Yobidashi

Nicknamed "sumo's workhorses" by former sekiwake Takamiyama,[4] the yobidashi are required to wear traditional clothing in public and are subject to a strict hierarchy in their organisation.

[6] During the Edo period, the role became more codified, the staff responsible for calling the wrestlers inherited the name maegyōji (前行司), meaning 'preceding referees'.

[10] Since October 2019 the tate-yobidashi position has been vacant after the incumbent, Takuro, from Kasugano stable, was suspended for two tournaments and announced his retirement for hitting a junior yobidashi over the head after he caught him eating in the customer seating area on jungyō.

[13] In September 2023, however, it was announced that Jirō (also from Kasugano stable), would be promoted by two ranks to become tate-yobidashi from December 25 of the same year, when the banzuke for the January 2024 tournament will be released.

40 tonnes of a special clay, called Arakida,[10] collected in the town of Kawagoe (Saitama Prefecture) are needed for its construction and the yobidashi use small trucks to transport the materials.

Dressed traditionally and holding a simple white fan, they call the wrestlers by their shikona, or ring-name, in a high-pitched and melodious way.

[15] Because of the large number of wrestlers in the divisions, the yobidashi who enter the ring are notoriously using cheat sheets so as not to make any mistakes in public.

[8] Another recognisable task of the yobidashi is parading the kenshō (advertising) banners around the ring before particular match-ups between popular wrestlers, which are often sponsored by companies.

At the end of the day, immediately after the yumitori-shiki (bow-twirling) ceremony, the hane-daiko (跳ね太鼓) is played to invite spectators leaving the arena to disperse.

[7] High-ranking yobidashi finally accompany sekitori-ranked wrestlers in their dohyō-iri ring-entering ceremonies by sounding their hyōshigi, an instrument consisting of two pieces of cherry wood tied together with a cord.

[10] Other tasks on match days include: sweeping the ring, providing purification salt, handing towels to wrestlers, displaying banners showing that a match has been decided by default (usually due to a competitor's withdrawal), or subject to a rematch after the next two bouts, and ensuring that, during a bout, no wrestler injures himself on the bucket of chikara-mizu (power water) situated at each east and west side of the ring.

[15] The yobidashi are also responsible for bringing the thick cushions of the makuuchi-ranked wrestlers to the ring, which are handed to them by the tsukebito (assistant) who come out of the changing rooms.

[11] When a stable goes on tour in the odd-numbered months, the yobidashi are also responsible for making the necessary arrangements to reserve accommodation for the masters and wrestlers.

The wrestlers (involved in a martial activity) and gyōji (who were lettered) could be construed as having positions consistent with a samurai status, while the yobidashi did not.

[10] The costume is the same for senior and junior ranked yobidashi and only the kimono worn on the torso varies in color and the names on the back.