Toshiyori Meiseki Was(Re: Sumo Association News Release - November 16, 2003

[EMAIL PROTECTED]  (Sue Moe) wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> >Director ranked Toshiyoris earn 1.448 Million Yen. 
> 
> What are Toshiyoris? Director-ranked versus non-ranked?

The Japan Sumo Association (in Japanese, Nihon Sumo Kyokai) have a
limited number of members (as opposed to workers like clerks and
accountants).
Obviously they include the rikishi(sumotori), gyoji, yobidashi and
toshiyori.
You see rikishis, gyoji and yobidashi on the dohyo daily. They have
the ranks and assigned names based on merit and in some cases
seniority.

While their mandatory retirement age is 65 years old, no rikishi can
compete till that age as physically it's almost impossible. For a
retired rikishi to remain with the Kyokai, they need to acquire what
is known as Toshiyori Meiseki (Toshiyori in Japanese literally means
Old or Senior and Meiseki can be considered as a stock or share like
those traded at a stock exchange).

The maximum number of Toshiyori Meiseki is 103 or 104 - I don't
remember exact number but it's between 100 to 105. For instance the
current Musashigawa oyakata was the 57th Yokozuna Mienoumi.  When he
retired from active career, he "inherited" the Toshiyori Meiseki of
Musashigawa. Subsequently he founded his own heya and developed
rikishis like Musashimaru, Musoyama and Miyabiyama.  Among the
Toshiyoris - those achieved high ranked like Yokozunas and Ozekis will
often be voted in as the Directors - for instance Kokonoe oyakata was
Yokozuna Chiyonofuji and the current chairman Kitanoumi oyakata was
Yokozuna Kitanoumi. The Kyokai has annual or bi-annual election of its
directors.

The Yokozunas who achieved distigushed records can be given what is
known as one generation Toshiyori Meiseki.  These are Toshiyori
Meiseki you can retain as long as you stay with the Kyokai, normally
till the mandatory retirement age. Kitanoumi, Taiho and Takanohana all
have one generation Toshiyori share but the Meiseki cannot be given
out to anyone else.  As acquiring a Meiseki or share runs into a
million dollars or more, you need to have a good financial backing
like your supporters club.

When Yokozuna Musahimaru retired yesterday, he can remain with the
Kyokai for the next  five years as he was a Yokozuna (I seem to recall
an Ozeki can remain three years). During the five years he must
acquire a Meiseki or he has to leave the Kyokai.  I suspect Akebono
without financial backers nor having a sound financial plan did not
have enough money to acquire a Meiseki so his only choice left was to
leave the Kyokai and try something else like K-1.

Another way you can get a Meiseki is by a relation - for instance
Kotonowaka is son-in-law of Sadogatake Oyakata so even if he has no
Meiseki of his own (I believe he has anyway), he could take over
Sadogatake Meiseki which he probably will when he takes over the heya
from the current oyakata in two years.

There is another way you can temporally stay with the Kyokai.  This is
called a Jyun-Toshiyori (associate Toshiyori) but in this case you
need to acquire or lease a real Meiseiki within a set time (I believe
this is around 2 years).

Another thing, not everyone with money can get a Toshiyori Meiseki.
You need to spend certain number of bashos as either Makuuchi or
Juryo.  Of course once you achieve Ozeki or Yokozuna, you are eligible
to acquire one.

If you did not qualify for the Meiseki, you can still remain with the
Kyokai. They are called Wakamonogashira whom you may see carrying the
Yusho Trophy on the Senshuraku or directing traffic on the hanamichi
but they don't have any voting priviledges nor they can become
directors.

All 103 or 104 Meisekis have the owners.  There are certain number of
vacant Meiseki from time to time for a variety of reasons.  In that
case the owner can rent out the Meiseki to someone who has not
acquired one as they have not enough money yet.

The history of Meiseki is pretty interesting one and many Meiseki go
back hundred years or more.

Regarding the revenues and profits for the Kyokai.  They are a
non-profit organization and their charter is registered with and under
the control of the Ministry of Education so even though they want to
generate as much money as they can but no individual connected with
the Kyokai will become rich.  The Kyokai's mission is to preserve the
national sport of Japan and propagate it.