版。観戦がより楽しくなる相撲の味わい方がわかる。巻末に用語解説90 項目。

【主な目次】

Foreword――Life as a Yobidashi from My Entrance into Isegahama Beya to Retirement


Chapter 1　Let’s Start with Discussion of the Urakata

The People Who Support Sumo
The Yobidashi are in Charge of Calling the Rikishi as Well as Sweeping Dohyo
I Only Thought I Called Out Well on Three Days in An Entire Tournament
The Cheat Sheet Used by Yobidashi
Taiko――Yaguradaiko and Furedaiko are Important Tasks for the Yobidashi
Constructing the Dohyo――Manual Labor by All the Yobidashi
We Have Many Tasks to Fulfill, Including Hitting Wooden Clappers and Carrying Kensho Banners
The Daily Life of a Yobidashi――in My Case
The Taikozuka――Performing Religious Services for the Souls of Departed Yobidashi
Gyoji――Sumo’s Referees-Judging Bouts is Their First Responsibility
Gunbai――Essential Item for Gyoji
Gyoji Handle the Public Address System
Presenting the Kaobure――Done by the Gyoji and Yobidashi
The Banzuke is Written in Sumoji
Gyoji Wear Different Costumes According to Their Rank
The Tokoyama’s Work――They Become Full-Fledged When They Can Arrange Oichomage
Former Rikishi Become Wakaimonogashira and Sewanin


Chapter 2　Sumo’s Leading Actors-Rikishi and Oyakata

What is Needed to Become a Rikishi
The Promotion of Rikishi――Those Who Reach Jumaime are Called Sekitori
Shikona――A Rikishi’s Ring Name, Real Names are Acceptable
Mawashi――A Rikishi Loses if his Mawashi Comes Off
A Day in the Life of a Rikishi――Keiko Is Done Only in the Morning
Chanko――If There is Not Enough Chanko Sen
Dohyoiri――The Sekitori Show Their Faces
Bouts――From Entering Shitakubeya to Leaving
Torikumi are Decided Upon Every Day
There are Currently 82 Winning Techniques
The Yumitorishiki――A Ceremony Performed on Behalf of the Winner
Yusho, the Sansho and kenshokin――The Makuuchi Yusho Winner Receives Prize Money of 10 Million Yen
Jungyo and Hanazumo
Rikishi I Remember――Hokutenyu Had Style
To Become an Oyakata, One Must Succeed to One of the 105 Toshiyori Myoseki
Oyakata Operating Heya and Oyakata Belonging to Heya
Okamisan Have a Role Akin to that of Mothers
Managers
Koenkai――Membership is Available from 10,000 Yen Upwards
There are Six Ichimon


Chapter 3　Enjoying Sumo

Sumo is Said to Have Originated with Nomino Sukune
From the Edo Era to Today――There was a Crisis After the Meiji Restoration
Nihon Sumo Kyokai
Seeing Sumo Beya――Watching Keiko
Watching Sumo at the Kokugikan

In Conclusion

Glossary