by two further shimpan in a video room, in communication with the chief shimpan (who is always one of the three senior members of the judging committee) via an audio link in his ear. The use of video was brought in at a result of a famous bout in March 1969 in which the yokozuna Taihō was adjudged to have lost the bout despite subsequent replays and photographs indicating otherwise. The referee had originally given the victory to Taihō, but the judges reversed his decision. The loss of this bout broke an extremely unusual 45 bout winning streak by the yokozuna and consequently the decision received much adverse publicity. One of the two shimpan in the video booth must now also be one of the three most senior judges. This rule was brought in as a result of judging controversies in the 1990s. The result of the mono-ii can be to uphold the gyōji's decision (so-called gunbai-dōri), reverse his decision (gunbai-sashichigai), or call a rematch (torinaoshi). Prior to 1926 draws (azukari) were allowed. The head shimpan is responsible for making the announcement and a brief explanation to the wrestlers and spectators. All the shimpan are oyakata, or sumo elders, of the Japan Sumo Association and are members of its judging committee. At the end of each honbasho tournament the judging committee members also have the responsibility to decide the ranking of the wrestlers for the following tournament, which includes making the initial formal recommendation for the promotion of a wrestler to the rank of ōzeki to the Sumo Association board of directors. A special advisory body of external members is responsible for initial recommendations of promotion to the top rank of yokozuna. The judging committee has 23 members at any one time. The three chief shimpan, who are nearly always former yokozuna or ōzeki, serve two-year terms, while the other 20 members serve one-year terms. An oyakata is normally expected to have reached at least a high maegashira rank as an active wrestler and must usually wait at least five years after retirement to become a shimpan. One exception was Nishonoseki (the 72nd yokozuna Kisenosato), who was named to the judging committee just three years after his retirement. References Sumo people Sports officiating Toshiyori