Banzuke

Banzuke (Japanese番 付) is in Japanese Profisumō the name given to the ranking of the fighters that will be created after each tournament based on the combat results. The term also refers to the sheets of paper on which this ranking is printed. The earliest rankings in their present form date from the year 1757th

Construction

In addition to the names of the wrestlers of all divisions of the Jonokuchi up to the Makuuchi ( corresponding to at least about 600 rikishi ) the Banzuke also contains the names of all persons involved in the tournament.

The most obvious division of the list is in the "West" ( Nishi ) on the left half and the "East" ( Higashi ) on the right half. The event of identical ranks the East group is considered prestigious. In Banzuke in Latin script the page allocations are by the way the other way around, as the reading changes.

The fighters in the respective direction will be ranked in descending order named, ie the yokozuna are low and therefore, following the Japanese reading direction from right to left, in their group at the far right. The rank will be given during the first line. In the shown opposite Banzuke three yokozuna for example, are entered (two in the east and one in the western group ). Then the ozeki, sekiwake and komusubi follow (on the mapped rankings are available from each of these ranks one representative each to the East and West group ) and finally the maegashira, which account for most of the staff in the top division.

Contains the column under the appropriate rank, from top to bottom, the origin of the Ringers ( the prefecture, or with foreigners, the home country and the specified origin is not necessarily the place of birth matched), and finally the Shikona (fighting name). In the shown opposite ranking for example, two yokozuna from Tokyo are listed on the eastern side - it is the brothers Takanohana and Wakanohana.

The next major field of Banzuke that, further divided into Western and Eastern Group, reaches to the vertical center of the sheet containing the Ringer juryo and makushita divisions. The juryo - fighters will, according to their higher rank, again named first. There follow Sandanme and Jonidan. The lowest field finally first calls the fighters in the lowest division, next followed by the members of the Sumōverbands and, as a last resort and only on the " west side ", the Wakamonogashira and Sewanin (helper ) and the yobidashi.

The middle bar contains at its uppermost end of a traditional formula, which was originally addressed to the priest of the Shinto shrine that was " misused " for the fights: "We ask humbly for forgiveness! ". Among place and dates of the tournament are specified, then the Gyoji and Shimpan (ring and outside judges ), and finally writing and address of the Sumōverbands.

Minor deviations from this division happens occasionally.

Emergence of a Banzuke

The ranking changes the wrestlers are the subject of the deliberations of the Shimpan -bu, a judge Assembly with 23 members, which meets after each tournament for consultation. This meeting will decide on the ascents and descents and holds the new rank for each fighter on paper rolls. The results, however, for the time being kept under wraps and only published on the Monday 13 days before the tournament starts with the appearance of new Banzuke. In the Internet era, this date is of course for the release of the new ranks on the website of Sumōverbands.

The papierne Banzuke previously worked calligraphic in the week by a Gyoji with ink on washi paper. The final ranking will be reduced and printed thousands of times. The prints are then distributed to all participants and can also be purchased during the tournament. In addition to these official rankings also called Ebanzuke traded, which are illustrated with images of the rikishi.