Tokoyama training

[Yubinhaad 11,604]

A few pictures showing some lower-ranking tokoyama being taught the tricks of their trade in the shitaku-beya.
 

 

If there is too much (or too thick) hair the mage will not look right, so the crown of the rikishi's head is shaved. This is called nakazori.

Tokonao instructs Tokoyu on how to prepare a chonmage.

Now Tokoyu is instructed on combing the hair by Tokoyasu, the highest ranking tokoyama.

Michinoku-beya's Kirinofuji with a completed chonmage.

Tokotake instructs Tokokei on preparing the hair for an oicho-mage.

Tokokei takes over and begins to tie the hair. Watching on are Tokoizumi and Tokomichi.

Hakkaku-beya's Hokutotsuru with a completed oichomage.

Edit: Images re-uploaded.

Edited June 6, 2018 by Yubinhaad

[Yubinhaad 11,604]

Time for another tokoyama training session - they take place twice a year, in months which have no jungyo.
 

 

First, let's take a look at the tools of the tokoyama.

The small box top right contains sukiabura, combing wax, which you can see out of the box here. Below that are the nigiri-basami, a traditional type of scissors. Lying across the tin is a magebo, a metal rod used in shaping the mage.

The three larger combs are, from left: aragushi, maekaki and soroigushi. Aragushi is the first to be used - it literally means rough comb. Soroigushi is used to straighten the hair, while the fine-toothed maekaki helps provide a finishing touch in combing and shaping the oicho, the ginkgo leaf-shaped front of the topknot.

The smaller comb with some hair woven around it is called sukigushi. The cleaned hair is kept there as the fine strands are good for removing the smallest particles of dirt (and dandruff!) from the rikishi's own hair.

The thick string in the tin, sakishibari, is used to hold the hair in place during the initial stages of forming the mage. Ultimately the mage will be tied only with motoyui, the woven paper cord you can see poking out of the beige packet.

On to the training. Here, Tokoaki prepares the hair of Shikoroyama-beya's Sasano, one of the models for this training session.

Like a year ago, Hakkaku-beya's Hokutotsuru was again used as a training model, here having his hair combed by Tokoyu.

Tokofumi, who also belongs to Shikoroyama-beya, begins to tie Sasano's hair.

Extra picture - the motoyui must be pulled very tightly when tying the mage, and this can create callouses on the tokoyama's fingers. This picture shows the right hand of Miyagino-beya's Tokohachi who has been in the job for over 40 years.

Tokomori demonstrates the use of the magebo in the process of 'bindashi', shaping the mage.

Tokokei makes sure that Hokutotsuru's mage is set, and then works on forming the oicho.

Itto-tokoyama Tokonaka, with over 35 years of experience, gives some advice. Nito-tokoyama Tokotake then demonstrates how it should be done. It can take up to five years of training before a young tokoyama is able to properly create an oichomage on his own.

Longest-serving tokoyama Tokoyasu was also present in this session, here reviewing Hokutotsuru's completed oichomage.

Sasano with completed oichomage.

Tokoyasu poses with a tokoyama-themed 2015 calendar.

And a commemorative picture of everyone involved in this training session.

Edit: Images re-uploaded.

Recommended further reading: Article about the production of the nigiri-basami.

Edited June 6, 2018 by Yubinhaad

[Naganoyama 5,881]

Great stuff! I hadn't really thought about the effect of constant pulling of string through the fingers.

[Jakusotsu 5,877]

Sukiabura? What happened to good old bintsuke?

[ALAKTORN 346]

Are there any videos on how the nigiribasami work? I don’t understand how the blades would come together…

[Naganoyama 5,881]

You hold them deep in your hand and pretty much manipulate the tips with your thumb and either your index finger or your first two fingers together. (I would do the latter). They are very controllable and accurate.

[Orion 431]

Great stuff! I hadn't really thought about the effect of constant pulling of string through the fingers.

Yep. That was why the youngest of the three brothers Kokushuzan, present gyoji K. Hisanosuke, quit.

Orion

[Orion 431]

Sukiabura? What happened to good old bintsuke?

It's a wider and more correct name.

Orion

[Orion 431]

A few pictures showing some lower-ranking tokoyama being taught the tricks of their trade in the shitaku-beya.

If there is too much (or too thick) hair the mage will not look right, so the crown of the rikishi's head is shaved. This is called nakazori.

Tokonao instructs Tokoyu on how to prepare a chonmage.

Now Tokoyu is instructed on combing the hair by Tokoyasu, the highest ranking tokoyama.

Michinoku-beya's Kirinofuji with a completed chonmage.

Tokotake instructs Tokokei on preparing the hair for an oicho-mage.

Tokokei takes over and begins to tie the hair. Watching on are Tokoizumi and Tokomichi.

Hakkaku-beya's Hokutotsuru with a completed oichomage.

Many thanks for this. In my more more active days I covered the basic training for yobidashi and gyoji but this is the first time I've seen the Kyokai's general training session for tokoyama --though I've covered individual tokoyama scenes pretty extensively.

Orion

[Yubinhaad 11,604]

It's time for another group training session for the young tokoyama, in which the Kyokai introduces a newcomer to the ranks.
 

Spoiler

The rikishi models for this session both come from Kasugano-beya, Tochinobori (left) and Tochimaru.

Tokoteru gets some advice from the longest-serving tokoyama, Tokoyasu. Standing behind from left are Tokoken, Tokokuwa, Tokomitsu and Tokoriki.

Masunoyama's younger brother Tokosen prepares Tochinobori's hair. Behind are Tokoshin and Tokonao.

Tokoteru puts some sukiabura on his hands, before rubbing it into Tochimaru's hair.

Tokoriki combs out Tochimaru's hair.

Tokohama prepares Tochinobori's hair for an oichomage. In the light blue shirt is the new recruit, Tokotakumi, who joined Kasugano-beya at the start of June. Like Tokosen he is also the younger brother of a rikishi - Tochinobori, in fact.

Tokosen shows Tokohama how to hold the hair while shaping the mage.

Holding the hair with his left hand, Tokohama shapes the mage with a magebo, a metal rod. This is called bindashi (鬢出し).

Tokohama now uses a fine comb for the hair at the end of the topknot. He keeps the motoyui in place by pressing his forehead against the magebo. I'm always impressed by the dexterity and concentration that this kind of work must require.

Tokoteru applies the finishing touch for Tochimaru's oichomage.

And the model poses for a picture with his completed oichomage.

Finally, a commemorative picture with everyone involved in this training session. It might be the last time we see Tokoyasu as he will reach the mandatory retirement age on July 6th.

Edit: Images re-uploaded.

Edited June 6, 2018 by Yubinhaad

[Yubinhaad 11,604]

With no jungyo this month, the urakata have again had the opportunity to hold their workshops. For the tokoyama this takes place in the shitaku-beya at the Kokugikan. There were three rikishi models for this session - Tosahikari in white, Tsubakifuji in pink, and Ebisumaru in red.
 

Spoiler

With no jungyo this month, the urakata have again had the opportunity to hold their workshops. For the tokoyama this takes place in the shitaku-beya at the Kokugikan. There were three rikishi models for this session - Tosahikari in white, Tsubakifuji in pink, and Ebisumaru in red.

Among the senior tokoyama observing and giving advice is the current longest-serving tokoyama, Tokohachi (left). One of three holders of the senior tokoyama rank, tokuto, he is affiliated to Miyagino-beya and is responsible for the oichomage of Yokozuna Hakuho.

A little water is applied to Tsubakifuji's hair with a piece of gauze.

Tokoami rubs some sukiabura, the special wax used for a rikishi's hair, into Tosahikari's hair. Watching behind is Tokoshin.

Tokotetsu does the same with Ebisumaru's hair, while Tokoyuki observes.

Tokoami now moves onto combing Tosahikari's hair.

And now begins to tie the motoyui, the woven paper cord used to hold the mage together. Watching behind are Tokomitsu and Tokomori.

Tokotetsu now also combing and tying with Ebisumaru's hair.

The process of shaping the mage is called bindashi and is done with a metal rod called a magebo.

Tokoharu presses Tsubakifuji's mage into position. Watching on the right is Asakayama-beya's 2nd-rank tokoyama Tokosei.

Tokoami carefully shapes the end of Tosahikari's mage, using fingers and a magebo, into the shape of a ginkgo leaf. It can take a young tokoyama up to five years to be able to form an oichomage on his own without instruction or advice from a senior.

Tosahikari and Tsubakifuji with completed oichomage.

Edit: Images re-uploaded.

Edited June 6, 2018 by Yubinhaad

[d_golem 213]

What is the significance of ginkgo leaf shape for the mage?

[egparis18 622]

Are there any videos on how the nigiribasami work? I don’t understand how the blades would come together…

There are two videos on YouTube in the Begin Japanology series

Episode 27;

and episode 39.

Edited June 19, 2016 by egparis18

[Benihana 1,916]

@d_golem: I don't know exactly why, but i'm sure it is a religious tradition. Ginkgo trees were "forgotten" for a long time and "rediscovered" by monks about 1000 years ago, before going completely extinct. Ginkgo is a bit special, because there are male and female plants, so they resemble yin and yang and the monks (you know, japanese and symbolicism...) planted them in and around temples. Since sumo has it's roots in religious ceremonies, this could be the connection.

That's the best explanation i could find on non-japanese websites.

Edited June 19, 2016 by Ogami Ittō

[mikawa 1,794]

What is the significance of ginkgo leaf shape for the mage?

From the information that I can find, there may be 2 possible reasons for the ginkgo leaf:

1) In Japanese culture, the ginkgo symbolises loyalty, as according to legend, it is willing to die for its master

2) The sacred fig tree is a sacred tree in Buddhism, and under which the Buddha himself attained divinity. In places where the sacred fig tree can't grow due to climate reasons, the ginkgo is planted instead

Edited June 19, 2016 by mikawa

[Akinomaki 40,132]

Tokoyama training today - the trainers and trainees and the mage models: Tochigidake and Tochimitsuru

the young tokoyama one by one had to prepare an oicho: Tokosen (4th rank)

o

Tokoken (2.) instructs Tokomitsu (5.)

o

Tokoriki (4.) is shown for the digest of preparing an oicho with Tochigidake.

o o

Tokomatsu (S.) instructs, in the back Tokotama (5.) and Tokoshima (2.)

o

oo o o o o o o o o

[Senkoho 552]

So another myth falls apart! It's not only during the danpatsu-shiki that the lower ranked rikishi can get an oicho mage done - they can be models for tokoyama training and get it done this way! 

[orandashoho 720]

On ‎6‎/‎6‎/‎2018 at 20:31, Senkoho said:

So another myth falls apart! It's not only during the danpatsu-shiki that the lower ranked rikishi can get an oicho mage done - they can be models for tokoyama training and get it done this way! 

Ah, but isn't this in a place far away from the public? And will they be able to make a selfie to prove they've had an ochiomage? I wonder.

[Akinomaki 40,132]

On 6.6.2018 at 20:31, Senkoho said:

So another myth falls apart! It's not only during the danpatsu-shiki that the lower ranked rikishi can get an oicho mage done - they can be models for tokoyama training and get it done this way! 

There are several other occasions

yumitori

On 21.5.2018 at 06:13, Akinomaki said:

o

shokkiri

On 19.4.2018 at 14:10, Akinomaki said:

o

and being in a juryo bout while in makushita

Edited June 8, 2018 by Akinomaki

[Yamanashi 3,783]

4 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

and being in a juryo bout while in makushita

That one was a surprise to me; but it makes perfect sense.  I just wouldn't have assumed they'd pay attention to that detail.

[Wait, what am I saying?  It's Japan!]

[Yubinhaad 11,604]

As usual in June there is no jungyo, so the tokoyama have once again assembled in the shitaku-beya to hold their training workshops. The rikishi models this time were Dewanoumi-beya's Yamato (in the white top) and Isegahama-beya's Tsubakifuji (in blue).

 

Spoiler

The two longest-serving tokoyama are Tokohachi (left) and Tokomatsu. Both will reach the mandatory retirement age of 65 in August, after nearly half a century of service.

Tokotama concentrates on forming an oichomage.

Tokoazuma ties Yamato's hair and then uses a magebo to shape the mage.

Tokotakumi is doing the same with Tsubakifuji.

Tokoami gives a demonstration in oicho forming for Tokohibiki, who at 17 is the second-youngest tokoyama.

Tokotaka offers some advice.

A completed oichomage - a bit untidy at the back, but these workshops will help the younger tokoyama to improve.

And finally a commemorative picture of the tokoyama who participated in this session.

 

[Akinomaki 40,132]

On 05/06/2019 at 22:37, Yubinhaad said:

As usual in June there is no jungyo, so the tokoyama have once again assembled in the shitaku-beya to hold their training workshops. The rikishi models this time were Dewanoumi-beya's Yamato (in the white top) and Isegahama-beya's Tsubakifuji (in blue).

The NSK posted a video of the tokoyama training https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgYP98xTjn0

[Seiyashi 4,072]

Necroing this thread a little (and it's also technically not so much training as it is doing), but here's a video in English that explains the entire process of creating an oicho-mage:

Chris Gould has just posted a video of Tochinoshin and Tokotakumi (Kasugano-beya's 4th-class tokoyama) demonstrating hairdressing at Tochiozan's danpatsu-shiki. Worth a watch for showing the entire process from start to finish (albeit truncated, since it's noted that they are given about half the time that it would normally take), and he also translates the Japanese commentary provided over the PA system.

Edited February 3, 2022 by Seiyashi