Tegata: Handprints
In sumo, tegata often serve as the 'autographs' of a given rikishi. Only those ranked at Juryo and above are permitted to make tegata and these are generally given to supporters and those related to the respective wrestler's stable.
Oftentimes seen in black but just as popular in red ink, most tegata have the kanji characters representing the fighting name of the individual written over the actual handprint and when said wrestler reaches the upper ranks of the senior Makunouchi Division, prints, in red only, are made and go on general sale for a very small fee at the various tournaments and shops associated with sumo.
The image seen here isn't strictly a tegata however, as it is a print set in a metal plate mounted on the stand supporting one of the statues shown in the previous of this series of photographs. Flanked by similar impressions of the handprints of yokozuna brothers Wakanohana and Takanohana, the image shown here is that of Akebono - the sport's 64th yokozuna.
I'm missing him, but I hope he will become a good father
Park worker on a giant panda's return to China for breeding
