Shikona

A shikona (Japanese: 四股名 or 醜名) is a sumo wrestler's ring name. The tradition of ring names in sumo dates back to the Muromachi period but became widespread in the Edo period. Ring names were used to hide the identities of early rikishi, many of whom were masterless samurai called rōnins. By the 20th century, shikona had become codified as a sporting tradition, with the selection and use of ring names governed by customs within the Japan Sumo Association.

Traditionally, a wrester's shikona is given to them by their master; the wrestler may influence the decision. Inspiration for the ring name is frequently drawn from characters associated with the wrester's family, sumo stable, or master. Other common sources include place names, mythology, and natural phenomena. While unusual, it is also possible for a sekitori to wrestle under their legal name.

Active wrestlers are almost always referred to by their ring names during tournaments and public appearances. The wrester may use either their shikona or birth name in private settings, including at their stable. Retired wrestlers who become toshiyori give up their shikona and adopt the name associated with their elder share. Special rules applied to exceptionally successful yokozuna, who until 2021 were sometimes permitted to use their ring name as their coaching name.

History

Sources attesting to the use of pseudonyms by sumo wrestlers and other martial artists date back to the mid-1500s, during the Muromachi period.[1][2][3] The archaic spelling of the term used the kanji for ugliness (醜) and had a meaning associated with humility.[3] During the Edo period, the spelling of shikona changed to incorporate the kanji for shiko (四股), the sumo leg-stomping ritual, which had phonetic similarity to the kanji for ugliness. In this period, shikona came to refer exclusively to the ring names of sumo wrestlers.[3][4]

During the period of peace established under the Tokugawa shogunate, Japan experienced an unprecedented period of vagrancy of masterless samurai, called rōnins. Samurai could not engage in any activity under their social category under threat of punishment, and with the period of peace, it had become almost impossible to be recruited by local lords who no longer needed to build up a sizeable military retinue.[5] A number of rōnin had no choice but to put their martial art skills to good use in street sumo tournaments, called tsuji-sumo (辻相撲; lit. 'street-corner wrestling'), for the entertainment of passers-by.[6] Similarly, a number of street entertainment wrestling groups formed and began touring, sometimes with the support of shrines.[7] Since these samurai only became wrestlers through the loss of their previous status, they felt ashamed, and this shame led them to adopt performance names to hide their true identity.[8][9]

As street sumo became more and more popular, several cases of violence were reported in the pleasure districts where matches took place. Because of the betting and pride involved, it became common for fights to break out, some ending in sword duels and the death of an opponent.[10] To remedy these public order problems, the Edo authorities banned sumo matches outright, launching a campaign to supervise former samurai in the municipality's territory.[10] The latter continued in 1651, with the ban on the use of shikona by wrestlers, after a plot by former samurai to overthrow the shogunate was foiled.[2] The practice of sumo and its customs such as ring names continued illegally for two decades, however, until 1684, when a rōnin named Ikazuchi Gondaiyū obtained permission from the Edo authorities to hold an official tournament, making sumo customs legal again under a new organization.[11] During the Hōreki era, wrestlers who retired and established themselves as coaches began to inherit and assume the names of their predecessors, each coaching license being attached to the ring name of the wrestler who had established himself as a trainer and passed on his license to one of his apprentices.[12][13]

From 1941 to 2021, there was a way for exceptional wrestlers to become toshiyori within the Japan Sumo Association under their shikona, on condition that the ring name disappeared after the owner's final retirement.[14][15]

Assuming a shikona

General use

In professional sumo, a proverb says that a wrestler has three names: his birth name, his ring name and the name he takes when he can retire and train younger wrestlers.[16] The shikona itself is made up of a family name, which in the traditional presentation of Japanese names comes before the first name, and a given name.[17][18]

The use of a shikona is not mandatory.[19] It is common to see new recruits fighting under their birth name before later choosing a pseudonym, while others adopt a shikona from their professional debut.[20] Some wrestlers who started their career without a shikona often assume one upon promotion to the makushita, jūryō or makuuchi divisions.[21][22]

Traditionally, wrestlers have no say in the choice of their shikona. The selection may be made by the wrestler's master, the master's wife (the okamisan) or even a sponsor; the name is communicated to the wrester by his master.[1][23] Informally, however, the master often listens to the opinion of the wrestler who is to inherit the shikona.[18]

The use of a shikona does not mean that the chosen name is final. It is possible for a wrestler to change them during his career, with some keeping a name throughout their career and others going through multiple changes.[18] In fact, masters can change their wrestlers' names in order to inspire them to progress through the ranks.[1] It is also customary for wrestlers to be given a new shikona in recognition of important promotions.[18][24]

The history and tradition associated with specific shikona can increase expectations on their bearers.[23] Ring names are not used as much on a day-to-day basis, masters often using their wrestlers' birth names during training and wrestlers relatives continuing to call them by their first names.[18]

Although most wrestlers adopt a shikona, some choose to wrestle their entire career under their real name, and an increasing number of wrestlers are now making this choice.[17][25] This is notably the case for Takayasu, Shōdai, Endō, Ura, Dejima and Wajima, the only yokozuna to have used his real name throughout his career.[18][25][26]

After retirement

Specific rules exist for ring names after the retirement of the wrestlers bearing them. For yokozuna, these names are referred to as tomena (止め名; lit. 'stopped name') which are not to be inherited, with the exception of direct disciples of the last holder.[19] Exceptions to the normal acquisition of toshiyori were also made for the most successful rikishi, with certain yokozuna being offered a "single generation" or "lifetime" elder share, called ichidai toshiyori kabu (一代年寄株).[27][28] This process allowed a wrestler to stay as an elder without having to use a traditional share in the association, and enter his retirement duties with his ring name.[27][29] Only wrestlers with extraordinary careers were eligible for this privilege.[27] In October 2021, yokozuna Hakuhō, the wrestler with the most top-division championships, retired and it was expected that he would earn the right to inherit a Hakuhō share in view of his sporting exploits.[30] Hakuhō was however denied the ichidai toshiyori kabu and Masayuki Yamauchi (a Yokozuna Deliberation Council member) declared in a press conference that "no such system exists" under the new Public Interest Incorporated Foundation statutes of the association, implying that the system would no longer be used.[31][15]

When they retire, not all wrestlers are eligible to become toshiyori. Other wrestlers may find official roles within the Japan Sumo Association in subordinate positions as wakaimonogashira or sewanin. These positions are limited, but former wrestlers who are selected for them retain their shikona as their professional name even though they are no longer active.[32]

Inspirations

Although shikona are written with characters that evoke words or ideas, there is usually no literal meaning to the full name.[33]

Early in the Edo period it was common for ring names to refer to places of origin or natural features such as mountains and rivers. Later in the period, ring names became more promotional, with wrestlers often choosing shikona designed to appeal to spectators. Such ring names often incorporated references to storms, wild animals, weapons or gods to present the wrester as strong or fierce.[9][17][18] During the Meiji Restoration, wrestlers adopted names referring to their places of birth.[9] With the westernization of Japan, many wrestlers took shikona that reflected new innovations in Japanese life; examples from the period include Shinkeihō Genshichi (新刑法 源七; New penal code) or Denkitō Kōnosuke (電気燈 光之介; Electric light).[34] It is also customary for wrestlers to incorporate a character from their master's name into their own name.[35]

It is also common for a wrestler to inherit the shikona of a family member who had previously been a wrestler.[1] An example of family transmission would be Kotozakura II, who began his career under his father's shikona before inheriting his grandfather's upon promotion to ōzeki.[36] If a wrestler from outside the family also wishes to inherit the shikona of a former wrestler, it is traditionally required that the master ask permission from the family of the wrestler in question.[37] Sometimes, a master may propose that one of his wrestlers inherit his own ring name. In 2023, then-sekiwake Kiribayama changed his name to Kirishima when he was promoted to the rank of ōzeki, so that he would evoke his master.[38]

Kanji may be chosen to inspire wrestlers bearing the shikona. For example, in 2023, Ōshōma changed the first name of his shikona, Degi (出喜), with the kanji for energy (出気), with the same pronunciation, to ward off the risk of injury after a series of setbacks.[39]

Although any characters can be used for ring names, certain kanji are often found in shikona.[40] These include:[40][33][41]

Characters Observations
Translation Japanese
Mountain 山
Rice field 田
Great 大
Youth 若
Dragon 龍
River 川
Sea 海
Koto 琴 Character used consistently within Sadogatake stable.[17]
Mount Fuji 富士
Wisteria 藤
Brocade 錦
Field 野
Flower 花
Wave 波
Noble 貴
Country 国
Morning 朝
North 北
Island 島
Japanese horse-chestnut 栃 Character used consistently within Kasugano stable.[17]
Power 力
Rising sun 旭
Cherry blossom 櫻
Abundance 豊
Heaven 天

Examples

Inspired by geographical locations

Shikona Origins and observations
Rōmaji transliteration Japanese
Umegatani 梅ヶ谷 The name is that of a village in present-day Fukushima Prefecture.[9]
Shiranui 不知火 The name of a sea bording Kumamoto Prefecture.[9]
Hitachiyama 常陸山 Both names are taken from mountains located in the old Etchū Province.[9]
Tachiyama 太刀山
Musashiyama 武藏山 The former name of Saitama Prefecture.[9]
Tochigiyama 栃木山 Inspired by Tochigi Prefecture.[9]
Kurohimeyama 黒姫山 Inspired by Mount Kurohime in Nagano Prefecture.[9]
Sentoryū 戦闘竜 Transliteration of Sentoryū's hometown name: St. Louis.[42]
Kotoōshū 琴欧洲 Ring name combining characters from both the Sadogatake stable naming tradition (琴; Koto) and for Europe (欧洲), since Kotoōshū is originally from Bulgaria.[17]
Baruto 把瑠都 Ring name chosen by transliteration to evoke the Baltic Sea, bordering the wrestler's native Estonia.[18]
Shōnanzakura 勝南桜 Name given to evoke the Shōnan region in Kanagawa Prefecture. However, the first kanji of the province's name (湘) has been replaced by the kanji meaning victory (勝), with the same pronunciation, to encourage the eponymous wrestler to win matches.[19]

Inspired by a stable tradition

Shikona Origins and observations
Rōmaji transliteration Japanese
Kashiwado 柏戸 A lineage name within Isenoumi stable, this shikona dated from the mid-Edo era and was only given to wrestlers seen as future champions.[43]
Takamiyama 髙見山 Original name of the founder of Takasago stable (Takasago Uragorō), since inherited by wrestlers of this stable.[44]

Inspired by patrons

Shikona Origins and observations
Rōmaji transliteration Japanese
Futabayama 双葉山 Inspired by the name of one of his patrons (Futaba).[40]
Yoshibayama 吉葉山 Inspired by the names of doctors who operated on them (Shosaku Yoshiba, Wasaburo Maeda).[21][35]
Maedayama 前田山

Other inspirations

Shikona Origins and observations
Rōmaji transliteration Japanese
Moriurara 森麗 Ring name of former Morikawa of Ōtake stable, chosen after he suffered a string of 38 consecutive losses to link him to the horse Haru Urara, also known for her long string of consecutive losses.[17]
Asahanshin Torakichi 朝阪神 虎吉 Ring name chosen by the wrestler to evoke the Hanshin Tigers baseball team in his native Osaka,[45] with both the Hanshin (阪神) part of his surname and the kanji for tiger (虎) in his given name.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Hall 1997, p. 88.
  2. ^ a b Cuyler 1979, p. 60.
  3. ^ a b c "しこ名（読み）しこな 日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ) 「しこ名」の意味・わかりやすい解説". Encyclopedia Nipponica (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 December 2025 – via Kotobank.
  4. ^ "世界大百科事典（旧版）内の四股名の言及". Heibonsha World Encyclopedia (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 December 2025 – via Kotobank.
  5. ^ Cuyler 1979, p. 57.
  6. ^ Cuyler 1979, p. 58.
  7. ^ Cuyler 1979, pp. 58–59.
  8. ^ Buckingham 1994, p. 165.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cuyler 1979, p. 159.
  10. ^ a b Cuyler 1979, pp. 59–60.
  11. ^ Cuyler 1979, pp. 61–62.
  12. ^ Ikeda, Masao (1998). "相撲部屋". The Revised New Edition of the World Encyclopaedia (in Japanese). Heibonsha. ISBN 4582040012. Retrieved 23 February 2024 – via Kotobank.
  13. ^ West, Mark D. (1997). Legal Rules and Social Norms in Japan's Secret World of Sumo. The Journal of Legal Studies. Vol. 26. University of Chicago Press. p. 38.
  14. ^ Cuyler 1979, p. 147.
  15. ^ a b Yoshiaki Shichino (3 October 2021). "FOCUS: Sumo fights hard to muzzle era-defining former yokozuna Hakuhō". Kyodo News. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  16. ^ Kenrick 1969, p. 44.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g Gunning, John (11 September 2018). "Sumo 101: Ring names". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 12 September 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h Gunning, John (27 May 2020). "Yusei Nakanishi gets new shikona, but what's in a ring name?". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  19. ^ a b c "News Navigator: What are the rules for sumo wrestlers' ring names?". Mainichi Daily News. The Mainichi. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  20. ^ Hall 1997, p. 17.
  21. ^ a b Schilling 1994, p. 87.
  22. ^ "伝統から珍名まで。四股名を知って大相撲を知ろう" (in Japanese). Spaia Sports. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  23. ^ a b Schilling 1994, p. 85.
  24. ^ Newton & Toff 2000, p. 112.
  25. ^ a b "Sumo Scene / Use of Real Names in Ring Increasing, with Wrestlers Popularizing Even Common Japanese Names". The Japan News. The Yomiuri Shimbun. 10 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  26. ^ "大関高安、姓にルーツある大阪で活躍誓う 横綱になってもしこ名変えず" (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  27. ^ a b c Hall 1997, p. 95.
  28. ^ Buckingham 1994, p. 89.
  29. ^ Buckingham 1994, pp. 89–90.
  30. ^ Gunning, John (13 June 2018). "Byzantine rules govern sumo's name shares". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  31. ^ "白鵬が目安クリアの一代年寄、第三者委が問題視". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 19 April 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  32. ^ "相撲の仕組み 若者頭・世話人" (in Japanese). It's a sumo world. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  33. ^ a b Hall 1997, p. 89.
  34. ^ Schilling 1994, p. 88.
  35. ^ a b Cuyler 1979, p. 160.
  36. ^ Gunning, John (2 May 2024). "Love of family behind return of historic sumo ring name". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  37. ^ "元若の里、大の里命名で元稀勢の里から相談 大ノ里の親族に「許可をもらった」" (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  38. ^ "SUMO/ Kiribayama promoted to ozeki, takes new name 'Kirishima'". The Asahi Shimbun. The Asahi Shimbun. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  39. ^ "新入幕狙う十両・欧勝馬が２勝目 今場所から下のしこ名を「出喜→出気」に改名「元気が出るように」". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 12 September 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  40. ^ a b c Kenrick 1969, p. 45.
  41. ^ Andy (2 July 2020). "Kanji Used In Shikona". Tachiai. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  42. ^ Gunning, John (24 January 2020). "Sentoryu embodied colorful sumo nickname". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  43. ^ Cuyler 1979, p. 124.
  44. ^ Cuyler 1979, p. 128.
  45. ^ Gunning, John (8 November 2023). "Tigers' triumph resonates in a sumo world full of Kansai natives". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 16 January 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.

Bibliography

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