is a

stable A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals and livestock. There are many different types of stables in use today; the ...

sumo is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a ''rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring (''dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by thr ...

wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ''

ichimon The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...

'' or group of stables. It has a long, prestigious history. Its current head coach is former ''

maegashira , or , 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. This is the on ...

'' Oginohana. As of January 2022 it had 15 wrestlers.

History

The stable's rise to prominence was due to the 19th ''

yokozuna , or , 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. This is the on ...

Hitachiyama was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. He was the sport's 19th ''yokozuna'' from 1903 till 1914. His great rivalry with Umegatani Tōtarō II created the "Ume-Hitachi Era" and did much to popularise sumo. He i ...

, who transformed it from a minor stable when he joined sumo into a powerful recruiting house when he retired in 1914 and became its head coach. Under his leadership the stable produced three yokozuna, Ōnishiki,

Tochigiyama was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler. He was the sport's 27th ''yokozuna'' from 1918 until 1925. Generally he is considered one of the pioneers of modern sumo. He remains the lightest ''yokozuna'' in the history of the sport with a weight ...

and

Tsunenohana was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Okayama. He was the sport's 31st ''yokozuna''. Career He was born . He made his professional debut in January 1910 and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in May 1917. He won his first top divis ...

, '' ōzeki'' Kyushuzan, Tsushimanada, Ōnosato, and Hitachiiwa, and 20 other top division wrestlers. At its peak the stable contained over 200 wrestlers, and Hitachiyama's refusal to allow any of his disciples to break away and form new stables when they retired ensured its dominance remained after his death in 1922 at the age of 48. Tsuneohana was the ''rijichō'', or head of the

Japan Sumo Association The is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling (called ''Ōzumō'', 大相撲) in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). ''Rikishi'' (active ...

from 1944 to 1957, and every subsequent head from 1968 to 1998, including former

Dewanohana Kuniichi real name Kuniichi Ichikawa (國一市川), was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Komatsu, Ishikawa (Japan). His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 1. After retiring, he took the position of head coach at Dewanoumi stable, following the ...

and the 50th ''yokozuna''

Sadanoyama was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Nagasaki Prefecture. He was the sport's 50th ''yokozuna''. After his retirement he was the head coach of Dewanoumi stable and served as head of the Japan Sumo Association. Career Born in Arikawa, ...

, was a member of the Dewanoumi ''ichimon''. The 57th ''yokozuna''

Mienoumi is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Matsusaka, Mie. He was the 57th ''yokozuna'' of the sport. After retiring he founded the Musashigawa stable and was a chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. He was the first rikishi in histo ...

was the first Dewanoumi stable member to be permitted to branch out and open a new stable, which he did in 1981 with

Musashigawa stable The is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ''ichimon'' or group of stables. It is an off-shoot of the better known stable of the same name set up by former ''yokozuna'' Mienoumi in 1981, which is currently known as Fujishima stable ...

. (A previous ''yokozuna'' from the stable,

Chiyonoyama was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Fukushima, Hokkaidō. He was the sport's 41st '' yokozuna'' from 1951 until 1959. He is regarded as the first "modern" ''yokozuna'' in that he was promoted by the Japan Sumo Association itself an ...

, had been thrown out of the Dewanoumi ''ichimon'' in 1967 after setting up

Kokonoe stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Takasago group of stables. It was formed in 1967 and until 2021 was located in Ishiwara, Sumida, Tokyo. As of November 2022 it had 27 sumo wrestlers, four of whom are of ''sekitori'' rank. It is the most s ...

). Long time head Sadanoyama stood down in 1996, passing control over to former ''sekiwake'' Washūyama. The demotion of Futen'ō to the ''

makushita Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. For ...

'' division in July 2010 left the stable without any ''

sekitori A ''sekitori'' (関取) is a ''rikishi'' (力士, sumo wrestler) who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: ''makuuchi'' and ''jūryō''. The name literally translates to having taken the barrier, as only a relatively small fract ...

'' (wrestlers in the salaried divisions) for the first time since 1898. This continued until was promoted to the ''jūryō'' division for the November 2014 tournament (in which he managed only five wins and was immediately demoted). In January 2015 the stable saw former ''

Towanoyama Towanoyama Yoshimitsu (born July 10, 1977 as Akihito Kobayashi) is a former sumo wrestler from Toshima, Tokyo, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1993. His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 13, achieved in March 2002. He had many injury proble ...

announce his retirement, leaving and the 44-year-old , with four tournaments in ''jūryō'' between them, as the only other wrestlers apart from Dewahayate with any ''sekitori'' experience. However shortly afterwards the stable recruited former amateur ''yokozuna''

Mitakeumi is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Agematsu, Nagano. He is in the Dewanoumi stable. He is a pusher thruster-type wrestler. A former amateur champion at Toyo University, he made his professional debut in March 2015, reaching the top '' ...

who quickly made ''jūryō'' in July 2015 and the top ''

makuuchi , or , 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. This is the on ...

'' division in January 2016. In July 2017 he became the first member of the stable to reach ''

sekiwake , or , 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. This is the on ...

'' rank since 1982, and in July 2018 the first to win a top division championship for the stable since Mienoumi in 1980. In January 2022, Mitakeumi won his third top division ''yūshō'', and was promoted to ''ōzeki''.

People

Ring name conventions

Many wrestlers at this stable take ring names or ''

shikona A is a sumo wrestler's ring name. The tradition of ring names in sumo dates back to the Edo period, where they were used as a means to attract customers and hide the identities of the ''rikishi''. Like standard Japanese names, a ''shikona'' co ...

'' that begin with the characters 出羽 (read: dewa), which are taken from the first two characters of the stable's name.

Owners

*2014–present: 11th Dewanoumi Akikazu (''

riji Riji are the pearl shells traditionally worn by Aboriginal men in the north-west part of Australia, around present day Broome. The word ''riji'' is from the Bardi language. Another word for it is ''jakuli''. Rijis are worn as pubic coverin ...

'', former ''maegashira'' Oginohana) *1996-2014: 10th Dewanoumi Yoshikazu (''

'', former ''

'' Washūyama) *1968-1996: 9th Dewanoumi Tomotaka ( the 50th ''yokozuna''

) *1960-1968: 8th Dewanoumi Yoshihide (former ''maegashira'' Dewanohana) *1949-1960: 7th Dewanoumi Hidemitsu ( the 31st ''yokozuna''

) *1922-1949: 6th Dewanoumi Kajinosuke (former ''

komusubi , or , 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. This is the on ...

Ryōgoku is a district in Sumida, Tokyo. It is surrounded by various districts in Sumida, Chūō, and Taitō wards: Yokoami, Midori, Chitose, Higashi Nihonbashi, and Yanagibashi. In 1659, the Ryōgoku Bridge was built, spanning the Sumida River j ...

) *1914-1922: 5th Dewanoumi Taniemon ( the 19th ''yokozuna''

) *1890-1914: 4th Dewanoumi Unemon (former ''

) *c. 1862-1890: 3rd Dewanoumi (former ''

'' Katsuragawa)

Coaches

*Dekiyama Sōichi (''

consultant A consultant (from la, consultare "to deliberate") is a professional (also known as ''expert'', ''specialist'', see variations of meaning below) who provides advice and other purposeful activities in an area of specialization. Consulting servic ...

'', former ''sekiwake'' Dewanohana) *Nakadachi Yasuteru (''iin'', former ''komusubi''

Oginishiki Oginishiki Yasutoshi (born 8 July 1971 as Yasutoshi Koiwai) is a former sumo wrestler from Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was ''komusubi.'' His father and brother were also sumo wrestlers. He is now a coach at Dewanoumi stabl ...

) *Takasaki Ryūsui (''iin'', former ''maegashira'' Kinkaiyama)

Notable wrestlers

Active

(best rank: '' ōzeki'')

Former

( the 19th ''yokozuna'') * Ōnishiki ( the 26th ''yokozuna'') *

( the 27th ''yokozuna'') *

( the 31st ''yokozuna'') *

Musashiyama was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. He was the sport's 33rd ''yokozuna''. He had a rapid rise through the ranks, setting several youth records, and was very popular with the public. However he did not ...

( the 33rd ''yokozuna'') *

Akinoumi , born , was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Hiroshima. He was the sport's 37th ''yokozuna''. Career Akinoumi made his professional debut in February 1932 and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in January 1938. He was the man wh ...

( the 37th ''yokozuna'') *

( the 41st ''yokozuna'') *

( the 50th ''yokozuna'') *

( the 57th ''yokozuna'') * Hitachiiwa (former '' ōzeki'') * Shionoumi (former ''ōzeki'') * Masuiyama (former ''ōzeki'') *

(former ''sekiwake'') * Tenryū (former ''sekiwake'') * Dewaminato (former ''sekiwake'') * Dewanohana (former ''sekiwake'') * Ōnishiki (former ''komusubi'') * Mainoumi (former ''komusubi'') * Dewanohana (former ''maegashira'') *

Kushimaumi Kushimaumi Keita (久島海啓太; 6 August 1965 – 13 February 2012), born as Keita Kushima (久嶋啓太), was a sumo wrestler from Shingū, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. A successful amateur, his highest rank in professional sumo was '' ...

(former ''maegashira'')

Assistant

*Fukuryūdake ('' sewanin'', former ''jūryō'', real name Shigeo Nakao)

Referee

*Kimura Chishū (''

juryo Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. F ...

'' ''

gyōji A ''gyōji'' () is a referee in professional sumo wrestling in Japan. ''Gyōji'' usually enter the sumo world as teenagers and remain employees of the Sumo Association until they retire aged 65. There are currently a little over 40 active ''gy� ...

'', real name Ryōta Kobayashi)

Usher

*Yōhei (''makushita'' ''

yobidashi A is an announcer who calls a professional sumo wrestler, or ''rikishi'', to the ''dohyō'' (wrestling ring) immediately prior to his bout. He does this by calling the name of each wrestler fighting in turn while holding a traditional folding fa ...

'', real name Yōhei Kadooka)

Hairdressers

*Tokoriki (fourth class ''

tokoyama A is a hairdresser employed by the Japan Sumo Association to cut and prepare sumo wrestlers' hair, which is done in the style. The Sumo Association ranks them according to experience and ability and only the most senior are entitled to prepar ...

'')

Location and access

Tokyo, Sumida Ward, Ryōgoku 2-3-15
7 minute walk from

Ryōgoku Station is a railway station in Yokoami, Sumida, Tokyo, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei). Lines The station is served by the JR East Chūō-Sōbu Line and the Toei Oedo Li ...

on Sōbu Line

References

External links

Official site

Japan Sumo Association profile
{{coord, 35.6924, N, 139.7926, E, source:wikidata, display=title Active sumo stables