Post by Sue MoePost by Jarkko KPost by Sue MoeWatching some bouts on-line, it looks like some winners squat down,
make some hand motions, receive an envelope from the gyoji served
on a fan or thin plate, get up and leave the dohyo. However, some
other winners appear to squat, wave their hand and leave without
A rikishi only gets an envelope with money in it if someone has
placed that money in that match. "This money to be given to the winner"
Who is "someone"? The Kyokai itself? A corporate sponsor? A
wealthy patron? Gamblers / yakuza? Can more than one person
put something into one envelope? Is it made public who offers
the incentives? Do the corporations or private persons get anything
out of it, like "lunch with the winner" or an autograph or handprint?
A tax writeoff?
Usually a corporate sponsor that may or may not have links to
unsavoury thugs. But then again, the Kyokai has been accused of
consorting with the punch-perm crowd as well. The banners that are
paraded around before a bout explicitly name the sponsor. Rikishi
often spend their evenings at parties where they stand around, pose
and grunt. This results in the accumulation of still more fat
envelopes filled with 10,000 yen notes. Akebono has been quoted as
stating. "Yeah, we go to parties and stand around looking pretty".
Post by Sue MoeHow is it decided which match will have a "cash incentive"? If from the
Kyokai, I guess it could be a random pool ("match number 5 on day 6,
regardless of participants, will have a cash prize"). Except at the very
top (yokozuna, ozeki), it does seem to be kind of random throughout
the maegashira matches.
The sponsors decide. It's not random.
Post by Sue MoeI guess it could be on a specific rikishi is order to try to get both fighters
to fight their best, although that implies that you DON'T get the best
matches if there is no prize.
Not at all. There are many factors that determine a bout's intensity.
Post by Sue MoeDo the rikishi know ahead of time whether there is an envelope and
how much is in it? What are typical amounts? I know this will sound
like a TV game show, but are the prizes always cash or are they
sometimes merchandise ("this coupon good for brand new TV!")?
Yes, they do. All they have to do is notice all the elves walking
around with the banners before their bout begins. The prizes are
always cash. Rikishi don't want toasters. I saw Moose on a TV
game-show and he blurted out, in English, "I don't want no fuckin'
prizes, just give me money". Konishiki reprimanded him, on air, with a
curt "Hey, cool it".
Post by Sue MoeAnd lastly, I assume the prize goes to the winner no matter what.
That is, it is not a conditional prize ("Asashoryu, but only if he wins.
If Asa loses, no prize to the winner.").
Correct, although the Kyokai gets a cut for "taxes", "expenses", etc.