Tsuna Explained – The Sacred Rope of Yokozuna

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening,  sumo fans. I'm Vinnie and this is Sumo Files. And my friends, today I'll talk about one of the most  important relics in the sumo world. A rope that can weight over 20 kg. And yet, its true weight  has nothing to do with what you can measure.

[00:00:17]In sumo, this rope is called the tsuna. Worn  exclusively by a Yokozuna. It is a thick white braided cord made from hemp, carefully tied around  the waist before the ring entering ceremony, the dohyo-iri. But despite its imposing presence, the  tsuna is never worn in an actual match. It exists for a completely different purpose. To understand  why, you have to look beyond sumo itself and into the roots of Shinto. In this religion, sacred  ropes known as shimenawa are used to mark the boundary between the ordinary world and the realm  of the divine. They are placed around shrines, trees, rocks, anything believed to house or  attract to the presence of a Kami, which are spirits, deities or sacred energies worshiped in  Shinto. These ropes are not just symbolic. They define a space as pure, protected and spiritually  significant. But the origin of this idea goes even deeper. According to Shinto mythology, the sun  goddess a Amaterasu once hid herself in a cave after a conflict with her brother, plunging the  world into darkness. The other deities desperately tried to lure her out. And when she finally  stepped outside, a sacred rope was stretched across the entrance of the cave, creating a  boundary that prevented her from returning inside. That rope marks the line between darkness  and light, between chaos and order. And from that moment on, it became a symbol of separation and  protection. This is the spiritual foundation behind the shimenawa, and by extension, the tsuna  itself. More specifically, the tsuna is a form of shimenawa worn on the body, which transforms  the yokozuna into something more than just a wrestler. In that moment, he becomes what is known  as Yorishiro, a vessel capable of housing a divine presence, a living boundary between the sacred and  the human. Hanging from the front of the tsuna are five white zigzag paper stripes known as shide.  These are traditionally associated with lightning, a powerful symbol in Shinto that represents the  presence of the divine. Just like the ropes seen at the entrance of shrines, they serve to  purify the space and ward off evil spirits, reinforcing the idea that the dohyo itself is  sacred ground. But the tsuna is not something that simply appears. Its creation is a process known  as tsunauchi, a demanding and highly ritualized craft carried out by the yokozuna's stablemates.  Before the rope can even be braided, the hemp must go through asa-momi, a preparation stage where  it's kneaded with rice bran until it becomes soft, flexible, and ready to be shaped. Only then it is  carefully woven and assembled into its final form, following strict traditional patterns. It's a  collective art, a moment where the stable itself participates in the creation of a symbol  that represents its greatest achievement, housing a yokozuna. And yet, despite all that  effort, the tsuna is not permanent. Because of its delicate material and ceremonial use, a new rope  is made regularly, often for major tournaments in Tokyo. Each one is handled with extreme care,  sometimes even with white gloves, all to preserve its pristine appearance. In other words, the  symbol remains the same, but the object itself is constantly renewed. Well, this is a good moment to  explain that there are two distinct ways the tsuna can be tied, which are directly linked to the two  styles of dohyo-iri: Unryu and Shiranui. Visually, the difference is immediately noticeable in the  knot itself. Unryu features a single loop at the back, while shiranui forms two large loops, giving  it a wider and more elaborate appearance. In the unryu style, the yokozuna finishes the stomp  and stretches one arm while benting the other, symbolizing a more balanced approach to sumo. In  contrast, the shiranui style features both arms extended, reflecting a more aggressive and  forward-driven sumo. It's a subtle detail, but one that reveals how even the way that tsuna  is worn can express the identity of the wrestler.

[00:04:16]Historically, the first Yokozuna to be reliably  recorded performing the dohyo-iri with a tsuna was Tanikaze Kajinosuke in 1789. Although he received  the rope alongside Yokozuna Onogawa Kisaburo, Tanikaze was the first to perform the dphyo-iri,  as he was the first of them to be promoted by the Yoshida family, the leading organizer of  professional sumo at the time. Also, it's important to mention that when a Yokozuna's career  finally comes to an end, but tsuna does not simply disappear. Some are kept as personal mementos.  Others are donated to Shinto shrines, returning to the very spiritual context that gave them  meaning in the first place. And in some cases, they are preserved in museums, becoming historical  artifacts of a legacy that very few have ever achieved. What's interesting about the retirement  in particular is that there's a special moment where the tsuna can be worn again, just with  a different appearance. When a former Yokozuna reaches the age of 60, he may perform a special  kanreki dohyo-iri, wearing a red version of the rope instead of the traditional white, which  represents vitality, protection against evil, and divine power. In Japanese culture, turning 60  represents a full cycle of life, a rebirth. And so, the rope that once symbolized peak performance  becomes a symbol of renewal. And maybe that's what the tsuna was always meant to represent. Not  just power, not just status, but a cycle. From the moment a Yokozuna first wears it as a symbol  of ascension to the day he wears it again in red, marking a life fully lived. Because in the end,  the tsuna doesn't define greatness. It just serves to show that the one who's wearing it already  achieved it. And my friends, after this little epiphany, that's all for today. So, if you enjoyed  this video, consider liking it, subscribing to the channel, and becoming a member to support me  even more. That's it, guys, until next time.