The roof suspended above a traditional sumo dohyo is called a tsuriyane.
The tsuriyane is a Shinto-style roof hung over the raised clay ring. Its design resembles the roof of a shrine and reinforces sumo’s historical connection with ritual and religion. Four colorful tassels at its corners represent the four seasons and the traditional directions.
Modern arenas suspend the roof from the building rather than using free-standing pillars. Earlier dohyo roofs were supported by columns at the corners, but those posts were removed from major venues in the mid-20th century to improve spectators’ sightlines. The ropes and structure above the ring remain highly visible symbols of sumo.
The tsuriyane is different from the shimenawa, the sacred rope associated with a yokozuna’s ceremonial belt. It is also different from the tawara, the rice-straw bales outlining the fighting surface.