The Japan Advertiser, Saturday 6th May 1939 (Page 8)

 Up and Coming Sumo Champ

    Sagamigawa, young sumo wrestler who distinguished himself during the 13 day winter tournament last January, reads in the paper that he has been promoted to the maegashira rank, lowest of the top five berths in sumodom. The new championship rankings were announced yesterday morning at 5 o'clock, by the Dai-Nippon Sumo Association in accordance with an old tradition. There are 36 wrestlers in the maegashira rank, divided in two divisions, "east" and "west." The summer sumo tournament, extended to 15 from 13 days, will open in the Kokugikan, Ryogoku, Honjo Ward, next Thursday.
 
 


SUMO ASSOCIATION REVEALS NEW LIST

Old Traditions Observed in Announcing New Champion - No Changes Made in Top Rank

    In keeping with traditions dating from pre-Tokugawa days, the Dai-Nippon Sumo Association at 5 o'clock yesterday morning, the day of the boys' festival in Japan, announced the revised list of sumo (Japanese wrestling) champions in the five major rankings and the various minor brackets "outside the camp."
    Although the elevations and demotions were decided just after the close of the first semi-annual tournament in January, the names were withheld until the traditional day of revelation, just six days before the start of the second tournament, which opens on May 11. Just why the custom of picking May 5 and the early hour of 5 o'clock in the morning prevails, and how it originated, no one seems to know. It has been the practice for as long as anyone can remember, however, and the sumo people are sticklers for convention - when profits are not involved. They are not adverse to changing the old order when it's for the good of the box office, though, since they have just extended the length of the semi-annual tournaments from 13 to 15 days.

No Changes Made

    In the new rankings announced yesterday, there were no changes in the lists of grand champions and champions. Although there traditionally are four grand champions, the vacancy created early last winter by the death of Tamanishiki, following an appendicitis operation in Osaka, was not filled this time. Although the Asahi fails to mention the reason why a new grand champion was not appointed, it is believed that the association executives were unable to find a candidate strong enough to warrant promotion to the top bracket.
    The top-ranking wrestlers are divided into two divisions, "east" and "west." The significance of these designations is not clear, but it is believed that in the old days the champions who sat in the canopied enclosures on one side of the ring belonged in the west category and those on the other side were champions of the east.
    The top-ranking wrestlers in the new list are as follows:
East West
Grand champions
Musashiyama
Futabayama Minanogawa
Champions
Maedayama Kagamiiwa
Sekiwaki
Haguroyama Nayoroiwa
Komusubi
Tamanoumi Dewaminato
Maegashira
(18 men in each division)
    In the sekiwaki rank, Nayoroiwa was shifted from the east to the west division and Haguroyama, his junior, was elevated from the komusubi rank to take his place. This shift has received wide comment, according to the Asahi, as it represents a demotion for the latter. Haguroyama made a much better showing than the elder wrestler, however.

Dewaminato Appointed

    Dewaminato, by virtue of his astonishing comeback campaign last winter, during which he won 13 matches straight and suffered no defeats in the January tournament, was elevated to the komusubi rank from maegashira. He once before had been in one of the upper four ranks, according to the Asahi.
    Below the maegashira class comes the juryo division, so called because wrestlers of this class formerly were paid salaries of 10 ryo a month. The ryo, in pre-Tokugawa times was about the equivalent of Y10.
    Mr. Kozo Hikoyama, historian of the sumo association, is not sure himself how many of the sumo customs originated. It seems, however, that the practice stated with Imperial bodyguards, who in the old days submitted such lists to the Throne when sumo games were held in court. At first, the lists merely contained the names of the participants, with no senior ranks existing. The first endeavor to classify the wrestlers according to merit was made in 1753.
    In the Yedo days, the lists were drawn up by officials who met periodically on a river barge and marked the occasion with great festivities.
    When the lists were officially agreed upon and drawn up, they were locked in a safe and kept strictly secret until the proper time to divulge the new champions, even as they are now.
    The term "in the camp" applies to wrestlers in the five top brackets. These favored 48 were permitted to sit in canopied enclosures, like baseball dugouts, when the Shogun and his suite attended the matches. The others merely were bench-warmers of a sort.