御ご前ぜん試じ合あい

noun

contest held before a lord; match in the presence of a daimyo, shogun, or emperor

Historical term for a formal match or competition performed in front of a high-ranking feudal lord or the emperor.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、御ご前ぜん試合じあいは将しょう軍ぐんの前まえで行おこなわれた。

  In the Edo period, gozen-jiai were held in front of the shogun.

noun

match attended by the team owner; game with the owner present

Modern extended use, especially in sports, for a match that the team's owner or top executive attends.

• 今日きょうはオーナーが来くるので、選せん手しゅたちは御ご前ぜん試合じあいのつもりで頑がん張ばっている。

  Since the owner is coming today, the players are giving their all as if it were a gozen-jiai.