[sumo] Old hoshitori query

[Joe Kuroda]

--- "Shryock, Christopher" <shryockc at seattleu.edu>
wrote:

> I've been going over some pre-sansho hoshitori
> and noticed the following award: ?? (kishu -
> "standard bearer") and was hoping somebody could
> kindly enlighten me. Was it some kind of official
> Kyokai award? How was it bestowed, and to whom? Why
> is it no longer used?

I don't know if anyone answered this yet but if not,
here's some information on Kishu.

In June 1909 when the new Kokugikan was completed, the
Kyokai introduced a new way of competition, often
known as the East-West System. Basically at the end of
each basho, they added up the number of all wins by
East and West rikishis separately and gave the yusho
to the rikishi ranked on the side with more wins and
who had most wins on the winning side.

A Kishu in Japanese means a flag bearer like they do
in the Olympics Opening or Closing Ceremony. The kishu
on the winning side went up on the dohyo to receive
the Yusho Flag and it was considered to be an honor. 
A kishu was granted to the rikishi ranked lower than
Sekiwake but who had most wins on the winning side.

When so many Makuuchi rikishis left the Kyokai during
the Shunjuen Incident, the Kyokai could no longer
maintain the East-West System and the Kishu was
abolished.

However at the 1940 January basho, the Kishu and
East-West System was re-introduced as there were so
many rikishis from Dewanoumi Beya and they could not
properly set up bouts. 

After the World War II in 1947, they switched to the
current system of all rikishis facing each other
except those belonging to the same heya or have a
relation, so the Kishu was no longer granted.

Incidentally the first Kishu was Takamiyama Torinosuku
and the last was Rikidozan.

.....Jonosuke 
  <  Heart  Technique  Physique      &#24515;&#12288;&#25216;&#12288;&#20307;&#12288;>

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