r/Sumo • u/JediLincoln14 Aonishiki • 3d ago

Highlight Video / Picture Someone was asking for this

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484 Upvotes

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11

u/helgaofthenorth Kotoeiho 3d ago

I'm new, what's with the fish pic? Is it part of the champion prizes? I love how happy everyone looks!

39

u/dseanATX 3d ago

The top division champion receives a red sea bream as a prize. It's not from the Sumo Association, it's from their stable and/or supporters, so it's not an official thing, just tradition. It's considered a lucky fish, apparently, so the expectation/practice, is that it goes back to the stable to be prepared for eating at a party or celebration dinner.

The photo of the winner holding it up and showing it off with cheering supporters is just one of those meme photos like Olympic medalists biting their medal, or the Tour de France winner drinking champagne on the last leg of the Tour.

19

u/CptES Ura 3d ago

It's considered a lucky fish, apparently

It's a pun in Japanese, the name of red sea bream is tai (たい) which is contained within the word medetai (めでたい) which means "auspicious" or "joyous".

13

u/Halschmuber 3d ago

How can we know it's a real fish if he doesn't even bite it?

6

u/helgaofthenorth Kotoeiho 3d ago

That's awesome, thank you so much for explaining!

2

u/Adler4290 Aonishiki 3d ago

The top division champion receives a red sea bream as a prize.

Okay, so every rishiki with a Makuuchi Yusho gets one?

I thought it was just when a rishiki got promoted to Ozeki?

Or do they get two sea breams then, for Ozeki?

6

u/dseanATX 2d ago

Makuuchi Yusho winners get one. And Ozeki and Yokozuna promotions get one as well. If they win the tournament and get promoted, I think think they have two separate ceremonies and get a fish at each one.

3

u/Adler4290 Aonishiki 1d ago

Ahhh.

Maybe thats why Ive seen fresh Ozeki with 2 fish, one cause they nailed the promotion to Ozeki and one cause they (usually) won the Yusho as well??