Eyes front and center
One of the former 'tate-gyoji' - the individual, in this case, who officiates at the last bout of the day. With gyoji starting young (usually in their mid-late teens) and moving up the 6 divisions of sumo over many decades, they have literally thousands upon thousands of bouts under their kimono by the time they make the top division. Assigned to stables from day one, as they move up the divisions their outfit named 'shozoku' is continually changing for the better. Also, like the rikishi, gyoji adopt special names, changed at times throughout their career but always limited to the 'family' names of either Kimura or Shikimori. The senior tate-gyoji always takes the name Kimura Shonosuke. It is said that the knife carried in the tate-gyoji's kimono was to be used in his performing the ultimate 'acceptance of responsibility' should he have erred during a bout although this is now purely a ceremonial adornment.
