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This time on DOSUKOI Sumo Salon, we spotlight referees - gyoji!
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No matter the situation...
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...they make split-second decisions with an eagle eye.
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Even when it's a close call, they never hesitate.
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So true!
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Today they share what goes on behind the scenes.
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Worry, anxiety, or maybe fear.
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Their work extends beyond the ring.
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We'll follow them on a regional tour...
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Entering from the east side, Meisei.
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...gain some surprising insights...
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...and see some tools of the trade.
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Recently, the sumo world celebrated the appointment of its first top-ranked referee in nine years.
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Today we dive deep into the world of sumo referees!
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It's time for DOSUKOI Sumo Salon!
01:14
Welcome to DOSUKOI Sumo Salon.
01:17
Today's topic is gyoji - referees.
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So, Nomachi-san, this should be interesting.
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Yes, I've been looking forward to it.
01:26
I knew we were doing referees today,
01:28
so in the video clip just now I was paying attention to the gyoji.
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But normally when I watch sumo, my eye is on the rikishi.
01:38
I think that's true for fans, too.
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And Yoshida-san, welcome.
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How do commentators view gyoji?
01:47
For TV play-by-play, we do watch video screens.
01:51
...But not the referees, I'm afraid.
01:53
I knew it!
01:55
To do commentary you have to be watching the rikishi.
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However! When the bout is over, it's important to see who the referee declares the winner.
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So we'll do a quick check and say,
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"The referee signals a victory for the east side," for example.
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I see.
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And Oyakata.
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How do rikishi view referees?
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Personally, I think a good referee is someone who becomes invisible during the bout.
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You don't want to get distracted.
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Some referees love to come in close.
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You wish they'd give you some space.
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Oh wow! You wanna say "Stay back!"
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Imada-san, time for a guessing game!
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In top division tournaments, how many bouts does each referee officiate in a day?
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How many per referee?
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I thought it was the same referee calling all the matches!
02:57
What a surprise!
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No, there are many referees.
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Makes sense. I'll say five! Five per referee.
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Let's look at Day 1 of a recent tournament.
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The first top division bout is officiated by...
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Kimura Ginjiro.
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He also does the next bout.
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But then another takes his place.
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Shikimori Kindayu.
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Then Shikimori Kindayu again.
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Next up is Kimura Akijiro, who also officiates two bouts.
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And it's the same for every referee that follows.
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Which means the answer is "two bouts per referee!"
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2 bouts!
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At this tournament, 13 referees officiated top-division matches.
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Four of them in bouts involving sanyaku rikishi and above.
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There's a hierarchy for referees, just like for rikishi.
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We surveyed active referees to get their thoughts.
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First, we asked, "What are your main concerns in a bout?"
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I'm eager to know.
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Of nine respondents, six had a similar answer:
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"don't go around to the front side of the ring."
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Positioning is so important!
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The "front" refers to the side of the ring in the foreground.
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Here, the referee is standing on the rear side.
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He moves about the rear side and doesn't come around to the front side.
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If you go around to the front side, you can become disoriented,
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and lose track of which is the west side rikishi and which is the east side rikishi.
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"Wait," you think, "was he from the east or the west?"
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That happens sometimes, so I try to stay away from the front side.
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Depending on the flow of the match, a referee may go around to the front side.
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But he quickly goes back.
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They get back into position!
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It's referee positioning 101.
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Next we asked, "Where do you look during a bout?"
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Once the bout starts, I watch only the lower body.
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I hardly ever look at the upper body.
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His gaze is indeed directed downward.
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It seems this is another referee fundamental.
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Then we asked, "How do you decide close calls?"
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Kimura Konosuke has a unique style.
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He crouches way down when watching the edge of the ring.
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Whoa! His eyes are glued to the action!
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When refereeing a match, I tend to keep my center of gravity low.
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I try not to miss anything.
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I want to see the action up close.
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This may be an awkward way to put it...
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but maybe it's worry, anxiety, or fear.
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I feel like I need to be close to the action to do my job.
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His fellow referee for sanyaku ranks takes a different approach.
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I can see things better when I'm at a distance.
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Kimura Hisanosuke drew our attention to a bout that ended at the edge of the ring.
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The referee raises his fan to Midorifuji!
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It appears that Midorifuji steps out of the ring and Onosho falls at the same time.
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But Hisanosuke didn't hesitate to declare Midorifuji the winner.
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The referee raises his fan to Midorifuji!
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I believe I was watching Midorifuji's feet.
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Just beyond I could see Onosho losing his balance.
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I took it all into consideration and decided Midorifuji was still in.
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My style is to take a wider view.
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Sometimes you need to see the whole picture to make a decision.
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So many layers.
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And such different approaches!
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Watching sumo you kind of get a sense that some referees get down really low,
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while others seem to be floating around the ring.
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You know, I used to referee variety-show sumo matches!
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Where did you look?
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Their feet.
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It was super hard.
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Interesting!
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Sumo referees are so decisive.
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They don't waver, even when it's a close call.
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You never see them hesitate.
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Yeah, good point.
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They signal the winner immediately.
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Take this bout, for instance, where the referee made his decision in just 0.73 seconds.
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In this one, it was half a second.
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A quick decision is a must.
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Occasionally, a referee will change his mind.
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He might raise his fan toward the east, but then go,
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"Hold on," and bring the fan around.
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Whoa!
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This is "mawashi-uchiwa" - it's frowned upon.
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The judges think poorly of a referee who changes his mind.
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I didn't know!
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Yes. It's a serious mistake.
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Really?
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But this raises a question.
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If the referee can't see the decisive moment, what does he do?
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The referee raises his fan to Midorifuji!
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In this bout, the rikishi overlap and fall over at the same time.
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His heel - is it in or out?
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I can't see Midorifuji's heel from where I'm standing.
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Takanosho is blocking my line of sight.
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I can't see his heel...
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but given his physical abilities...
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I can make an educated guess...that he's still in the ring.
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There are many instances where you can't see, so you estimate the outcome.
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Based on their technique, does this rikishi have the ability to hang in there?
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You let it play out in your head.
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So I was sure of my decision.
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I felt sure...that he was still in.
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So he couldn't see!
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Watching sumo on TV you don't really notice these things.
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- Right, and everything happens so fast!
- Yeah.
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But because he knows the rikishi's sumo style,
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he can let it play out in his head and anticipate the outcome.
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With confidence.
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Oyakata, these days you sit ringside as a judge.
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In this situation the two judges on the left clearly have no line of sight.
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So if they're called up to review the bout, all they can say is "I couldn't see."
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- Just admit it.
- Yes.
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Referees have to decide by themselves, so I don't envy them at all!
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Referees are amazing at what they do...
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but it seems they find some rikishi are tougher "calls" than others.
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Oyakata?
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I would struggle with Ura.
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That's because he's so versatile?
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He often bends his body in incredible ways.
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As he's going down, he'll spin around in an attempt to hold on.
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So true.
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So Ura's a tough call.
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Here are the results of our referee survey!
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These eight got one vote each.
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They're known for their physical ability and tenacity at the edge of the ring.
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36-year-old Sadanoumi...
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He is known for his edge-of-the-ring reversals.
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This referee said he's made a number of calls that ended up being overturned.
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When asked about the overturned calls...
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I'm not trying to go for close calls-
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I'm going for decisive wins.
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Next tournament I intend to avoid a judges' conference.
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Wakatakakage caused a referee a different kind of problem.
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His ring name is hard to pronounce.
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His name!
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Two rikishi tied for the most votes.
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The reason for the first?
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Smaller rikishi move fast.
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He's unpredictable. I scramble to stay out of the way.
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That rikishi is...Enho!
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Ah yes, he's a handful!
13:27
And as for the other rikishi...
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Anything can happen.
13:34
His athleticism makes his bouts unpredictable and tough to call.
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...Who could it be?
13:43
Ura!
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What happens next?
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Ura pulls back.
13:56
He hung in there!
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These rikishi hang on for dear life...
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And keep referees on their toes!
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That bout - it was exactly like the Oyakata said!
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Indeed.
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I was sitting ringside, predicting the outcome.
14:20
It looked like he was going down, but somehow, he used his body to stay in.
14:26
I couldn't believe it, but he was still clearly in.
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Meanwhile Takakeisho can't see what's happening.
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As he stumbles out, he's probably thinking Ura's gone down.
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Yeah, tough call for the referee.
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Tough loss for the opponent!
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I've heard referees say it's somewhat easier when they go down as one.
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When they're apart, it's tougher to decide what happened.
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Two things happening at once.
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Yes, I hear that's the worst.
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Oyakata, as a judge, you must hate rikishi who make your job tough.
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Certainly do!
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Two big guys is easiest to see.
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Clear-cut.
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Next, let's focus on a moment a referee dreads!
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Referee says Ura.
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A judge calls for review.
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Slap down!
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We have a call for review.
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When there's an objection to the referee's verdict,
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the five judges confer and decide whether to uphold the decision, overturn it,
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or rule it a simultaneous fall and order a rematch.
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We reviewed every judges' conference in 28 recent tournaments.
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Interesting!
15:57
Setting aside the rematch decisions, the referee's decision was questioned 203 times.
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Of those, in 67 percent of cases, the referee's decision was upheld.
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And in 33 percent of cases, the referee's decision was overturned.
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Tough for the referee!
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So, 203 instances of objection.
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That's way more than I would've guessed.
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I thought it was rare.
16:33
Yes. And so many overturned decisions.
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Right.
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For a referee, an overturned call is the worst outcome.
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During the period we looked at, Kimura Yodo has had the fewest decisions overturned.
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Let's see one tough call.
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Referee says Kirishima.
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There's an objection.
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Here's the replay.
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Tough call!
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The referee declared Kirishima the winner.
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There was an objection.
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Did Kirishima step out just as Asanoyama touched the ground?
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We've determined Asanoyama touched the ground first.
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The referee's decision stands.
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The decision stands, Kirishima wins.
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What's Yodo's secret to making accurate calls?
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We asked the man himself.
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I have no idea.
17:45
In this case, the five judges came up and discussed it, reviewed the video,
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and in the end I just happened to be right.
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So matter-of-fact.
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Hoping for a little more insight, we asked him to comment on the video.
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Well...depending on your angle of view, it may appear like Kirishima's foot went out first.
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Depending on your position.
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In these situations I make a point of viewing the action from the side.
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If I'm standing behind one of the rikishi, I can't see the other.
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So I try to stand to the side.
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Watch from the side: he says that is the key.
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During the bout he's constantly on the move to stay perpendicular to the action.
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Excluding bouts that resulted in do-overs,
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Kimura Yodo's decisions were called into question 16 times.
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Of those, he was overruled just once - an impressive record.
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Yodo-san is one of my favorite referees.
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I knew it.
19:13
He doesn't let you down.
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We asked him where he learned to always watch the action from the side.
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When I first became an apprentice,
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I was taught the fundamentals, and ever since I've stuck to them.
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Yodo is currently 62.
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How does he continue to stay light on his feet in the ring?
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Here's what he had to say.
19:45
I'm impatient by nature.
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I like to keep moving.
19:48
So at train stations, I always take the stairs.
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Even if it's a station deep underground, I don't like standing on the escalator.
19:56
Even long staircases?
19:57
Yes. Unless I'm carrying something really big.
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Amazing accuracy!
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When referees are young and full of energy, they handle bouts involving lower-rankers.
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As they get older, they handle bouts involving the headliners.
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But they need to be physically fit because the action is so fast.
20:22
Right, they need to be light on their feet in the ring.
20:25
Yoshida-san, what's Yodo-san usually like?
20:29
He's just like what we saw in the video clip.
20:33
Very matter-of-fact.
20:36
Also...
20:37
banzuke ranking sheets, like that one-
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he was responsible for producing them for a long time.
20:45
He's a master of calligraphy as well as a model referee.
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I wasn't aware of his near-perfect record, though!
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Next, a special segment from our own Nomachi Mineko!
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I'm a fan of referees' shouts.
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Imada-san, I want you to pick your favorite "Hakkiyoi nokotta!"
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After the initial clash, the referee shouts "Hakkiyoi nokotta"
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to encourage the rikishi to give it all they've got.
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Which shout is your favorite?
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- I've never listened so intently!
- Right?
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OK Imada-san, whose shout was your favorite?
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I like a shout with a lot of personality.
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Number three.
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Akijiro-san!
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He sounds...
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Distinctive.
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...just like Tonikaku Akarui Yasumura's impression of baseball banter.
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- Can we listen to number 3 again?
- Yeah!
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What is he saying?
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Hahaha...they sound similar, but he does clearly say "nokotta."
23:16
Yeah, I like his shout.
23:20
Oyakata?
23:22
Number 7, Konosuke-san.
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His voice really carries.
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So clear!
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They all have strong vocal cords.
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They project.
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Also, I love Inosuke-san's machine-gun style.
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Ah yes! Love that.
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So fast.
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- Rapid-fire!
- So distinct.
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I considered choosing him, too.
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So, I have one more I wanted to show you.
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He's a young referee, and I just love his take on "Hakkiyoi nokotta."
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I'm guessing over time it evolved into something unique.
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Take a listen.
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It's like his "nokotta" are compressed together.
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...Like that.
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And it was like his footwork was in sync with his shouts.
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Can we see that again?
24:44
I'm a big fan.
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Incidentally, there's something else about this referee that's different from what we've seen so far.
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He's barefoot!
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Ring attire greatly varies by rank.
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Referees for third division and below roll up their hakama trousers and are barefoot.
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Promotion to the second division...
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means you get to wear traditional split-toed socks.
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Referees for the sanyaku ranks...get to wear straw sandals.
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The outfit also comes with a small decorative case.
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And a Tate-gyoji carries a dagger,
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which is said to symbolize willingness to commit ritual suicide if a wrong decision is made.
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Referees for third division and below all enter the ring barefoot.
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Rikishi talk about how happy they were when they entered the second-highest division.
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Referees remember the first time they put on the socks, that elaborate kimono, and walked up into the ring.
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It's their proudest moment.
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Where do they get their kimono?
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The Oyakata knows better than me, but sometimes they're gifted kimono from rikishi.
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A newly promoted Yokozuna will gift kimonos to the referees at his stable.
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Yes. They're super expensive.
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The higher the rank, the more expensive the outfit.
26:23
Well, I wish we could show all the prices!
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OK, so far we've looked at what referees do in the ring.
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But they also play an important role out on regional tours.
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Let's take a look.
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The Kyushu Tour takes place in December.
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Lower-ranked referees arrive on the scene bright and early.
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These three, who are in their twenties, entered the sumo world right out of junior high.
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Just like rikishi, young referees learn the ropes by assisting their seniors.
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Too tight!
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Their first task on site is to set up spaces for senior referees.
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The Tate-gyoji or chief referee is the furthest back, followed by referees for sanyaku ranks.
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Referees for third division and below all sit together in the corner of the room.
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There's a strict hierarchy.
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26 referees participated in this tour,
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performing an array of duties to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
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We spot a young referee running a power cord out to a truck.
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What's going on in the trailer?
28:01
Let's do 50 copies.
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Programs featuring the day's matches, which will later be handed out to spectators.
28:12
Why print them on the day?
28:15
A rikishi may have to sit the day out.
28:18
That's why we wait until the morning of.
28:22
On regional tours, matchups can change at the last minute,
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so the printing team holds off as long as possible.
28:33
At 9 a.m., the doors open, and it's time for another team to get to work.
28:40
This way everyone, you can set up inside.
28:45
It's the referees' job to facilitate media relations.
28:49
Test, test, test.
28:54
Basically, staff from the Japan Sumo Association don't accompany these regional tours.
29:01
So we referees handle the tasks.
29:06
Here's the logistics team.
29:10
Tours involve over 100 rikishi and stablemasters traveling from one place to the next.
29:16
Referees are responsible for sharing information about bus seats, hotel rooms, meal locations, and more.
29:23
So many tasks!
29:28
Try bigger characters.
29:30
Fill up the columns.
29:32
Oh...
29:34
Like this.
29:36
I'll redo it.
29:40
They write out detailed instructions on large sheets of paper.
29:45
These event sheets are called No-gaki.
29:52
As soon as they're put up near the dressing rooms, rikishi and their attendants come out to check.
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Inside the event space, a team of referees sits in the back.
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East side, Myogiryu.
30:11
East Maegashira #9.
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Their job is to make announcements.
30:21
They use flash cards.
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Each has the name of a rikishi, plus rank, birthplace, and stable.
30:30
Info at their fingertips!
30:34
Matchups can change at the last minute.
30:37
So in order to prepare, we rearrange the cards according to the program.
30:45
- I brought you guys a snack.
- Thank you.
30:48
Regional tours are also an opportunity for referees to connect with sumo fans.
30:53
Thank you for everything you do!
30:56
And it's the job of the referees to decide on the next day's matchups.
31:04
Let's begin.
31:07
Tamawashi...
31:10
Tamawashi and Mitakeumi.
31:16
They use a sheet that has the rikishi listed in order of ranking.
31:20
As matchups are decided, they mark the names with a stone.
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Asatenmai and Kitanosho.
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Shimanishiki and Chiyohokkai.
31:29
Lastly, they read out the stable names.
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- Hanaregoma.
- Sakaigawa.
31:34
- Otake.
- Kokonoe.
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- Nishonoseki.
- Tokiwayama.
31:37
- Kasugano.
- Hanaregoma.
31:40
Why do we check the stables?
31:42
Well, as we go through and decide matchups,
31:45
we might accidentally put together rikishi from the same stable.
31:51
We need to make sure that we haven't done that.
31:59
Behind the scenes, the referees support the rikishi in many ways.
32:08
They really do it all.
32:10
Yes.
32:11
Throughout my sumo career referees have really looked after me.
32:16
They take care of everything for you.
32:18
Throwing a party? They organize the whole thing.
32:21
So from my perspective their role in the ring almost feels like an add-on.
32:27
Most of my experience with them is in this other role.
32:31
No, no, their main role is in the ring.
32:34
They're not gonna like this!
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When referees first start out, they live at the stable,
32:40
alongside the young rikishi in a communal room.
32:44
You're taking them for granted, oyakata!
32:47
We just saw Kimura Takao.
32:49
He's been like a big brother to me.
32:51
He taught me the ins and outs of the sumo world - everything.
32:57
He taught you the nitty-gritty.
32:59
But I've rarely seen him in referee attire.
33:01
You must've, you just weren't paying attention!
33:05
And those sheets, they looked like a lot of work.
33:10
This is the only way you can find out your hotel room.
33:14
Unlike the big tournaments, you stay at a different place every night.
33:18
Rikishi don't have the time to look it up themselves.
33:21
What's it like for an attendant?
33:24
You jot down the room numbers for the senior rikishi you're assisting as well as participating stablemasters.
33:30
Later at the hotel you go around making courtesy calls to the stablemasters.
33:34
You need to see the logistics sheets.
33:37
Right.
33:38
So when they put them up, people gather around to take notes.
33:42
It's very important.
33:45
Thankfully, these days...you can snap a photo.
33:49
Ah! So it's easy.
33:51
20 years ago, I'd have a notepad hanging from my neck so I was always ready.
33:58
Times have changed!
34:01
We saw Kimura Ginjiro just now.
34:04
So, the interesting thing about Ginjiro-san...
34:07
is that he's a railway geek.
34:11
So during regional tours he's absolutely indispensable to coordinating train travel, seating arrangements, and so on.
34:20
No need for an app.
34:21
He might be even better than an app!
34:25
Incidentally, when using air travel,
34:27
it's the referees' job to plan the seating arrangements to balance out the weight in the cabin.
34:35
So they also fly.
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Kids cry out "The plane's gonna crash!"
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Because we're big guys.
34:42
I could hear them crying in the back.
34:44
I felt bad for them.
34:47
Oh wow, that's rough.
34:52
Now let's get back to the tour.
34:57
At twelve thirty...
34:58
Dressed for his main job.
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Where are you headed?
35:04
The entrance aisle.
35:06
It's time for the bouts to begin.
35:10
So young!
35:14
That includes this referee, whom we met earlier.
35:20
He takes his place in the ring in dignified attire.
35:29
Great voice, really carries.
35:34
Two hours later...
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Back in ordinary clothes...
35:39
Back to normal.
35:42
Yeah!
35:43
...and attending senior referees.
35:45
So this is what they all go through.
35:53
Promotion is based on seniority.
35:56
It takes over 25 years to become a referee for the top division.
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The last one up is Shikimori Inosuke.
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His rank is Tate-gyoji, the highest among the 43 active referees.
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That fine kimono has my name on it.
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It has a crest with your name!
36:21
Yes, it was a gift.
36:24
I prepare his accessories.
36:29
His decorative case.
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He also wears a dagger.
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Plus headgear and war fan.
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For young referees...it's work, work, work.
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Work is everything.
36:43
The stablemasters are at the ship's wheel, but we provide support.
36:50
If a referee makes a mistake...the ship's engine stalls.
36:56
We play an important role.
37:03
Becoming a referee means being in it for the long haul.
37:10
They keep the ship on course.
37:16
What is Inosuke-san like?
37:18
I remember one time being with him on the Autumn Tour.
37:22
You board the tour bus in order of rank.
37:26
Top rankers sit up front.
37:29
So I would always sit next to Inosuke-san.
37:32
We'd chat, and I got to hear a lot of stories.
37:36
- About sumo?
- Yes.
37:39
Inosuke-san taught me a lot on that tour.
37:43
Just like he said, there's so much work to be done behind the scenes.
37:48
When I first got into sumo about 30 years ago, Inosuke-san was a referee for second-division bouts.
37:58
Since then, his name has changed as his career has advanced.
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Back then, he still had a long way to go.
38:07
I've watched him from that era.
38:10
When a referee is promoted, his name changes.
38:13
It's fun to follow the whole process.
38:17
- I bet! You saw him inherit the name Shikimori Inosuke.
- Yes.
38:24
There's actually an even more senior name than Shikimori Inosuke.
38:30
Kimura Shonosuke.
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He officiates just one bout: the final match of the day.
38:38
To date the sumo world has seen 73 Yokozuna.
38:42
But there have only been 38 Kimura Shonosuke.
38:47
Until Inosuke took the senior name Kimura Shonosuke in December 2023,
38:52
that role had been vacant for nine years.
38:56
So what does the Kimura Shonosuke name represent?
39:01
We spoke to a man with firsthand experience.
39:04
Ito Katsuharu.
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34th Kimura Shonosuke.
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Ito was appointed the 34th Kimura Shonosuke during the era when Asashoryu and Hakuho clashed as rivals.
39:30
He officiated many bouts that have gone down in history.
39:37
This is the box in which Ito kept his special clothing and other equipment.
39:43
Along with one particularly important item.
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I have something here...
39:57
I had this prepared.
40:00
I don't know if others do it.
40:04
It's a little tattered.
40:05
I never ended up using it.
40:07
A letter of resignation.
40:08
Wow, I've never actually seen one before.
40:14
When a Tate-gyoji makes a wrong call in the ring, he offers to resign.
40:21
I've already signed and stamped this.
40:25
The date and bout are left blank because you don't know when you might make a wrong decision.
40:31
So I prepared this beforehand to get myself mentally ready.
40:36
Of course, I didn't want to have to use it.
40:40
But I had the letter prepared just in case I made an error.
40:45
I folded it in half...and tucked it underneath my fan.
40:53
You sincerely hope you don't have to use it.
40:57
But you never know where the chips may fall.
41:02
That's your frame of mind for all 15 days.
41:08
He says he prepared the letter two days before the start of his first tournament as Kimura Shonosuke.
41:17
He held the rank for about one year and made no errors.
41:21
So the letter remained in his possession.
41:28
Did you all know about this?
41:32
You hear letters of resignation being mentioned, but I'd never actually seen one.
41:39
One time I saw a Tate-gyoji who'd just made a wrong call making his way to the chairman's office.
41:46
He looked extremely apologetic, taking these rueful-looking steps...
41:52
I remember watching him and realizing the weight of responsibility that they bear.
41:58
Resigned to his fate.
42:00
Yes.
42:04
There's one man who dedicated himself to embodying the referee ideal.
42:10
The 28th Kimura Shonosuke.
42:13
I'm a huge fan.
42:15
Me too.
42:17
Ah, I remember watching him.
42:20
He officiated the final bout of the day during the era of the Wakataka brothers and Akebono,
42:25
when sumo's popularity was at an all-time high.
42:30
Shonosuke is the top rank.
42:34
It feels like you're standing at the summit alone.
42:40
Your job carries the full weight of responsibility.
42:48
We spoke to someone who watched Shonosuke carry out his duties.
42:54
Pardon me.
42:57
Kimura Akijiro.
43:03
He served as an attendant to Shonosuke for roughly seven years.
43:12
He'd step down from the ring, return to the referee's room, and let out a big sigh.
43:20
He was relieved he'd made it through the day without incident.
43:24
When I was starting out, I'd think, you were only up there for one bout.
43:29
Referees for the lowest division handle 15, 16 bouts a day.
43:34
I didn't understand how he could get so tired from one bout-
43:39
But that was naive.
43:40
What he was doing was harder than I could ever imagine.
43:46
He says Shonosuke repeatedly instilled in him an important lesson.
43:52
He would say the expression "to decide a bout" is inappropriate.
43:59
Before that I'd hear people talk about referees making decisions,
44:05
but what we actually do is get the rikishi in sync.
44:09
He said it was the job of a referee to ensure that both rikishi are on the same wavelength.
44:17
Far be it from us to decide a match. That's not our place.
44:22
Rikishi are the stars.
44:25
Our job is to empower them...
44:27
to ensure they're in perfect sync.
44:31
One rikishi said to me that a good referee enables him to perform at 120, even 150 percent.
44:38
Shonosuke taught us to say "awaseru" -
44:41
meaning to bring it all together.
44:47
"Awaseru." Shonosuke's philosophy lives on among today's referees.
44:56
Hmm. Oyakata, would you share your thoughts?
45:00
What he said...really resonates with me.
45:04
Grand Sumo is a rare example of a sport where there's no start signal.
45:10
The competitors have to get in sync.
45:13
Of course, strong rikishi are ready to go at any time.
45:16
But it's important that both rikishi are on the same wavelength.
45:20
It's how you prepare yourself to win.
45:23
And the referee is standing right there as this happens.
45:29
So I can really understand that frame of mind.
45:35
My generation handled top-division commentating duties right around the same time he was Tate-gyoji.
45:42
One time we all got to have dinner with him, and he talked about this.
45:48
He said, "You guys in the media talk about the referee who will decide the bout,
45:53
but we don't decide anything."
45:57
My generation of commentators really took that to heart.
46:00
So even now, I never talk about the referee making decisions.
46:05
Fascinating.
46:07
Tate-gyoji Shikimori Inosuke will "awaseru" the next two bouts.
46:13
I've passed that on to junior announcers.
46:16
So I believe they all say "awaseru."
46:19
Yes, they do.
46:20
"Awaseru"!
46:22
We avoid saying "decide."
46:25
So that's why!
46:29
This topic really has so many aspects.
46:33
Yes, it does.
46:35
We got to see a lot behind the scenes today.
46:38
I loved it.
46:40
We heard stories about legendary referees.
46:44
So many things I got to learn about.
46:47
You know, in the next life I hope I become a sumo referee.
46:51
Seriously.
46:52
I get it. It was very inspiring.
46:55
Oyakata, thoughts?
46:57
As we saw, Tate-gyoji bear a heavy responsibility and put their careers on the line.
47:04
In that sense they're just like Yokozuna.
47:08
I see.
47:10
Of course, there's a lot of things we weren't able to cover today.
47:14
Right.
47:15
A lot more to discover.
47:17
I hope this encourages viewers to learn more about
47:20
- what referees and other staff do behind the scenes.
- Indeed.
47:24
I learned a lot today.
47:27
OK, Imada-san - it's that time again!
47:31
With pleasure.
47:32
Drum roll please-
47:34
referees are like...
47:37
old-school entertainers.
47:41
Ultimately...it's all about diligence.
47:45
Step by step.
47:47
They start out as apprentices doing odd jobs, working really hard.
47:54
- It's the same for entertainers when they start out.
- So true.
47:58
The dressing rooms on the regional tour were just like an entertainer's dressing room.
48:03
But the thing is...there is one big difference.
48:07
Unfortunately, my agency doesn't have a Kimura Shonosuke.
48:13
We have lots of performers, but we don't have someone who can keep everything in sync.
48:19
At least at my agency.
48:21
- The Shonosuke position is vacant.
- Exactly!
48:28
One final survey question.
48:30
You know you're a referee when...
48:34
"...you shuffle your feet at home."
48:37
"...holding a fan makes you want to use it like a referee."
48:42
And...
48:43
"you see everything in terms of right and wrong."
48:46
Okay - but don't overdo it!
48:53
Tune in next time to DOSUKOI Sumo Salon!