In My Rokugan

Mon of the Month

GYOJI

(Sumo Referees - Kimura & Shikimori Families)

Whilst reading up on Sumo for the scenario that appears later in this issue, I came across the fact that modern Sumo judges are from one of two families:

Gyoji Mon Whilst "Rokugan ain't Japan" is a mantra that needs to be remembered, I thought I could make use of this little fact to bring colour to Rokugan (remember that I believe in lots of families, most of which have "allied" with one of the big clans out of self protection. Remember that the contest is fought under a make-shift canopy that resembles a shrine and that the fan is one of the "symbols" of the referee and is wielded during bouts. So what better than two rival families, schools and symbols. One in Imperial Green, the other in Chrysanthemum yellow.

In my Rokugan these "families" adopt people as they qualify as referees from the schools that they administer. Fail in the exams and you get sent home to your previous clan: succeed and you join the family. (Any own clan members who would fail, never actually get entered, and by age 21 would be adopted away!). Thus, like The Emperor always marries a crane wife, no Kimura or Shikimori has ever failed the sumo exams! Any male members who choose not to follow the life of a SUMO judge or referee are adopted into the Miya branch of the Imperial families, albeit it at very junior ranking, or occasionally will be taken in by one of the other families. These are fairly infrequent though, since most choose to qualify as a referee and indeed qualify at an early age before they consider alternatives, even if they then never practice, and ultimately end up as a bushi or more frequently as an advisor to one of the great families. Thus, guards accompanying gyoji may in turn be qualified referees, enabling them to deputise in the event of illness etc. As Imperial establishments, the Emperor takes responsibility for guarding the academies.

There (in my Rokugan - IMR) are no female sumo fighters, no female referees. Any women who marry outside of the families, will either adopt the clan of their husband, or retain their own family, whilst any children will belong to the clan of the father (although will have preferential admission to one of the academies). Cross family (Kimura-Shikimori) marriages are known but very rare.

IMR each family runs an academy/school in Otosan Uchi where the referees are trained by the family members. Enrolled at 14, they study until between 18-21, when they undertake an exam (both written and practical. The decision to enter for the exam will be decided by the tutors (all qualified referees), and the last age at which the exam can be taken is 21. There is intense rivalry between the schools, and brawls between students are very common. Of course, qualified referees are "above" all of this, except for an occasional duel. Teaching is by both lecturing, reading, and practical sessions at Sumo stables. There are also a few "retired" wrestlers on the staff of each school to provide practical in house demonstrations of various techniques (and occasional illegal moves fighters may try).

Each of the schools also decides on the promotion of its own referees, and on behalf of the Emperor oversee admission of retired fighters into the ranks of the Toshiyori.

Normally at each "Basho" the referees are provided on an equal +1 basis. That is to say, that only one family will provide the highest ranking referee (who has the casting vote in the event of a dispute of precedence, ceremony etc - remember that the judges decide the outcome of a match), but lesser referees are provided in equal numbers.

The rank of a Gyoji can be determined by the colour of the tassel on his fan (in order):

Gyoji Mon Gyoji are not just referees. They plan and organise the festivals, introduce the fighters, keep all the records, and act as secretary. They also "paint" up the various official records at the Basho of participants, results etc. Plus, any number of jobs at the academies themselves.

As I said when I started this idea, the idea was to provide colour for the DM running Rokugan, not a thousand and one character types. However, I do think that any Gyoji would have the following skills at a reasonable level:

Equipment will include the Wakizasha and his ceremonial fan, used in the contests.

~Chris Payne~

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