The role for a gyoji is " to enter the ring with the wrestlers and announce their names in a specially trained voice." Gyoji commands and directs the wrestlers with a paddle turning it in different directions to allow the wrestler what to do and when to fight. A referee yells out words to keep them in check and know if its times up or if there is time left. These wrestlers have an official ranking sheet published prior to each of the annual tournaments. On this sheet are names of every referee, rikishi (strong man), elder (coach) and top rank yobidashi (announcers). That is more than a thousand men present on the sheet and is measured 21 by 15 inches in length. "The names of the rikishi are arranged on the ranking in the order of ranking, splitting those of the same rank into two sides- the east and west." Scheduling for a honbasho (official tournament) is held six times a year-January, May, September, March, July, and November. Each month is held in various locations, for the exception of the three months that were written. "On the first day of each official tournament, the president of the Sumo Association, accompanied by all the Sanyaku Rikishi, addresses the audience." After the address to the audience, the rikishi goes back and changes for Ring Entering Ceremony. The rikishi comes out in a decorated apron forming a circle facing the audiences and patiently waiting for the last rikishi to enter the ring. As the last sumo enters, they all turn .
facing the ring, clap hands, raising their aprons slightly, and throwing their arms up. As they leave, they must go in the same direction they came, in ascending order. The ceremony is what gives the sumo such beauty.
"Without its colorful ceremonies, sumo would be just another sport, and might not have survived intact for so many centuries." The heavy ceremonial aprons are hand-embroidered and then presented to sekitori by patrons and citizen groups from the rikishi hometown.