Sumo school - graduation/entry

Yubinhaad · June 21, 2014

The Kyokai posted some pictures from a day at the sumo school, taken on June 17th.

Natsu basho Juryo yusho winner Ichinojo is among the current students at the school.

The class begins at 7am with roll-call, taken by instructor Inagawa-oyakata (former Komusubi Futeno).

The students then read out the guiding principles of the school together.

Next, the students run three laps of the Kokugikan. It is done at their own pace, there is no target time.

Joining the students for the run was instructor Sekinoto-oyakata (former Komusubi Iwakiyama).

Now that they are all warmed up, the students head back inside for kihon dosa (basic moves) such as chiri-chozu, shiko, attack and defence training and yotsu-zumo grip training.

Inagawa-oyakata watches over the students.

Ichinojo, wearing the white mawashi of a sekitori.

Instructors Sekinoto and Inagawa are at the front showing the way during twenty minutes of shiko.

A handful of active rikishi from the lower divisions are also engaged as instructors in the sumo school. Here, one of them helps a student with his matawari.

Ichinojo pictured as the class takes a break at the end of basic practice.

Later, Ichinojo chats to instructor Kabutoyama-oyataka (former Maegashira Oikari) as the students return for keiko.

The keiko hall contains three dohyo areas, and the students are divided between them according to ability.

At this end are some of the most able students - Ichinojo and Shodai prepare for a bout, watched by Abiko, Kogure and Mizuta.

Ichinojo preparing for another bout.

Abiko - who has started his career with two consecutive zensho yusho - also in the ring for a bout.

Ichinojo does some butsugari-keiko with one of the active instructors.

Ichinojo and Mizuta on the sidelines. They are both former students of Tottori Johoku high school.

Inagawa-oyakata also takes part in moshiai keiko, here having a bout with student Sadahikari.

Makushita-ranked Kawabata doing suriashi while carrying a sandbag.

Inagawa-oyakata joins some of the students to pump some iron.

Keiko comes to an end and the students bow as one to the shrine in the keiko hall.

The students head for the showers, while their mawashi air out in the sunshine.

The sumo school isn't just about the physical side of sumo - the Kyokai plans to post some pictures from the calligraphy class sometime next week.

Asameshimae · June 21, 2014

This is great stuff. Had not seen any sumo school pics and background before. Thanks for that.

Yubinhaad · June 25, 2014

Here are the pictures from the sumo school's calligraphy class. The students who entered sumo in January (including Ichinojo) are approaching the end of their six months at the school, so today they took a graduation test in this class.

Ichinojo taking the test.

Takanohana-beya's Mizuta, another of the January entrants taking the test.

Ichinojo with his test paper.

Following the test, all the students sat through another class. Ichinojo again.

Abiko, preferring to stand to do his work.

Seated on the left, Makushita-ranked Kawabata.

On the left here is the Natsu basho's Jonokuchi yusho winner Shodai, who didn't manage to get all the ink on the paper.

Abiko gets his work checked by tutor Kiyoshi Watanabe, who has been instructing and correcting the students for nearly 20 years.

Now checking Ichinojo's work.

Ichinojo with his corrected version of 'shori', victory.

While Ichinojo is about to leave the sumo school, another Mongolian is just starting, Sakaigawa-beya's Sadahikari.

Sadahikari comparing his work with Ichinojo.

Shodai, with still more ink on his body.

Finally, Ichinojo with the Nagoya basho poster, and waving farewell.

Edited June 25, 2014 by Yubinhaad

Naganoyama · June 25, 2014

The instructor's face said it all. Abiko's calligraphy was brilliant while Ichinojo was struggling a bit.

Yubinhaad · October 11, 2014

A few pictures from the sumo school, where classes 338 and 339 recently graduated.

Oyakata and instructors in attendance.

Opening address from the director of the sumo school, Tomozuna-oyakata (former Sekiwake Kaiki).

Rijicho Kitanoumi also gives a speech.

Former rikishi Kuninishiki once again leads the singing of the school's keiko song.

Tomozuna hands Ichinojo his graduation certificate.

Commemorative group shot.

And a shot of the various prize winners. This time the Kyokai didn't specify who won what.

Takanohana-oyakata (former Yokozuna Takanohana) with his rising star Mizuta, who won the Yuto-sho honour prize.

Ichinojo with his graduation certificate.

And with classmates Harada and Mizuta.

Edited October 11, 2014 by Yubinhaad

Yubinhaad · January 29, 2015

Time for another graduation ceremony at the sumo school, where classes 340 and 341 have completed their terms.

School director Tomozuna-oyakata (former Sekiwake Kaiki) hands a certificate to one of the graduates, Sadanogo I think.

Congratulatory speech from Makoto Takeuchi, who teaches sumo history at the school.

As always, former Makushita Kunishiki leads the singing.

A commemorative picture with the graduates of the two classes. Front row, from left: Fudano, Takumi, Takiguchi, Ishii and Fubu. Back row, from left: Shoryudo, Kisenosho, Takunoumi, Sadahikari, Sadanogo and Ryubu.

Takumi, Takiguchi and Ishii received the Kaikin-sho for perfect attendance during their time at the school, while Kisenosho, Takunoumi and Sadahikari received the Seikin-sho for good attendance. Otsukawa of class 341 was not present, he was kyujo in the Hatsu basho.

Sadahikari with his Seikin-sho and graduation certificates.

And one more commemorative shot, this time with the Rijicho, other Kyokai directors and the oyakata and teachers of the school.

Akinomaki · April 1, 2015

The latest group of new recruits with more attention than ever leads to more news also from sumo school. Yesterday on TV for their start of class, maybe it turns up on the net.

Ura was in bad shape, walked partly at the obligatory run around the kokugikan (3 times) and practically couldn't eat.
http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20150331-OHT1T50176.html
learning history

and calligraphy

Mitakeumi was spared maezumo, but has to go to school as well

Edited April 1, 2015 by Akinomaki

Yubinhaad · April 2, 2015

The Kyokai posted a nice set of pictures from a recent day at the sumo school, where all new recruits attend for six months at the start of their career.

It's an early start, as Sekinoto-oyakata (former Komusubi Iwakiyama) takes roll-call at 7am. [2]

The recruits now run three laps around the Kokugikan. Iwasaki is leading the way in this shot.

Takeuchi and Kohakuryu run together.

Plenty of sumo talent in this group, from left: Sato, Yamamoto, Daiki, Mitakeumi and Iwasaki.

Asayamabana.

Kotonawa, Daiki, Mitakeumi and Sato.

After the run the rikishi return to the keiko hall and begin with basic exercises.

Shohoryu shown as the rikishi do twenty minutes of shiko.

Some of the rookies need a helping hand with their matawari.

A few veteran active rikishi help the instructors at the sumo school. Here, Toho is the model for sonkyo instruction.

Omoto.

The recruits also practice the pre-bout dohyo routine, such as chiri-chozu and shiko. [2]

Defence training. Sato, Yamamoto, Daiki and Iwasaki shown in the first picture, then a wide shot. [2]

Shinashi, leg exercises.

Mitakeumi shown as the recruits do push-ups.

Suriashi.

Asayamabana.

The tell-tale tracks of suriashi practice.

The recruits gather around Sekinoto-oyakata as he gives them some teppo guidance.

Also present to offer advice is the head of the sumo school, Tomozuna-oyakata (former Sekiwake Kaiki).

Daiki.

The recruits practice rolling out of a fall as butsugari-keiko begins. This part is led by Inagawa-oyakata (former Komusubi Futeno in the white mawashi) and Kabutoyama-oyakata (former Maegashira Oikari in the blue).

Mitakeumi rolls after being thrown by instructor rikishi Hokutogo.

Tomozuna-oyakata gives some advice to Hirotsukasa.

Time for some moshiai-keiko now. The keiko hall has three dohyo, and the recruits are divided amongst them according to ability and how much guidance they need.

Yamamoto and Omoto are in the top ability group, here ready to start a practice bout.

Tsukedashi-starter Mitakeumi is in that group too of course, here doing some butsugari with veteran Kihonoumi.

The school's four oyakata instructors observe the keiko. From this end: Kabutoyama, Sekinoto, Inagawa and Nishiiwa (former Maegashira Kobo).

As keiko comes to an end the rikishi recite the school's guiding principles together.

Following keiko, the rikishi go into the classroom to study. On this particular day it was a society class taught by Kazawa-sensei. [3]

Edited April 2, 2015 by Yubinhaad

Gurowake · April 3, 2015

The implications of having a very large range of ability between new recruits, including many with absolutely no sumo experience, never really occurred to me before. I guess I had assumed that each heya worked with their own new recruits based on their needs; it certainly seems to me to make more sense than throwing all abilities together and starting from the beginning when there are so many that have been doing sumo for a long time already. I suppose they want to make sure there's a uniform base of instruction among all their employees, regardless of who is going to be their instructor for the remainder of their career.

Orion · April 3, 2015

The implications of having a very large range of ability between new recruits, including many with absolutely no sumo experience, never really occurred to me before. I guess I had assumed that each heya worked with their own new recruits based on their needs; it certainly seems to me to make more sense than throwing all abilities together and starting from the beginning when there are so many that have been doing sumo for a long time already. I suppose they want to make sure there's a uniform base of instruction among all their employees, regardless of who is going to be their instructor for the remainder of their career.

As has been observed, those with good amateur experience like Mitakeumi train in their heya but are required to attend the post-training lessons. Way back I recall seeing Mainoumi just before 10:00 a.m. walking along six mornings a week to attend the classes.

The Kyoshujo keiko sessions include basic sumo manners and techniques (not the same as amateur, for instance a completely different tachiai) and, after the March tournament when there are the most entrants, they may use two or even three practice rings that may feature different levels of skill. And in addition to the retired men assigned to teach in the school, stables with a number of new recruits are expected to send along one of their senior makushita men to assist with the training. So it's not at all a case of "one size fits all".

Orion

Yubinhaad · June 9, 2015

Classes 342 and 343 have completed their time at the sumo school, and their graduation ceremony took place following the Natsu basho. The Kyokai posted a few pictures.

The school's director, Tomozuna-oyakata (former Sekiwake Kaiki), gives his opening address.

Congratulations also came from Hakkaku-oyakata (former Yokozuna Hokutoumi), who I guess was standing in for Rijicho Kitanoumi.

More congratulations from one of the instructors and all-round legend, Okabe-sensei.

Tomozuna presents a graduation certificate to Kasugano-beya's Ozaki.

Among the current students of the school is Ura, who won the Jonokuchi yusho in the Natsu basho.

As usual, rikishi-turned-singer Kuninishiki led the singing of the school song. [2]

New gyoji and yobidashi also attend the school to study sumo history. Graduating this time was Sakaigawa-beya yobidashi Yuji.

Three of the graduates, from left: Ozaki from class 342, Satoiazuma and Suga both from class 343. Satoiazuma graduated with a Seikin-sho award for good attendance.

A week later the current students returned to the school to attend an anti-drugs lecture, which focused on the damage drugs can do to the mind and body.

Among the students is Mitakeumi, who will make his Juryo debut in the Nagoya basho.

Akinomaki · October 2, 2015

At the sumo school, Ura and Mitakeumi graduated on the 1st
Ura got a prize for diligence and good attendance
http://www.daily.co.jp/sumo/2015/10/02/0008448889.shtml

only a tiny shot from the whole class

Edited October 2, 2015 by Akinomaki

Akinomaki · January 29, 2016

Homarenishiki has graduated from sumo school yesterday: "It was fun. I studied the music (jinku), characters (penmanship) and history of sumo. It's difficult." On the 6th of next month it will be exactly one year since he came to Japan. Goals for this year: "Perfect Japanese and above makushita 25."
http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1597792.html

Akinomaki · May 26, 2016

Hattorizakura graduated not only from sumo school, with perfect attendance reward, but also this basho from the valley of eternal loss - on day 6 his first ever win in ozumo since maezumo debut in Aki. The happy Shikihide-oyakata: "A small step in the history of sumo, but a big step in his life." http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20160526-OHT1T50128.html

Yubinhaad · June 1, 2016

A few more shots from the recent graduation ceremony at the sumo school, for classes 348 and 349.

Yamahibiki-oyakata (former Maegashira Ganyu), the new director of the school, makes his opening address.

Rijicho Hakkaku-oyakata (former Yokozuna Hokutoumi) adds his congratulations to the graduates.

Kuninishiki leads the jinku singing as always.

The graduates, from left: Asahinishiki (Oguruma-beya, class 349), Hitomi (Musashigawa, 348), Nakashima (Musashigawa, 349), Himekatsuyama (Musashigawa, 348), Hattorizakura (Shikihide, 348), Hanashi (Musashigawa, 348) and Yokoe (Musashigawa, 349).

Sadogatake-oyakata (former Sekiwake Kotonowaka) poses for a picture with his deshi who are currently enrolled at the school. From left: Kotoinagaki, Kotootomo, Kotohayashi, Kotokumazoe, Kotokobayashi and Kotokamatani. Kotokamatani should be part of class 349 having entered at the same time as Asahinishiki, Nakashima and Yokoe, but for whatever reason he didn't graduate at this ceremony. Maybe he was injured or ill and had to miss some time at the school.

A commemorative group shot to finish.

Akinomaki · September 30, 2016

Among those who graduated yesterday were Kotokamatani (with prize for perfect attendance) and as sandanme tsukedashi both one of the first 2 (with Sakamoto, who also graduated) to enter sumo and the first to enter juryo: Oyanagi, with a prize for diligence. http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1717532.html

Bumpkin · September 30, 2016

How many times a year do they have sumo school? Does every rikishi have to attend? What happens if a rikishi fails?

Akinomaki · January 26, 2017

We have the first not tsukedashi 23 year old new entry to the sumo school: Ichiyamamoto http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20170126/sum17012620260012-n1.html

graduation time as well http://twitter.com/sumokyokai/status/824572135087550464

C3F38rqVYAAgTZn.jpg:large

Akinomaki · January 28, 2017

3 from Shikihide-beya graduated this time: Kawaguchi, qualified physical therapist Imai with honor award for excellent results, (Shikihide), Ezuka with perfect attendance reward http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20170127-OHT1T50077.html

Akinomaki · September 28, 2017

Time again for sumo school graduation and entry again: class 356 and 357 graduated, 359 and 360 started

o
Fukuyama, Murata, Yago, Wakatakakage, Tanabe, Enho

o o

6 from Sadogatake

o

from Shikihide: Satozakura and Abezakura

o o o

Yamahibiki: Yukiumi

o

the new group

o

all of them and teachers etc. (Shibatayama with cane?)

DKzLVLzV4AAV0Ne.jpg:large

it even made it into the papers - because of Yago o

o

Edited September 29, 2017 by Akinomaki

Akinomaki · September 30, 2017

And one article focussed on Matsuzawa, the son of Asahiyama-oyakata (I wonder why the father's first shikona in the DB has the simplified 沢 for the real name shikona, but the son the original kanji from the real name)

o

Edited September 30, 2017 by Akinomaki

Akinomaki · February 2, 2018

Hoshoryu yesterday entered sumo school - Naya, who was one basho later at the shindeshi-kensa, plans to start after the Haru basho. A rare instruction by the Sports ministry to the new recruits by the assistant director of this agency took place at the entry and graduation ceremony: "Each one of you should become a role model. If only one member does something that mustn't happen, the whole sumo world is subject to severe criticism."

o

the usual address by Hakkkaku

o

Graduated are Sumidagawa and Torakio from Naruto - the NSK has yet to post the graduation pics

o

Edited February 2, 2018 by Akinomaki

Akinomaki · May 31, 2018

The day of the graduation and entrance ceremonies at the sumo training institute.

Prominent members at the ceremony (entry of class 363 and 364) are Naya and Hoshoryu - Naya has been at the school since after Haru, but apparently had no entry ceremony yet (so he is class 362.5?)