行司(ぎょうじ)

ぎょうじ
noun
sumo referee
sports
1. sumo referee
The official who presides over sumo wrestling bouts. Referees wear traditional costume, carry a fan to signal decisions, and call out the wrestlers' names.
行司(ぎょうじ)が軍配(ぐんばい)を上(あ)げた。
The referee raised his fan.
行司(ぎょうじ)になるには長年(ながねん)の修行(しゅぎょう)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
Becoming a sumo referee requires many years of training.
行司(ぎょうじ)は伝統的(でんとうてき)な装束(しょうぞく)を身(み)につけて土俵(どひょう)に上(あ)がる。
The referee dresses in traditional costume and steps onto the ring.

The referee in professional sumo wrestling. Sumo referees belong to the Japan Sumo Association and follow a strict hierarchical ranking system, with the highest rank being 立行司(たてぎょうじ).

Common collocations

  • 行司(ぎょうじ)が裁(さば)く (the referee officiates)
  • 行司(ぎょうじ)の軍配(ぐんばい) (the referee's fan)
  • 立行司(たてぎょうじ) (chief referee)

The referee carries a 軍配(ぐんばい) (war fan) used to signal the start and result of a bout. In close matches, judges (審判(しんぱん)) seated around the ring may overturn the referee's decision.

general
Added 2026.3.1 21:04 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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