Ozeki Tochiazuma during his danpatsu-shiki in the Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Danpatsu-shiki (断髪式) - is the retirement ceremony for a recently retired sumo wrestler who is getting his top knot cut off.
Overview[]
During the danpatsu-shiki, retired wrestlers, family, sponsors, friends, benefactors, and active wrestlers all take part in the cutting process of the danpatsu-shiki. They use a scissor under the guidance of a gyoji who instructs the guest where to cut. The final cut is always made by the head trainer of the stable the wrestler wrestled under.
Depending on the wrestler, there are usually 300-400 guests taking part in the danpatsu-shiki. There have been some exceptions, most notably, yokozuna Takanohana who insisted on only 50 guests taking part in his danpatsu-shiki.
Since women are prohibited from stepping on the dohyo, only men are allowed to take part in the danpatsu-shiki. However ozeki, Chiyotaikai insisted that his mother take part, so he got off the dohyo during the middle of the danpatsu-shiki, so his mother could be involved without having to step on the dohyo. This has since been repeated by other retiring wrestlers.
The chonmage is a very symbolic and precious part of a sumo wrestler's identity, so usually towards the end of the danpatsu-shiki, the sumo wrestler would shed a lot of tears.
After the chonmage is cut off, they would head back to the locker room where there is a professional barber waiting. He would cut and style the former sumo wrestler's hair. Then the sumo wrestler would dress up in a new suit and present himself in front of the crowd.
A wrestler must have fought as a sekitori in at least 30 tournaments to qualify for a ceremony at the Kokugikan. Many past sekitori wrestlers who haven't met this qualification would usually have their danpatsu-shiki at a hotel, while wrestlers who have never achieved sekitori status will usually have their danpatsu-shiki at their own stable.