A is a hairdresser employed by the Japan Sumo Association to cut and prepare sumo wrestlers' hair, which is done in the style. The Sumo Association ranks them according to experience and ability and only the most senior are entitled to prepare the more ornate , or ginkgo leaf form of topknot, which -ranked wrestlers wear in their bouts and on other formal occasions. employ similar hairstyling techniques to those found in the construction of , and are expected to be on hand to fix the of sumo wrestlers during bouts. The term can also be used in its original form, which was for specialists who worked in hairstyling in kabuki. Ranks and training There are a total of about 50 employed by the Sumo Association, and as in sumo and most other Japanese disciplines, they are divided into ranks. Just as with , and most any other sumo-related job, each is attached to a sumo stable and has his own . All of the start with the kanji in their names, pronounced . This kanji is also used for , a more traditional word for hairdresser in Japan. The training for a is lengthy, taking about 10 years. Beginners start at and are promoted along with their years of experience until they reach . When they have reached level 1 and have demonstrated exceptional skill, can ascend to , a special rank of . There are normally only two at this rank at any given time, and they are the only ones allowed to style the top knot of a , the top rank in sumo. Tools The tools of a include a special kind of wooden comb, (special pomade or wax), and waxed strips of paper for tying the knot. The wooden combs have been handmade for centuries by the Shingō Mori family. Each comb can take up to eight years to create. The size (length) of the comb is determined by the age of the bush the wood is taken from. A short comb is from a 50-year-old bush and the long comb can be from a 150-year-old bush. References External links Sumo people Hairdressing Sumo terminology Japanese words and phrases