List of sumo stables

Last updated

The following is an alphabetical list of heya or training stables in professional sumo. All belong to one of five groups, called ichimon. These groups, led by the stable by which each group is named, are in order of size: Dewanoumi ichimon, Nishonoseki ichimon, Tokitsukaze ichimon, Takasago ichimon and Isegahama ichimon. Occasionally there have been independent stables, but the Japan Sumo Association agreed at a director's meeting in July 2018 that all sumo elders must belong to one of the five ichimon. [1] The founding dates listed below are for the current incarnation of each stable; in most cases this is not the first stable to exist under a given name, however.

Contents

The number of stables peaked at 54, with the opening of Onoe stable in August 2006. In order to limit the over-proliferation of stables, the Japan Sumo Association introduced new rules the following month that greatly raised the qualifications needed by former wrestlers wishing to branch out (namely, those ranked below yokozuna or ōzeki must have spent at least 60 tournaments in the top makuuchi division or 25 in the titled san'yaku ranks). Discounting the temporary closure of Kise stable from 2010-2012, over six years no new stables established while eleven folded, bringing the number of stables to 43. The streak of closures ended with the opening of former yokozuna Musashimaru's Musashigawa stable in April 2013, hence the opening and closing of stables has stabilized. There are 44 stables, all of which are located in the Greater Tokyo Region, especially in Tokyo's Ryogoku district.

The governing body of professional sumo is the Japan Sumo Association. Six tournaments are held every year: three in Tokyo (January, May and September) and one each in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July) and Fukuoka (November). Each tournament lasts 15 days during which wrestlers compete in one bout per day. All sumo wrestlers are classified in a ranking hierarchy (banzuke), which is updated after each tournament based on the wrestlers' performance. Wrestlers with more wins than losses go up while those with negative records are demoted. The top division is Makuuchi and the second division is Juryo. At the pinnacle of sumo hierarchy is yokozuna.

Pronunciation note

Due to a Japanese speech phenomenon known as rendaku , when the word for stable, heya, comes second in a compound word, the "h" in heya changes to "b" to become beya. A sumo stable is pronounced in Japanese as "sumo-beya" and Arashio stable, as an example, is pronounced "Arashio-beya".

Active stables

There are 46 stables as of May 2024.

NameIchimonYear openedNotable active wrestlersNotable past wrestlersOther notable information
Ajigawa Isegahama2022head is former Aminishiki, branched off from Isegahama stable
Arashio Tokitsukaze2002 Daiseizan  [ ja ], Kōtokuzan, Wakatakakage, Wakamotoharu Sōkokurai head is former Sōkokurai, made headlines when it welcomed back exonerated Sōkokurai in 2013
Asahiyama Isegahama2016head is former Kotonishiki, branched off from Oguruma stable
Asakayama Isegahama2014 Kaishō head is former Kaiō, branched off from Tomozuna stable
Dewanoumi Dewanoumi1862 (c.) Mitakeumi Chiyonoyama, Mainoumi, Mienoumi, Tochigiyama head is former Oginohana, demotion of its last sekitori left the stable without any sekitori for the first time since 1898
Fujishima Dewanoumi1981 Bushozan, Fujiseiun  [ ja ] Shōtenrō, Dejima, Miyabiyama, Musashimaru, Musōyama, Wakanoyama head is former Musōyama, was the strongest stable in early 2000s, name was changed from its previous incarnation as Musashigawa
Futagoyama Dewanoumi2018 Nabatame  [ ja ], Rōga Head is former Miyabiyama, branched off from Fujishima stable
Hakkaku Takasago1993 Hokutōfuji, Kitanowaka Hokutōriki, Kaihō, Ōiwato  [ ja ], Okinoumi head is former Hokutoumi, branched off from Kokonoe stable
Hanaregoma Nishonoseki1990 Ichiyamamoto, Shimazuumi Shōhōzan head is former Tamanoshima, branched off from Futagoyama stable
Ikazuchi Dewanoumi1993 Shishi Masatsukasa, Yōtsukasa, Sagatsukasa head is former Kakizoe, who inherited the stable from former Tochitsukasa who branched off from Kasugano stable
Isegahama Isegahama1979 Atamifuji, Nishikifuji, Midorifuji, Takarafuji, Takerufuji, Terunofuji, Terutsuyoshi Aminishiki, Asōfuji, Harumafuji, Homarefuji, Kasugafuji head is former Asahifuji, until 2018 one of the most well represented stables in the upper divisions, renamed from its original incarnation as Ajigawa stable
Isenoumi Tokitsukaze1949 Nishikigi Hattori, Ikioi, Kashiwado, Tosanoumi head is former Kitakachidoki, the Isenoumi name has one of the longest traditions in sumo
Kasugano Dewanoumi1925 Aoiyama, Tochimaru  [ ja ], Tochimusashi  [ ja ],Tochitaikai  [ ja ] Tochinishiki, Tochinoshin, Tochinoumi, Tochihikari, Tochinowaka, Tochiōzan head is former Tochinowaka, active since the Meiji era, currently one of the most successful stables
Kataonami Nishonoseki1961 Tamashōhō, Tamawashi Tamaasuka, Tamakiyama, Tamaryū head is former Tamakasuga, branched off from Nishonoseki stable
Kise Dewanoumi2003 Churanoumi, Daiseidō  [ ja ], Shiden  [ ja ], Hidenoumi, Kinbozan, Shimanoumi, Ura Akiseyama, Gagamaru, Higonojō  [ ja ], Jōkōryū, Kiyoseumi, Kizenryu  [ ja ], Kizakiumi  [ ja ], Tokushinho,Tokushōryū head is former Higonoumi, was dissolved over a ticket selling scandal, then allowed to reform two years later, well represented in two top divisions
Kokonoe Takasago1967 Chiyomaru, Chiyonoō  [ ja ], Chiyonoumi  [ ja ], Chiyosakae  [ ja ], Chiyoshōma Chiyonofuji, Chiyonokuni, Chiyoōtori, Chiyotaikai, Chiyotairyū, Chiyotenzan, Hokutoumi, Kitanofuji, Kitaseumi, Takanofuji head is former Chiyotaikai, as of March 2018 five of its 17 wrestlers were sekitori
Minato Nishonoseki1982 Ichinojō head is former Minatofuji, who is the only top division wrestler the stable had ever produced until Ichinojō in 2014.
Miyagino [lower-alpha 1] Isegahama1960 Enhō, Hakuōhō, Kihō, Tenshōhō  [ ja ] Hakuhō, Myōbudani, Mutsuarashi, Kōbō, Ryūō, Ishiura, Hokuseihō, Daikiho  [ ja ]head is former Hakuhō, has had a convoluted series of successions
Musashigawa Dewanoumi2013 Wakaichirō head is former Musashimaru, who is only the second foreign born wrestler to open his own stable
Naruto Nishonoseki2017 Ōshōma, Ōshōumi  [ ja ]head is former Kotoōshū, branched off from Sadogatake stable
Nakamura Nishonoseki2024 Kayo  [ ja ], Tomokaze head is former Yoshikaze, branched off from Nishonoseki stable [2]
Nishiiwa Nishonoseki2018head is former Wakanosato, branched off from Tagonoura stable
Nishikido Takasago2002 Mitoryū Gokushindo  [ ja ]head is former Mitoizumi, was home to the only Kazakh wrestler
Nishonoseki Nishonoseki2021 Ōnosato, Shirokuma founder and head is the former Kisenosato, the 72nd yokozuna; branched off from Tagonoura stable
Oitekaze Tokitsukaze1998 Daiamami, Daieishō, Daishoho, Daishōmaru, Endō, Hitoshi  [ ja ], Tobizaru, Tsurugishō Hayateumi, Kokkai, Hamanishiki head is former Daishōyama who branched off from Tatsunami stable
Onoe Dewanoumi2006 Baruto, Satoyama, Tenkaihō, Yamamotoyama head is former Hamanoshima, branched off from Mihogaseki stable, lost three sekitori wrestlers due to match fixing scandal in 2011
Ōnomatsu Nishonoseki1994 Ōnokatsu  [ ja ], Ōnoshō, Yuma  [ ja ] Daidō, Katayama, Wakakōyū, Amūru, Keitenkai  [ ja ]head is former Daidō, forced out of Nishonoseki ichimon and joined Takanohana ichimon in 2010
Ōshima Isegahama1941 Kyokutaisei Kyokushūhō, Asahishō, Kaiō, Kyokutenhō, Kyokudōzan, Kyokushūzan, Sentoryū, Tachiyama, Kaisei head is former Kyokutenhō, incarnations have a long and prestigious history, absorbed a number of strong wrestlers in 2012 from a previous, now defunct Ōshima stable
Oshiogawa Nishonoseki2022 Amakaze, Kazekenō  [ ja ], Yago head is former Takekaze, branched from Oguruma stable upon its closure
Ōtake Nishonoseki1971 Ōhō Ōzutsu, Rohō, Ōsunaarashi head is former Dairyū, the previous head (former Takatōriki) was forced out in a gambling scandal
Otowayama Tokitsukaze2023 Kirishima II founder and head is the former Kakuryū, the 71st yokozuna; branched off from Michinoku stable
Sadogatake Nishonoseki1955 Kotoeko, Kotozakura, Kotoshōhō, Kotoyusho  [ ja ] Hasegawa, Kotokaze, Kotomitsuki, Kotonishiki, Kotoshōgiku, Kotoōshū, Kotozakura, Kotoyūki head is former Kotonowaka, has produced many wrestlers in makuuchi and san'yaku over the years
Sakaigawa Dewanoumi1998 Myōgiryū, Sadanoumi, Hiradoumi, Tsushimanada Gōeidō, Iwakiyama, Hochiyama, Sadanofuji, Toyohibiki head is former Ryōgoku, has produced many sekitori
Shibatayama Nishonoseki1999 Daishōchi, Daiyubu  [ ja ], Sakigake  [ ja ], Wakanoshima  [ ja ]head is former Ōnokuni, in 2013 absorbed its parent stable (Hanaregoma), its only home-grown sekitori quit under acrimonious circumstances
Shikihide Dewanoumi1992 Sensho  [ ja ]head is former Kitazakura, took almost 20 years to produce a sekitori in 2012
Shikoroyama Nishonoseki2004 Abi, Oki  [ ja ] Hōmashō, Seirō, Irodori  [ ja ]head is former Homasho, stable founded by former Terao
Tagonoura Nishonoseki1989 Takayasu Kisenosato, Rikiō, Takanowaka, Takanoyama, Wakanosato head is former Takanotsuru, founded by yokozuna Takanosato but renamed from Naruto and moved to Ryōgoku following his death
Takadagawa Nishonoseki1974 Dairaidō  [ ja ], Kagayaki, Ryūden, Hakuyozan  [ ja ], Shōnannoumi Kenkō, Maenoshin, Shobushi head is former Akinoshima, stable was ousted from Takasago ichimon in 1998, finally accepted into Nishonoseki ichimon in 2013
Takasago Takasago1878 Asabenkei, Asanoyama, Asagyokusei, Asakōryū, Asanowaka  [ ja ], Asashiyu  [ ja ] Asashio, Asashōryū, Azumafuji, Konishiki, Maedayama, Takamiyama head is former Asasekiryū, the second oldest and arguably one of the most successful stables throughout its history
Takekuma Dewanoumi2022 Gōnoyama head is former Gōeidō, branched off from Sakaigawa stable
Tamanoi Dewanoumi1990 Fujiazuma, Tōhakuryū, Yoshiazuma Azumaryū, Ryūkō head is former Tochiazuma Daisuke, passed onto him by his father, the stable's founder Tochiazuma Tomoyori
Tatsunami Dewanoumi1916 Akua, Hōshōryū, Kiryūkō  [ ja ], Meisei Annenyama, Futabayama, Futahaguro, Haguroyama, Hanakaze, Mōkonami head is former Asahiyutaka, one of the most prestigious stables in sumo but declined by the 1980s
Tokitsukaze Tokitsukaze1941 Shōdai, Tokihayate Yutakayama, Kitabayama, Kurama, Ōshio,
Tokitenkū, Aogiyama, Toyonoshima
founded by Futabayama, head is former Tosayutaka who took over when previous head (former Tokitsuumi) was expelled for failure to follow COVID-19 protocols
Tokiwayama Nishonoseki2004 Takanoshō, Takakeishō, Takakento Masunoyama, Takagenji, Takanofuji, Takanoiwa head is former Takamisugi, branched off from Kasugano stable
Yamahibiki Dewanoumi1985 Kitaharima, Nionoumi  [ ja ] Hakurozan, Kitazakura, Kitataiki, Ōrora head is former Ganyū who inherited it on the death of founder Kitanoumi, who branched off from Mihogaseki

Mergers and closures (1994 to present)

Name changes (2003 to present)

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 As of April 2024, the stable is temporarily closed and its staff transferred to Isegahama stable.

Related Research Articles

The Japan Sumo Association, sometimes abbreviated JSA or NSK, is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). This means concretely that the Association maintains and develops sumo traditions and integrity by holding tournaments and tours. The purposes of the Association are also to develop the means dedicated to the sport and maintain, manage and operate the facilities necessary for these activities. Therefore, the JSA operates subsidiaries such as the Kokugikan Service Company to organize its economic aspects, the Sumo School to organize training and instruction or the Sumo Museum to preserve and utilize sumo wrestling records and artifacts.

<i>Heya</i> (sumo) Training stables in professional sumo

In sumo wrestling, a heya is an organization of sumo wrestlers where they train and live. It can also be termed sumo-beya. All wrestlers in professional sumo must belong to one. As of 2022 there were 43 heya, each belonging to one of five ichimon. They vary in size, with the largest heya having over thirty wrestlers and smallest just one wrestler. Most heya are based in and around the Ryōgoku district of Tokyo, sumo's traditional heartland, although the high price of land has led to some newer heya being built in other parts of Tokyo or its suburbs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ōtake stable</span>

Ōtake stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Nishonoseki group of stables.

Hanaregoma stable was a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki ichimon or group of stables. As of September 2010 it had eight active wrestlers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isegahama stable (2007)</span> Stable of sumo wrestlers

Isegahama stable, formerly known as Ajigawa stable from 1979 to 2007, is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Isegahama ichimon or group of stables. Its current head coach is former yokozuna Asahifuji.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takanohana stable</span>

Takanohana stable was a stable of sumo wrestlers, created in 2004 when Takanohana Kōji took over the running of Futagoyama stable from his father Takanohana Kenshi. Formerly of the Nishonoseki ichimon or group of stables, it became the leader of a breakaway Takanohana group in 2010, which was formally recognized as an ichimon in 2014. It is one of the most successful sumo stables with 42 top division championships to its name, won by eight different wrestlers, if Futagoyama's history from 1962 is included. As of the September 2018 tournament the stable had eight wrestlers, including three sekitori. Takanohana resigned from the Japan Sumo Association shortly after that tournament and the stable was absorbed into Chiganoura stable on October 1, 2018.

Magaki stable was a stable of sumo wrestlers, formerly one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. Wakanohana Kanji II, the 56th yokozuna in sumo history, re-established the stable in 1983. Its first wrestler to reach the top makuuchi division was the Hawaiian born Yamato in 1997, followed by Gojōrō and Wakanojō, also in 1997. However the stable had less success in later years, with its decline dating from the death of Magaki Oyakata's wife and okamisan in 2005. Russian maegashira Wakanohō was thrown out of sumo in 2008 after being accused of cannabis possession, charges which were eventually dropped. In 2011, its highest ranked wrestler Wakatenrō was forced to retire because of accusations of match-fixing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ōnomatsu stable</span>

Ōnomatsu stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki ichimon or group of stables. It was founded in its modern form on 1 October 1994 by Masurao Hiroo, who branched off from the now defunct Oshiogawa stable. As of January 2023, the stable had 13 wrestlers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shibatayama stable</span>

Shibatayama Stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. It was founded in 1999 by former yokozuna Ōnokuni. Located in Suginami, it is the only stable to be situated in the western half of Tokyo as of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanaregoma stable (2021)</span>

Hanaregoma stable, formerly known as Matsugane stable and Nishonoseki stable, is a stable of sumo wrestlers. It was founded in 1990 as Matsugane stable by Wakashimazu who branched out from the Futagoyama stable. It has produced five top makuuchi division wrestlers; Wakakoshō (2000), Wakatsutomu (2001), Harunoyama (2004), Shōhōzan (2011) and Ichiyamamoto (2021). After the retirement of Harunoyama in November 2006 the stable had no sekitori until Shōhōzan reached the jūryō division in March 2010. As of January 2023 it had 8 wrestlers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oitekaze stable</span>

The Oitekaze stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tokitsukaze ichimon or group of stables. It was established in its modern incarnation on 1 October 1998 by former maegashira Daishōyama, who is the stable's current head coach. He had married the daughter of the previous Oitekaze-oyakata and branched off from Tomozuna stable, taking some wrestlers with him including future sekitori Hayateumi and Daishōdai. As of January 2023, it had 18 wrestlers, of which seven were sekitori. Eight wrestlers in the stable's history have reached the top makuuchi division as of 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michinoku stable</span> Stable of sumo wrestlers

The Michinoku stable was a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tokitsukaze ichimon or group of stables. It was established in 1974 by former maegashira Hoshikabuto, who branched off from Izutsu stable, and closed in April 2024, at the time of the retirement of former ōzeki Kirishima, who became the stable head coach in December 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asahiyama stable</span>

Asahiyama stable was a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Isegahama ichimon or group of stables. It had a long history. It closed its doors in January 2015, and its staff and wrestlers transferred to other stables.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tatsunami stable</span>

Tatsunami stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, formerly the head of the Tatsunami ichimon or group of stables. As of January 2023 it had 20 wrestlers. Previously situated in sumo's heartland of Ryōgoku nearby the Kokugikan stadium, it briefly moved in 2020 to Ibaraki Prefecture and alongside Shikihide stable was one of the furthest from Ryōgoku. In April 2021 the stable announced it was moving to Taitō, to occupy the premises previously used by Tokiwayama stable. It now resides in this large building with the practice dohyo on the ground floor.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2009.

Kiriyama stable was a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tatsunami ichimon or group of stables. It was set up in January 1995 by the former komusubi Kurosegawa, who branched out from the now defunct Isegahama stable and took with him the remaining members of the Onaruto stable which closed at the end of 1994. In 2000 it absorbed Kise stable, and in 2007 its parent Isegahama stable. As of 2009, it had seven wrestlers. In that year the stable also produced its first sekitori, the Mongolian Tokusegawa. It was also the home of the chief yobidashi or usher.

Tokiwayama stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Nishonoseki ichimon or group of stables. As of January 2023, it had 10 wrestlers.

Nishonoseki stable (1911–2013) was a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Nishonoseki group of stables (ichimon) named after it. It first appeared in the late eighteenth century and was re-established in 1935 by the 32nd yokozuna Tamanishiki while still active.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asahiyama stable (2016)</span>

Asahiyama stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Isegahama ichimon. It is located in Chiba prefecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isegahama stable</span>

Isegahama stable was a heya or stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tatsunami-Isegahama ichimon, or group of stables.

References

  1. "JSA denies putting pressure on Takanohana to clear its name". Asahi Shimbun. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  2. https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202405300000523.htm [ bare URL ]