手刀

A series of hand movements used by a Rikishi after Winning a Honwari Shoubu which had Kenshoukin assigned.

Usually used in speech in the form: Tegatana wo kiru, meaning to Cut Tegatana. This is a euphemism Euphemism derived from Tegatana's name. Tegatana 手刀 is composed the kanji for hand 手 - "te" and sword 刀 - "katana", thus literally meaning Hand-Sword, therefore to Cut Tegatana.

Tegatana is what the Winning Rikishi does while receiving the Kachinanori, collecting the Kenshoukin from the Gyouji's Gunbai.

The Rikishi will assume Sonkyo inside the Tokudawara on his Side of the Dohyou. He will straighten all the five fingers of the right hand together, forming a straight line and then make three chops over the the Gunbai, extended towards him by the Gyouji squatting in Sonkyo directly in front of him, with the Kenshoukin lying atop the Gunbai.

There are two theories as to in which order the three cuts were originally done:

• The Rikishi cut in the following order: center, Shoumen, Mukoujoumen. Thus if the Rikishi was on the East Side, he cut: center, right, left. And if the Rikishi was on the West Side, he cut: center, left, right.
• The Rikishi cut in the following order: center, right, left.

In 1966 Nagoya Basho the then Tokitsukaze Rijichou, former Yokodzuna Futabayama, decreed that the Tegatana be cut: left, right, center. This is the way it's done currently. The order is the same as for Purifying the Dohyou after Keiko.

Formerly, the Winning Rikishi of the three Sanyaku Shoubu on Senshuuraku received the prizes of Arrow, Bowstring, and Bow. This was when the Tegatana was cut.

The practice of cutting the Tegatana by all Rikishi when receiving the Kenshoukin derived from this, however is not so old. It dates from cca. 1942, 1943.

Oozeki Nayoroiwa was reported to have started the practice.

There are two theories as to its symbolic significance:

• It is to offer thanks for the victory to the following three deities:
  1. Amenominakanushinokami for the center handstroke.
  2. Takamimusubinokami for the handstroke on the Shoumen side.
  3. Kamimusubinokami for the handstroke on the Urajoumen side.
• It is to offer thanks for the victory to the Three Guardian Gods of the Five Grains.