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A ''toshiyori'' (年寄) is a sumo elder of the Japan Sumo Association. Also known as ''oyakata'', former wrestlers who reached a sufficiently high rank are the only people eligible. The benefits are considerable, as only ''toshiyori'' are allowed to run and coach in sumo stables, known as ''heya,'' and they are also the only former wrestlers given retirement pay. To become an elder, a retiring wrestler must be a Japanese citizen and must have fought at least one tournament in the ''san'yaku'' ranks, or else twenty tournaments in the top ''makuuchi'' division or thirty as a ''sekitori'' (''makuuchi'' or ''jūryō'' division). (The rules were modified in November 2013 to allow membership after only 28 ''sekitori'' tournaments in certain circumstances.) However, membership can only be obtained by purchasing ''toshiyori-kabu'', or elder stock, in the Japan Sumo Association. There are only 105 shares available for purchase, and the increasing lifespan of elders has meant that they take longer to become vacant. As a result, their decreasing availability has caused their price to greatly increase, with stock now reportedly selling for up to 500 million yen. Often the only way wrestlers, even very successful ones, can afford a share is if they have a large and wealthy group of supporters and financial backers. An exception to the purchase requirement is made for the most successful former ''yokozuna'', sometimes referred to as ''dai-yokozuna'', who may be offered a one-time membership of the Association, or ''ichidai-toshiyori'' status. Three former wrestlers, Taihō, Kitanoumi and Takanohana obtained this status. A fourth, Chiyonofuji, was offered this status but preferred a normal share. These four all achieved more than twenty tournament championships in their active career.〔 Note that the Japanese citizen requirement still applies in this case, so Asashōryū, who won 25 championships, was not offered ''ichidai-toshiyori'' status and neither will Hakuhō, despite surpassing Taihō's all-time record of 32 championships, as both are still Mongolian citizens.〕 Alternatively, former ''yokozuna'' of any level of success can stay in the Japan Sumo Association for up to five years under their ''shikona'' or ring name, while former ''ōzeki'' can stay for three. Musashimaru and Tochiazuma were examples in 2008. Former wrestlers below that rank, since the abolition of the ''jun-toshiyori'' system in December 2006, have no such grace period and must leave the sumo world immediately and permanently unless they have either already purchased a share or can borrow one from a ''rikishi'' still active in the ring. It is not uncommon for a former wrestler to go through several elder name over the years while searching for a permanent one. Former ''sekiwake'' Kotonishiki for example, began borrowing Yoshikaze's Nakamura elder name in July 2014, having previously borrowed five (Wakamatsu, Takenawa, Asakayama, Araiso and Hidenoyama) different names since his retirement in September 2000.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Kabu.aspx?rikishi=12 )〕 All ''toshiyori'' have a mandatory retirement age of 65. It is rare for an elder with a permanent ''toshiyori'' name to leave before that time, but former ''yokozuna'' Wajima was asked to resign in 1985 after putting up his stock as collateral on a loan, former ''komusubi'' Futatsuryū, head of Tokitsukaze stable, was expelled in 2007 because of his involvement in the death of one of his young recruits, and former sekiwake Takatoriki was dismissed in 2010 because of a gambling scandal. The former komusubi Maenoshin and maegashira Kasugafuji are other, less high-profile examples. ==Ranking== Much like other staff members of the Sumo Association (such as referees and ushers), elders are also subject to a rank structure; only the lowest-ranking members are strictly known as ''toshiyori''. The ranks are as follows: * ''rijichō'' (chief director, ''primus inter pares'' among ''riji'') * ''riji'' (director) * ''fuku-riji'' (vice director) * ''yakuin taigu iin'' (executive member) * ''iin'' (committee member) * ''shunin'' (senior member) * ''iin taigu toshiyori'' (elder receiving ''iin'' privileges) * ''toshiyori'' (elder) Promotion up to ''iin'' occurs almost exclusively by seniority and is generally a fairly quick process; the majority of all elders are ranked as ''iin''. Two exceptions apply: Elders using a borrowed share cannot be promoted from ''toshiyori'', while very successful former wrestlers (generally, ''yokozuna'' and ''ōzeki'') immediately receive full ''iin'' privileges as ''iin taigu toshiyori'' upon their retirement from active competition, even before their normal advancement up the ladder will take them to ''shunin'' and later ''iin'' status. Furthermore, the ''fuku-riji'' and ''riji'' positions require a nomination for and subsequent election to the Association Board (or direct confirmation in case there are no more candidates than positions), with elections being held biennially. ''Yakuin taigu iin'' are named to their position by the chief director. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Toshiyori」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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