| Banzuke |
The official listing of rank in ozumo. |
| Basho |
Tournament |
| Dohyo |
The sumo ring. Made of packed clay, it consists of a square platform
with a circle made of dirt-packed straw bales imbedded in its surface. The
dohyo is between 34 and 60 cm. in height and the diameter of the inner
circle is 4.55 m. |
| Dohyo-iri |
The formal ring entering ceremony performed by members of the top two
divisions in ozumo. |
| Gyoji |
The referees. There are eight ranks in this profession, with promotion
based on a combination of seniority and competence. Each gyoji will take
one of two "clan" names as his family name; Kimura or Shikimori. |
| Kanto-sho |
The Fighting Spirit Prize. This prize is given to a
rikishi in the top division ranked below ozeki who demonstrates the most
fighting spirit over the course of a given "basho" or
tournament. |
| Kesho-mawashi |
The ceremonial apron worn by rikishi in the top two divisions during
their dohyo-iri or ring entering ceremony. |
| Mawashi |
The loincloth like garment worn by the sumo wrestler when fighting |
| Ozumo |
|
| Rikishi |
The sumo wrestler |
| Shikiri |
The toeing-the-mark ritual that precedes the start of every bout in
sumo. |
| Shukun-sho |
The Outstanding Performance Award. This prize is given to a rikishi in
the top division ranked below ozeki who defeats the most yokozuna or ozeki
over the course of a given "basho" or tournament. |
| Yokozuna |
The highest position on the banzuke or official listing
of rank |
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