Kanreki dohyō-iri

In sumo wrestling, a kanreki dohyō-iri (Japanese: 還暦土俵入り) is a ring-entering ceremony (dohyō-iri) performed by a former yokozuna in celebration of his 60th birthday (called "kanreki" in Japanese). If he is a toshiyori (a sumo elder), the ceremony is usually held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan, the main sumo hall in Tokyo. Otherwise, if retired, at another location. A red "tsuna" is worn, instead of the usual white tsuna. This is commonly known as an "akatsuna" (赤綱) but this term is unofficial. If the dew-sweeper or sword-bearer is a former yokozuna, he wears his own tsuna.

Kanreki performed at Kokugikan

Wrestlers are listed using their ring name, followed by their then toshiyori name in brackets.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%"
-!Year!Wrestler!Dew-sweeper!Sword-bearer
-
1952
Tochigiyama (Kasugano)
Akinoumi Setsuo (Fujishima)
Haguroyama Masaji (active)
-
1956
Tsunenohana Kan'ichi (Dewanoumi)
Chiyonoyama Masanobu (active)
Futabayama Sadaji (Tokitsukaze)
-
1985
Tochinishiki Kiyotaka (Kasugano)
Sadanoyama Shinmatsu (Dewanoumi)
Wakanohana Kanji I (Futagoyama)
-
1988
Wakanohana Kanji I (Futagoyama)
Takanosato Toshihide (Dewanoumi)
Wakanohana Kanji II (Magaki)
-
2000
Taihō Kōki (special toshiyori)
Chiyonofuji Mitsugu (Kokonoe)
Kitanoumi Toshimitsu (special toshiyori)
-
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Kagamisato Kiyoji (Tatsutagawa), Tochinoumi Teruyoshi (Kasugono), Sadanoyama Shinmatsu (Sakaigawa) and Kotozakura Masakatsu (Sadogatake) wore red tsuna but did not perform dohyō-iri. Asashio Tarō (Takasago) had a red tsuna made, but died aged 58 without performing the ceremony.

Kanreki performed at other locations

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%"
-!Year!Wrestler!Dew-sweeper!Sword-bearer!Venue
-
1937
Tachiyama Mineemon
Tachienoumi Namiemon (Kise)
Tachihikari Den'emon (Naruto)
Ueno Seiyōken
-
2002
Kitanofuji Katsuaki
Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi (Hakkaku)
Chiyonofuji Mitsugu (Kokonoe)
Hotel East 21
-
2007
Mienoumi Tsuyoshi (Musashigawa)
Miyabiyama Tetsushi (active)
Dejima Takeharu (active)
Hotel Grand Pacific Meridian
-
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Minanogawa Tōzō and Akinoumi Setsuo also reached the age of sixty years whilst retired, but did not perform a kanreki dohyō-iri. Mienoumi performed an early kanreki dohyō-iri seven months before his 60th birthday, on the 25th anniversary of the founding of Musashigawa stable.

External links

* [http://www.mainichi-msn.co.jp/sports/battle/news/20070617spn00m050015000c.html Mainichi Shinbun article about Mainoumi's kanreki dohyō-iri (in Japanese, with picture)]