This is based on a ceremony called 'katayabiraki,' which was started by Oikaze YOSHIDA when a sumo tournament was held in the presence of Seii Taishogun (literally, "great general who subdues the barbarians") Ienari TOKUGAWA in 1791.
寛政3年（1791年）征夷大将軍・徳川家斉の上覧相撲の際に吉田追風が「方屋開」として始めたものである。