Shimpan
Shimpan ( Japanese 勝負 審判 Shōbu-Shinpan , short 審判 Shinpan , dt. Referee ) are the judges in professional sumo competitions .
During a tournament, five Shinpan sitting around the ring ( dohyo ) watch the fighting. As long as all Shinpan are in agreement with the Gyōji's (referee's) decisions , they remain passive. However, as soon as a Shinpan has doubts about the correctness of a decision, he requests advice from the referees by show of hands ( Mono-ii ). This takes place in the ring, and the gyoji may participate without having a right to speak. The slow motion techniquenowadays simplifies the work of the arbitral tribunal, which often has to rule on events that took place in fractions of a second. Two other Shinpan, who communicate with the top referee via an audio link, advise them on the basis of video material, which they evaluate in a special room outside the sports hall. After a short discussion, the jury either confirms the Gyoji's decision ( Gunbai-dori ), decides in favor of the opposing side ( Gunbai-sashichigai ) or determines a repetition of the fight ( Torinaoshi ).
Theoretically, the four rikishi who are also sitting on the edge of the ring and waiting for their fight are also entitled to call a Mono-ii. However, in practice this is extremely rare. More recently, it happened on Day 12 of the May 2014 basho when Hakuhō questioned the Gyōji's judgment with a show of hands after the fight between Sekiwake Gōeidō and Yokozuna Kakuryū . The Shinpan revised the decision in Kakuryūs favor, since Gōeidōs grip in the hair of Kakuryū was rated as a foul. This was the first time in 18 years that a rikishi waiting at the edge of the ring had asked for a Mono-ii.
The Shinpan are recruited from the ranks of the members of the Japanese Sumo Association , so they are former sumo fighters, mostly former yokozuna or Ōzeki . They wear traditional formal clothing, which consists of a black haori and gray hakama . There are a total of 23 Shinpanin, headed by a supreme Shinpan ( Shinpan-bucho ) and his two deputies ( Shinpan-fuku-bucho ). On a fight day, several shifts are used, which rotate according to a fixed system.