I must give Herouth a big thank you for the kensho data she put up on Google Sheets. It is really fun to play with and I hope to get a chance to dive into it more often. I’ve been loving data visualizations so I obviously had to throw together a few charts. What’s the deal with kensho and the envelopes? Each envelope handed over on the dohyo contains cash — 30,000 yen or about $280 (£220 or €240). There’s also a roughly equivalent amount behind the scenes that goes toward the rikishi’s retirement and pays fees.
First, a few basics. You all would likely not be surprised to learn that Takakeisho has walked away with the most envelopes so far this tournament with 108, of 144 he’s had up for grabs. Asanoyama has let nearly half of his kensho slip through his fingers with those critical three losses. Endo is in a similar boat. Of 95 envelopes up for grabs, his opponents have walked away with just over half.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Wakatakakage has won four of five kensho prizes that he has been eligible for, walking away with eight envelopes. Daieisho has won 13 of 21 envelopes available and Tamawashi has collected 11 of 50, so far. The two visualizations hopefully pack this information into a readily consumable and comparable format for you. Terutsuyoshi, for example, is a big, red square in the top chart as he’s had 76 envelopes up for grabs but only walked away with four. This is all based on data through Day 8. The picture above is a static image with a link to where I’ve put it but the visualization below should be dynamic.
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How far down are kensho amounts from pre-pandemic, full arena sumo? It does feel like there’s more at this tournament than the last one, but that’s only an eyeball guess. And I’m assuming still a long way off whatever the peak in recent years was.
I understand the amounts and splits in each, but am confused as to “giving” side and really what they get. And that these are NOT bets, they are advertising payments. Regardless of win or lose.
Each rikishi has supporters that provide at least one envelope of support for their player for each of the days (15 minimum total).
So the total of each side of the pile represents the number of supporters for each rikishi? (And their rikishi may not get anything if they lose?)
The only thing the contributor gets is their banner being carried by the rikishi of their choice?
(Which is why banners and contributors seem out of balance?)
Somehow each supporter has its banner used by its chosen wrestler at sometime during the tourney? (It appears there are sometimes much more envelopes than days of the basho).
It is winner take all…so a wrestler with say 25 supporter envelopes against a less popular one, with lets say with 7 envelopes – winner takes all 32 (and contribution to retirement, etc) loser gets none?
Those supporters commit to their envelope for their choice for each of the days of the basho, regardless of results? And what happens in a withdrawal, etc?
As each envelope represents what is really NOT a large sum of money for athletes of this caliber (in fact very little) – there must be other salary/payment arrangements? Does a losing, injured player actually get nothing? Does an unpopular but good or “on a streak” one get the pay of a true accomplished leader?
Something is NOT adding up!