あらすじ／作品情報

Former Yobidashi Hideo-san was popular with sumo fans, who nicknamed him the “elf of the dohyo.”The former top yobidashi eloquently discusses the work of sumo’s urakata (men behind the scenes); the yobidashi, gyoji, and tokoyama, as well as the rikishi, oyakata, heya, bouts, and other topics. This book will make watching bouts even more enjoyable for you, and will deepen your understanding of sumo! With a glossary of 90 items.元立呼出の秀男さんが「呼出」「行司」「床山」など裏方さんの仕事から、力士や親方、部屋や取組の話まで、伝統や歴史もふまえて幅広く語った『呼出秀男の相撲ばなし』の英語版。観戦がより楽しくなる相撲の味わい方がわかる。巻末に用語解説90 項目。【主な目次】Foreword――Life as a Yobidashi from My Entrance into Isegahama Beya to RetirementChapter 1　Let’s Start with Discussion of the UrakataThe People Who Support SumoThe Yobidashi are in Charge of Calling the Rikishi as Well as Sweeping DohyoI Only Thought I Called Out Well on Three Days in An Entire TournamentThe Cheat Sheet Used by YobidashiTaiko――Yaguradaiko and Furedaiko are Important Tasks for the YobidashiConstructing the Dohyo――Manual Labor by All the YobidashiWe Have Many Tasks to Fulfill, Including Hitting Wooden Clappers and Carrying Kensho BannersThe Daily Life of a Yobidashi――in My CaseThe Taikozuka――Performing Religious Services for the Souls of Departed YobidashiGyoji――Sumo’s Referees-Judging Bouts is Their First ResponsibilityGunbai――Essential Item for GyojiGyoji Handle the Public Address SystemPresenting the Kaobure――Done by the Gyoji and YobidashiThe Banzuke is Written in SumojiGyoji Wear Different Costumes According to Their RankThe Tokoyama’s Work――They Become Full-Fledged When They Can Arrange OichomageFormer Rikishi Become Wakaimonogashira and SewaninChapter 2　Sumo’s Leading Actors-Rikishi and OyakataWhat is Needed to Become a RikishiThe Promotion of Rikishi――Those Who Reach Jumaime are Called SekitoriShikona――A Rikishi’s Ring Name, Real Names are AcceptableMawashi――A Rikishi Loses if his Mawashi Comes OffA Day in the Life of a Rikishi――Keiko Is Done Only in the MorningChanko――If There is Not Enough Chanko SenDohyoiri――The Sekitori Show Their FacesBouts――From Entering Shitakubeya to LeavingTorikumi are Decided Upon Every DayThere are Currently 82 Winning TechniquesThe Yumitorishiki――A Ceremony Performed on Behalf of the WinnerYusho, the Sansho and kenshokin――The Makuuchi Yusho Winner Receives Prize Money of 10 Million YenJungyo and HanazumoRikishi I Remember――Hokutenyu Had StyleTo Become an Oyakata, One Must Succeed to One of the 105 Toshiyori MyosekiOyakata Operating Heya and Oyakata Belonging to HeyaOkamisan Have a Role Akin to that of MothersManagersKoenkai――Membership is Available from 10,000 Yen UpwardsThere are Six IchimonChapter 3　Enjoying SumoSumo is Said to Have Originated with Nomino SukuneFrom the Edo Era to Today――There was a Crisis After the Meiji RestorationNihon Sumo KyokaiSeeing Sumo Beya――Watching KeikoWatching Sumo at the KokugikanIn ConclusionGlossary