Banzuke
Banzuke ( Jap . 番付 ) is in Japanese Profisumō the name given to the rankings of fighters that after each tournament will be re-created on the basis of Fight Results. The term also refers to the paper sheets on which this ranking list is printed. The earliest rankings in their current form date from 1757.
construction
In addition to the names of the wrestlers in all divisions from the Jonokuchi up to the Makuuchi (which corresponds to around 600 rikishi), the banzuke also contains the names of all the people involved in the tournament.
The most obvious division of the list is "West" ( Nishi ) on the left half and "East" ( Higashi ) on the right half. If the ranks are the same, the eastern group is considered more prestigious. Incidentally, with Banzuke in Latin script, the page assignments are reversed, as the reading direction changes.
The fighters of the respective cardinal direction are named in descending order of rank, ie the yokozuna are first and therefore, following the Japanese reading direction from right to left, in their group on the far right. The rank is given in the first line. For example, a total of three yokozuna are entered on the banzuke shown opposite (two in the east and one in the west group). This is followed by the Ōzeki , Sekiwake and Komusubi (on the ranking list shown there is one representative of each of these ranks in the East and West groups) and finally the Maegashira , who make up the majority of the staff in the top division.
The column below the respective rank contains, from top to bottom, the place of origin of the wrestler (the prefecture , or in the case of foreigners, the homeland; the origin indicated does not necessarily correspond to the place of birth) and finally the Shikona (battle name). On the ranking list shown opposite, for example, two yokozuna from Tokyo are listed on the east side - they are the brothers Takanohana and Wakanohana .
The next larger field of the banzuke, which continues to be divided into western and eastern groups, extends approximately to the vertical center of the sheet, contains the wrestlers of the Juryo and Makushita divisions. The juryo fighters are again named first according to their higher rank. Sandanme and Jonidan follow . Finally, the bottom field names the fighters of the lowest division first, followed by the members of the sumo association and, last and only on the "west side", the Wakamonogashira and Sewanin (helpers) and the Yobidashi .
The middle bar contains at its top end a traditional formula that was originally addressed to the priests of the Shinto shrine, which was "misappropriated" for the fighting: "We humbly apologize!" Below that the place and period of the tournament are given, then the Gyōji and Shimpan (referee and judge) and finally the lettering and address of the sumō association.
Small deviations from this subdivision occasionally occur.
Creation of a banzuke
The rank changes of the wrestlers are the subject of the deliberations of the Shimpan-bu , a referee meeting with 23 members, which meets for advice after each tournament. This assembly decides on the promotion and relegation and records the new rank for each individual fighter on paper rolls. The results will be kept under lock and key for the time being and will only be published on Monday 13 days before the start of the tournament with the appearance of the new banzuke. In times of the Internet, this date naturally also applies to the publication of the new ranks on the website of the Sumo Association.
The paper banzuke is drawn up in calligraphy the week before by a gyoji with Indian ink on washi paper . The finished ranking list is reduced in size and printed thousands of times. The prints will then be distributed to everyone involved and can also be purchased during the tournament. In addition to these official rankings, so-called ebanzuke are also traded, which are illustrated with pictures of the rikishi.