Ashikona (Japanese:四股名 or 醜名) is asumo wrestler'sring name. The use of ring names in sumo dates back to theMuromachi period and developed further in theEdo period, when ring names were used to hide the identities of earlyrikishi, many of whom were masterless samurai calledrōnins. By the 20th century, use of ring names became governed by customs within theJapan Sumo Association.

Traditionally, a wrestler'sshikona is given to him by his master; the wrestler may influence the decision. Inspiration for the ring name is frequently drawn fromcharacters 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 asekitori to wrestle under his legal name.

The general public is expected to refer to an active wrestler by his ring name. A wrestler may use either hisshikona or birth name in private settings, including at his stable. Retired wrestlers who becometoshiyori give up theirshikona and adopt the name associated with their elder share. Special rules applied to exceptionally successfulyokozuna, who until 2021 were sometimes permitted to use their ring name as their coaching name.

Sources attesting to the use of pseudonyms by sumo wrestlers and other martial artists date back to the mid-1500s, during theMuromachi period.^[2][3][4] The archaic spelling of the term used thekanji for ugliness (醜) and had a meaning associated with humility.^[4] During theEdo period, the spelling ofshikona changed to incorporate the kanji forshiko (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.^[4][5]

The period of peace established under theTokugawa shogunate reduced thedaimyō's demand for samurai military service, resulting in an increase in the number of masterless samurai, calledrōnin. Due to therigid social hierarchies of the period, manyrōnin struggled to find alternative employment.^[6][7] Some suchrōnin leveraged their martial skills in street sumo tournaments, calledtsuji-sumo (辻相撲;lit. 'street-corner wrestling'), for the entertainment of passers-by.[8] The shame associated with their loss of status led these samurai to adoptshikona to hide their true identities.^[9][10]

As street sumo increased in popularity, cases of violence began to be reported in thepleasure districts where many matches took place.^[11] The Edo authorities addressed the public disorder by implementing restrictions on public sumo, including a ban on the use ofshikona by wrestlers. These restrictions culminated in 1661 with a total prohibition against sumo.^[12] The practice of sumo continued illegally until 1684, when arōnin named Ikazuchi Gondaiyū obtained permission from the Edo authorities to hold an official tournament, making sumo and its customs legal again under a new organization.^[13] During theHōreki era, wrestlers who retired and established themselves ascoaches began to inherit and assume the names of their predecessors.^[14][15]

From 1941 to 2021, there was a way for exceptional wrestlers to becometoshiyori within theJapan Sumo Association under theirshikona, on condition that the ring name disappeared after the owner's final retirement.^[16][17]

In professional sumo, a proverb says that a wrestler has three names: hisbirth name, his ring name and the namehe takes when he can retire and train younger wrestlers.^[18] Theshikona 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.^[19][20]

All active wrestlers must have ashikona; in the case the wrestler fights under their birth name, this is considered theshikona.^[19][21] It is common to see new recruits fighting under their birth name before later choosing a pseudonym, while others adopt a new name from their professional debut.^[22] Wrestlers who start their career using their birth name typically change their ring name by the time they achieve promotion to thejūryō ormakuuchi divisions.^[19][23] While unusual, some choose to wrestle their entire career under their real name, with this becoming more common in the 21st century.^[19][24]Sekitori making this choice includeTakayasu,Shōdai,Endō,Ura,Dejima andWajima, the onlyyokozuna to have used his real name throughout his career.^[20][24][25]

Traditionally, wrestlers have no say in the choice of theirshikona. The selection may be made by the wrestler's master, the master's wife (theokamisan) or even a sponsor; the name is communicated to the wrester by his master.^[2][26] Informally, however, the master often listens to the opinion of the wrestler who is to inherit theshikona.^[20]

It is possible for a wrestler to change hisshikona during his career, with some keeping a name throughout their career and others going through multiple changes.^[20] A common occasion for adopting a newshikona is in recognition of an important promotion.^[20][27] Other reasons can apply, such as a master changing a wrestler's name in order to inspire him to progress through theranks.^[2]

The history and tradition associated with specificshikona can increase expectations on their bearers.^[26] According to the Japan Sumo Association, it is expected that the general public refer to active wrestlers by theirshikona.^[28] In private, either can be used, with masters often using their wrestlers' birth names duringtraining and wrestlers' relatives continuing to call them by their birth names.^[20]

Specific rules exist for ring names after the retirement of the wrestlers bearing them. Foryokozuna, these names are referred to astomena (止め名;lit. 'stopped name') which are not to be inherited, with the exception of direct disciples of the last holder.[21]Exceptions to the normal acquisition oftoshiyori were also made for the most successfulrikishi, with certainyokozuna being offered a "single generation" or "lifetime" elder share, calledichidai toshiyori kabu (一代年寄株).^[30][31] 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.^[30][32] Only wrestlers with extraordinary careers were eligible for this privilege.^[30] In October 2021,yokozunaHakuhō, 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.^[33] Hakuhō was however denied theichidai toshiyori kabu and Masayuki Yamauchi (aYokozuna Deliberation Council member) declared in a press conference that "no such system exists" under the newPublic Interest Incorporated Foundation [ja] statutes of the association, implying that the system would no longer be used.^[34][17]

When they retire, not all wrestlers are eligible to becometoshiyori. Some wrestlers may find official roles within the Japan Sumo Association in subordinate positions aswakaimonogashira orsewanin. These positions are limited, but former wrestlers who are selected for them retain theirshikona as their professional name even though they are no longer active.^[35] Other retired wrestlers give up their ring names and are subsequently referred to by their birth names.^[28]

Althoughshikona are written withcharacters that evoke words or ideas, there is usually no literal meaning to the full name.^[36]

Early in theEdo 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 choosingshikona 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.^[10][19][20] During theMeiji Restoration, wrestlers adopted names referring to their places of birth.^[10] With the westernization of Japan, many wrestlers tookshikona 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).^[37]

It is customary forshikona to be influenced by naming traditions associated with the wrestler's stable. Examples of characters frequently re-used within certain stables include that ofJapanese horse-chestnut (栃), withinKasugano stable, orKoto (琴), withinSadogatake stable.^[19] TheIsegahama and now-defunctMiyagino stables include for tradition the characters forMount Fuji (富士) andpeng (鵬), respectively, of which the latter was inspired by their stable master,Hakuhō Shō.^[38][39]

It is also common for a wrestler to inherit theshikona of a family member who had previously been a wrestler.^[2] An example of family transmission would beKotozakura II, who began his career underhis father'sshikona before inheritinghis grandfather's upon promotion toōzeki.^[40] If a wrestler from outside the family also wishes to inherit theshikona of a former wrestler, it is traditionally required that the master ask permission from the family of the wrestler in question.^[41]

Wrestlers often incorporate a character from their master's name into their own name.^[42] Sometimes, a master may even propose that one of his wrestlers inherit his own ring name. In 2023, then-sekiwakeKiribayama changed his name to Kirishima when he was promoted to the rank ofōzeki, so that he would evokehis master.^[43]

Kanji may be chosen to inspire wrestlers bearing theshikona. For example, in 2023,Ōshōma changed the first name of hisshikona, 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.^[44] Although any characters can be used for ring names, certain kanji are often found inshikona.^[45] These include:^[45][36][46]

• Buckingham, Dorothea M. (1994).The Essential Guide to Sumo.Bess Press.ISBN 1880188805.
• Cuyler, Patricia Lee (1979).Sumo: From rite to sport. New York: Weatherhill.ISBN 9780834801455.
• Hall, Mina (1997).The Big Book of Sumo: History, Practice, Ritual, Fight. Stone Bridge Press.ISBN 978-1-880656-28-0.
• Kenrick, Douglas M. (1969).The Book of Sumo: Sport, Spectacle, and Ritual. New York: Weatherhill.ISBN 083480039X.
• Newton, Clyde; Toff, Gerald J. (2000).Dynamic sumo. Kodansha International.ISBN 4770025084.
• Schilling, Mark (1994).Sumo: a fan's guide. Japan Times.ISBN 4789007251.

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