Makuuchi (幕内) or makunouchi (幕の内), is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (rikishi), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments.
The Japan Sumo Association 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). Rikishi, gyōji (referees), tokoyama (hairdressers), and yobidashi (ushers/handymen), are all on the Association's payroll, but the organisation is run entirely by toshiyori (elders). The organization has its headquarters in Yokoami, Sumida, Tokyo.
Kokonoe stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Takasago group of stables. It was formed in 1967 and is located in Ishiwara, Sumida, Tokyo. As of January 2019 it had 18 sumo wrestlers, five of whom were of sekitori rank. It is the most successful stable in terms of total yūshō won by its wrestlers, with 52.
Chiyotenzan Daihachirō is a former sumo wrestler from Osaka, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi.
Tokitenkū Yoshiaki was a sumo wrestler.
Araiso stable was a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. It was founded in 1993 by former komusubi Futagodake of the Futagoyama stable. It was one of the smallest of all the sumo stables, with just three sumo wrestlers. The stable was dissolved after the September 2008 tournament, as Futagodake was due to reach the mandatory retirement age of 65. Two of the stable's wrestlers retired following the announcement, with the one remaining active wrestler, Mongolian Arawashi, moving to Hanakago stable. Futagodake worked at Matsugane stable until his retirement that November.
Sadogatake stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. In its modern form it dates from September 1955, when it was set up by former komusubi Kotonishiki Noboru. Former yokozuna Kotozakura took over the running of the stable in 1974 following Kotonishiki's death. The stable is located in Matsudo, Chiba prefecture. Over the next thirty years the stable produced a string of top division wrestlers. Kotozakura stood down in November 2005, handing the stable over to his son-in-law, former sekiwake Kotonowaka.
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. His first wrestler to reach the top makuuchi division was Katayama in 2005. The now retired Wakakōyū reached komusubi in 2012, as did Ōnoshō in 2017. The stable's most successful foreign recruit has been the Russian former maegashira Amūru, who retired in 2018.
The Tokitsukaze stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers in Japan, one of the Tokitsukaze group of stables. It was founded in 1769 and was dominant during the Taishō period.
Dewanoumi stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ichimon or group of stables. It has a long, prestigious history. Its current head coach is former maegashira Oginohana. As of January 2018 it had 14 wrestlers.
Onoe stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi group of stables. It was established in August 2006 by former komusubi Hamanoshima, who branched off from Mihogaseki stable and took several of its leading wrestlers with him. In November 2007, it had eight wrestlers, half of whom were ranked as sekitori. In 2011, three of its wrestlers, former maegashira ranked Sakaizawa, and Yamamotoyama and the former jūryō Shirononami, were forced to retire after being found guilty by the Japan Sumo Association of match-fixing.
Sakaigawa stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi group of stables. It was established in its modern form on 25 May 1998 by former komusubi Ryōgoku, who branched off from Dewanoumi stable. It was originally called Nakadachi stable, but when Sakaigawa-oykakata reached the Japan Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age in February 2003, he passed on the Sakaigawa name, and the stable was renamed. As of January 2019, it had 24 wrestlers, with three of them ranked in the two professional divisions, making it one of the more successful stables.
Kise stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ichimon or group of stables. It was established in its current form in December 2003 by former maegashira and Nihon University amateur champion Higonoumi, who branched off from Mihogaseki stable. The stable's first top division wrestler was Kiyoseumi in January 2008. Its foreign recruit is the Georgian Gagamaru who in May 2010 earned promotion to the top division. It is a popular destination for wrestlers with collegiate sumo experience like its stablemaster.
Daizen Takahiro is a former sumo wrestler from Osaka, Osaka, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1981, and reached the top division in November 1991. His highest rank was komusubi and he earned two kinboshi. After his retirement in 2003 he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association and a coach at Nishonoseki stable. Upon the closure of his stable in 2013 he moved to Kasugano stable.
Maenoshin Yasuo is a former sumo wrestler from Chikuho, Fukuoka, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1977, and reached the top division in November 1985. His highest rank was komusubi. He retired in March 1990. He became an elder of the Sumo Association under the name Yamahibiki, but was forced to leave his position for disciplinary reasons in January 1997.
Daitetsu Tadamitsu is a former sumo wrestler from Ōno, Fukui, Japan. He made his professional debut in July 1971, and reached the top division in November, 1983. His highest rank was komusubi. He retired in September 1990, and as of 2016 he is a coach at Nishonoseki stable, under the elder name Minatogawa.
Ōyutaka Masachika is a former sumo wrestler from Horinouchi, Niigata, Japan. He made his professional debut in November 1973, and reached the top division in May 1982. His highest rank was komusubi. He retired in January 1987, and as of 2016 he is an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Arashio. He is also the head of the Arashio stable, which he founded in 2002. His son fought for the stable under the shikona Chikarayama, retiring in January 2017.
Wakafutase Tadayuki, born Tadateru Tojima, was a sumo wrestler from Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. He made his professional debut in September 1960, and reached the top division in March 1966. His highest rank was komusubi. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association. He took over as a head coach at Asahiyama stable in October 1975 and died while still an active oyakata. He was succeeded as head coach by former ōzeki Daiju.
