thumbnail|300px|Judges holding a during the [[2006 in sumo|2006 March tournament.]]
In sumo wrestling, a is a ringside judge seated around the (sumo ring) to observe the match, identifying which wrestler wins the matchup and supervising the work of the in ring referee (called ), to ensure that no refereeing errors are made.
Historically, the role of judge developed in the 18th century to facilitate arbitral decisions, which were subject to external pressures, before establishing itself as the ultimate decision-making authority at the end of the 19th century. In professional sumo, all judges are former wrestlers who have acquired the status of (sumo elder) and have been assigned to the corresponding department within the Japan Sumo Association. During sumo tournaments (called ), five judges sit around the , with additional elders serving as video review officials in another room. The judges command an aura of respect, reinforced by their formal, sober attire and the weight of their decisions.
The judges' main role is to ensure that all preparations for the matches are completed properly and on time, before assisting both the referee in the ring in deciding the outcome of a match and the referees on announcing duty in recording the winning techniques. If the outcome of a match is disputed, it is up to the judges to call a to discuss the referee's decision, assisted by video refereeing.
However, the role of referees is not limited to matches. Behind the scenes, they are also responsible for establishing the , the ranking system that serves as the cornerstone of professional sumo. When wrestlers are eligible for promotion to the two highest ranks in the hierarchy ( and ), it is also their responsibility to ask the Sumo Association's board of directors to promote those selected, with their opinion serving as the basis for the promotion process and their recommendations never being ignored. Judges also serve as guardians of the etiquette associated with professional sumo, and it is their responsibility to enforce the rules and reprimand wrestlers and masters who violate them. Finally, they are responsible for organizing the matches, a role they perform every day of a tournament.
History
The elders' judging function developed around 1750, with the emergence of interests linked to the prestige of local lords. The fairness of the decisions handed down by the was increasingly called into question, because lords sponsored wrestlers. This led to the questioning of the 's absolute authority over match results and the introduction of a system of judges, all elders, then called but more commonly known as . This name was derived from their positions during matches, right at the base of the poles holding up the roof of the ring. Initially, the judges sat at the foot of the ring, but from around 1780 onwards, they took their places directly on the fighting platform. Three judges were led by a head judge, who had total authority and whose personal decision could not be questioned.
With Takasago Uragorō's return to the Tokyo Sumo Association, a series of reforms were implemented to satisfy his demands. One of these was to transfer the final say in the judgment of a disputed match from the referees () to the judges. The judges took on the official name of . The office of judge evolved in the mid-20th century, with the removal of the powers of the head judge in 1958, considered too powerful and autocratic. With a final reform taking place in 1968, judges finally adopted the name (or ). The system for electing judges that had been in place until then was also abolished in favor of the system that remains in place today. The idea of bringing in judges who were not but former wrestlers who showed little promise, retired and trained by their peers to become judges following the system, was considered but not implemented.
Status and seating
All judges are former wrestlers who have attained the status of and have been assigned to the dedicated department of the Japan Sumo Association. Like all departments, the Judging Department is headed by a director assisted by a deputy. The appointed serve in the department for a one-year term, and their supervisors serve for a two-year term. Initially, this difference between clans explained why judges interacted little with each other after matches, simply going home immediately after finishing their duties. Today, however, it is accepted that judges from the same team chat amiably and go out together to forge bonds. All are recognizable by their sober and formal attire, called montsuki. The JSA itself requires its judges to wear these formal outfits, strictly prohibiting activities around the ring in simple or business suits in order to protect the traditional appearance of sumo tournaments. Judges wear black (loose jackets) and gray silk shirts, setting them apart from the flamboyant robes of the , and often causing them to be nicknamed "the Men in black". Judges have been using replays since the 1969 May tournament. That standard was set after Taihō was wrongly declared the loser in his match against Toda during the 1969 March tournament, ending his streak of consecutive victories. Denounced by the press with photographic evidence, the controversy, dubbed the "miscall of the century", prompted the Japan Sumo Association to make video refereeing standard practice. The introduction of video refereeing was a pioneering move in Japanese sports, contrasting with the very traditional nature and setting of sumo.
Judges can confirm the decision of the by announcing , overturn it by announcing , or order a . The decision supported by the judges is subject to a majority vote by the members present before being announced to the public. The chief judge then acts as spokesman. Unlike , whose careers are affected if they make too many bad judgments, judges are not affected if they make a bad decision after a controversial match. In the rare case of a judging error, a rematch () can be called. In a top division match between Kotozakura and Atamifuji at the 2025 January tournament, judge Asahiyama (former Kotonishiki) raised his hand to stop the contest believing that Kotozakura's foot stepped out of the . Video replays confirmed that the foot did not touch the ground outside of the straw bales at the time the hand was raised, and the judges decided to order a rematch.
The accuracy of the judges' decision after a on the spot is never questioned. Its legitimacy is partly based on the fact that, with all sides of the ring covered by the judges, they have a better view of what is happening in the ring than the referee, who will always have a blind spot.
In amateur sumo, the use of video refereeing has also become more widespread since the 2020s, following a series of controversial decisions at the highest level of national competition, with the use of tablet computers.
Around and during the matches
The judges are divided into seven teams that take turns throughout the day, with two teams dedicated solely to the division, switching places when half of the matches of that division have been completed.
Like wrestlers, who must not show emotion, judges must also maintain a neutral expression while officiating. However, it is not uncommon to see judges smile or laugh openly when young teenage professionals struggle to perform their tasks melodiously as they go through voice change. It is widely accepted that the personalities of judges play a major role in the promotions and demotions of wrestlers. During the meeting, the serve only as observers and are not invited to speak. Three are responsible for recording decisions on promotions and demotions, and their work is then used as the basis for the calligraphy known to the public. In the event of promotion to the rank of , the board of directors considers the request of the judges and forwards it to the Yokozuna Deliberation Council. In both cases, it is then traditional for a director and a member of the Judging Department to then visit the newly promoted wrestler's stable to announce the news, which takes place as part of a formal traditional ceremony. It is customary for the board of directors to follow the recommendations of the judges.
Organizing matches and monitor practices
The matches are decided by judges during planning meetings, deciding which combinations of wrestlers will compete against each other. As with the deliberations of the , the are also involved in the meeting as they act as clerks during the debates. The matches for the first two days are decided two days before the start of the tournament. From the third day onwards, the matches are decided the morning of the day before, meaning that the next day's matches are decided before the results of the same-day matches are known. The fourteenth and fifteenth days are exempt from this practice, and their matches are decided in the evening, after all matches have been completed. Judges may also reinforce their instructions by issuing warnings to the coaches of wrestlers who break the rules. Recent examples of rules enacted by the Judging Department includes prohibiting a wrestler suffering from a concussion from continuing a match, even if the outcome of the match is being contested.
See also
- Glossary of sumo terms