good voice projection, leadership qualities, calligraphy skill, speed, and agility. These are the skills at the heart of the profession and they are passed down by senior gyōji to junior gyōji. While gyōji are not demoted, they may be passed over for promotion if they have had too many of their calls reversed.Ranks in decreasing order tate-gyōji (chief gyōji) san'yaku-gyōji makuuchi-gyōji jūryō-gyōji makushita-gyōji sandanme-gyōji jonidan-gyōji jonokuchi-gyōji Top gyōji (makuuchi and above) are assigned tsukebito, or personal attendants in their stable, just as top wrestlers (sekitori) are. These may be junior referees or lower-ranked wrestlers. There is a superstition in the sumo world that a wrestler serving a gyōji will not go on to have a successful career. Gyōji normally join around the age of 19. They are then given a three-year apprenticeship, though they may be promoted during that time. On average it takes a gyōji 15 years to be promoted to officiating juryo matches. It takes another 15 years to be promoted to officiating makuuchi matches. The tategyōji (top two gyōji) usually have anywhere from 40 to 50 years of experience. Uniform When refereeing matches senior gyōji wear elaborate silk outfits, based on Japanese clothing from the Heian and Ashikaga periods, with influences from the Edo period. Like the sumo wrestlers, gyōji ranked at makushita level and below wear a much simpler outfit than those ranked above them. It is made of cotton rather than silk and is about knee length. The outfit also incorporates a number of rosettes (kikutoji), and tassels (fusa) which are normally green, but can be black in colour. Within the dohyō (ring) they are also expected to go barefoot. On promotion to the lowest senior rank of jūryō the gyōji will change into the more elaborate full length silk outfit. The kikutoji and fusa on his outfit will also change to green and white. He is also entitled to wear tabi on his feet. As he moves further up the ranks there are additional small changes: Makuuchi ranked gyōji merely need to change the colour of the kikutoji and fusa to red and white. On achievement of san'yaku rank the rosettes and tassels become solid red and he also is allowed to wear straw zōri sandals on his feet in addition to the tabi. In addition, this rank and tate-gyōji of the highest rank hang inro from their right waist. As described above, the