Sumo scene / The eyes on the side of the ring that ensure calls go smoothly

While the current crop of wrestlers are risking it all in the ring, you’ll find some sumo greats from the past out there in the front row. The five are dressed in a ceremonial hakama with a crest and are sumo elders who form the so-called ring judges.

From their vantage point they keep a close eye on the matches. If anyone doubts the decision of the referee in the ring, he immediately raises his hand in objection. The group then enters the ring to discuss the matter and decide whether the initial judgment was right or wrong.

But the decision is not only based on what they themselves have seen with the naked eye. They communicate with another elder stationed in a room in the arena who is equipped to view the video footage, a system that ensures the most accurate decision possible is made. Very often, even that is not enough to determine a winner, and a rematch is ordered.

Although the sumo world is generally considered strictly conventional, it is in fact a pioneer in the Japanese sporting world when it comes to adopting video replay to aid in decision making.

During the 1969 Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, the legendary Yokozuna Taiho saw his record of 45 consecutive victories come to an end at the hands of an ordinary wrestler named Toda. However, video footage and photos later confirmed that Toda’s foot had actually left the ring first, causing a huge commotion. It became known as ‘the great wrong judgment of the century’.

Video replay to assist in reviewing decisions was launched at the next tournament in May. In recent years, professional baseball and football have adopted rules to complete challenges using video replays, but sumo has had this system for 55 years – a testament to the surprising level of innovation of Japan’s national sport.

However, I would like to emphasize that video is only a reference tool. The highest priority is given to what is actually seen through the eyes of the ringside judges.

They are asked to make an overall judgment from their perspective as professionals. It goes beyond the question of whether a foot simply left the ring. There are other factors that play a role, such as the course of the match or the fact that an opponent has lost his balance. Were they in a position from which they had no chance to recover?

That is why opinions sometimes differ between the jury members. It’s hard to explain in theory, but I think it comes from the depth of sumo. What do you think?

— Kamimura is a sumo expert.