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, one of the Takasago group of stables. It is correctly written in Japanese as "髙砂部屋", but the first of these ''

kanji are the logographic Chinese characters taken from the Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script and used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese ...

'' is rare, and is more commonly written as "高砂部屋".

History

The stable was established by 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 ...

'' Takasago Uragorō as in 1873 and joined the Tokyo Sumo Association in 1878. Takasago stable has produced many successful wrestlers, including six ''

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 ...

'' and the first non-Japanese '' ōzeki'', American

Konishiki Saleva'a Fuauli Atisano'e (born December 31, 1963), professionally known as is an American former sumo wrestler.Franz LidzMeat Bomb, 05.18.92 - ''Sports Illustrated'' He was the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach '' ōzeki'', the second- ...

, as well as the 33rd Kimura Shōnosuke, the '' tate-gyōji'' or chief referee. In February 2002, the stable merged with Wakamatsu stable, with Wakamatsu's coach, former '' ōzeki'' Asashio, taking over. Future ''yokozuna'' Asashōryū was among the wrestlers transferring over. The demotion of Asasekiryū 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 for the January 2017 tournament saw 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 ...

'' for the first time since 1878. However, at the end of that tournament

Asanoyama is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Toyama Prefecture. He wrestles for Takasago stable. He debuted in sumo in March 2016 and made his ''makuuchi'' debut in September 2017. His highest rank has been ''ōzeki''. He has earned six spec ...

earned promotion to the ''

jūryō 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, ensuring ''sekitori'' representation once again from March. As of January 2022, it had 26 wrestlers. The former Asasekiryū took over from the former Asashio as head coach of the stable in November 2020. In June 2021, ''ōzeki''

was handed a one-year (six tournament) suspension for violating sumo protocols related to

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. The following month, Takasago Oyakata, Asanoyama and six lower-ranked ''

rikishi A , or, more colloquially, , is a professional sumo wrestler. follow and live by the centuries-old rules of the sumo profession, with most coming from Japan, the only country where sumo is practiced professionally. Participation in official t ...

'' in the stable all tested positive for COVID-19.

People

Ring name conventions

Most wrestlers since the mid 1990s and all since 2003 at this stable have quickly taken 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 character 朝 (read: asa), meaning morning, in deference to their head coach, the former Asashio, as well as many of his predecessors who had the same ''shikona'' in their active years. For example, the wrestler formerly known as Tamaki changed his ''shikona'' to

Asagyokusei Asagyokusei Taiko (Japanese 朝玉勢大幸, born May 29, 1993 as Kazuma Tamaki) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Mie Prefecture. He debuted in January 2016 and he reached his highest rank of ''jūryō'' 12 in January 2020. He wrest ...

when he was promoted to ''jūryō'' in July 2019.

Owners

*2020–present: 8th Takasago (former ''

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 ...

'' Asasekiryū) *2002-2020: 7th Takasago (former ''ōzeki''

Asashio Tarō IV Asashio Tarō IV (born 9 December 1955 as Suehiro Nagaoka) is a former sumo wrestler from Muroto, Kōchi, Japan. His highest rank was '' ōzeki''. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 1978. He won one top division tournament ...

) *1988-2002: 6th Takasago (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 ...

Fujinishiki Takemitsu Fujinishiki Akira (born Akira Watanabe, also known as Akira Ichimiya, 18 March 1937 – 17 December 2003) was a sumo wrestler from Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan. His highest rank was ''komusubi,'' which he held on ten occasions. He won the top ''maku ...

) *1971-1988: 5th Takasago (the 46th ''yokozuna''

Asashio Tarō III was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Tokunoshima in the Amami Islands. He was the sport's 46th ''yokozuna''. He was also a sumo coach and head of Takasago stable. Career He was born on Tokunoshima in the Amami Islands. Due to the Am ...

) *1942-1971: 4th Takasago (the 39th ''yokozuna''

Maedayama Eigorō was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ehime Prefecture. He was the sport's 39th ''yokozuna.'' Career He was born in Nishiuwa District. On his school excursion to Ōita in the spring of 1926, he met future ''yokozuna'' Futabayama Sa ...

) *1915-1941: 3rd Takasago (former ''ōzeki''

Asashio Tarō II Asashio Tarō II (April 19, 1879 – April 30, 1962) was a sumo wrestler from Ehime Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was ōzeki. He became the head coach of Takasago stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Takasago group of stable ...

) *1900-1914: 2nd Takasago (former ''

'' Takamiyama) *1871-1900: 1st Takasago (former ''maegashira'' Takasago)

Notable active wrestlers

(best rank ''ōzeki'') * Asabenkei (best rank '' jūryō'') *

(best rank '' jūryō'') * (best rank '' jūryō'') * (best rank '' jūryō'')

Coaches

*Wakamatsu Takehito ('' iin'', former ''maegashira''

Asanowaka Asanowaka Takehiko (born 11 December 1969 as Takehiko Adachi) is a former sumo wrestler from Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 1. He is now a sumo coach. Career He was an amateur sumo competitor at Kinki Uni ...

)

Assistant

* Iyozakura ('' wakaimonogashira'', former ''jūryō'', real name Masayuki Ichiki)

Notable former members

Nishinoumi Kajirō I was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Sendai, Satsuma Province. He was the sport's 16th ''yokozuna'', and the first to be officially listed as such on the ''banzuke'' ranking sheets, an act which strengthened the prestige of ''yokozuna ...

( the 16th ''yokozuna'') *

Konishiki Yasokichi I was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Musha District, Kazusa Province. He was the sport's 17th ''yokozuna''. Career His real name was . Konishiki made his professional debut in May 1883 and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in Ma ...

( the 17th ''yokozuna'') *Maedayama Eigorō ( the 39th ''yokozuna'') *

Azumafuji Kin'ichi was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Taitō, Tokyo. He was the sport's 40th ''yokozuna'', and later a professional wrestler. Sumo career His real name was . He made professional debut in January 1936, joining Takasago stable. He w ...

( the 40th ''yokozuna'') *Asashio Tarō III ( the 46th ''yokozuna'') *

Asashōryū Akinori is a Mongolian former professional sumo wrestler (''rikishi''). He was the 68th ''yokozuna'' in the history of the sport in Japan, and in January 2003 he became the first Mongolian to reach sumo's highest rank. He was one of the most successf ...

( the 68th ''yokozuna'') *

Maenoyama Tarō was a sumo wrestler from Osaka Prefecture, Japan. He began his career in 1961, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1966. His highest rank was '' ōzeki'' which he held from 1970 until 1972. He retired in 1974 and became head coach of the Taka ...

(former ''

ozeki Ozeki or Ōzeki may refer to: * Ōzeki, a rank in ''Makuuchi'', the top division of professional sumo ** List of ōzeki * Ōzeki station (disambiguation), the name of two railway stations in Japan * Ōzeki Masutoshi (1849–1905), 16th daimyō o ...

'') *Asashio Tarō II (former ''ōzeki'') *Asashio Tarō IV (former ''ōzeki'') *

Konishiki Yasokichi Saleva'a Fuauli Atisano'e (born December 31, 1963), professionally known as is an American former sumo wrestler.Franz LidzMeat Bomb, 05.18.92 - ''Sports Illustrated'' He was the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach '' ōzeki'', the second- ...

(former ''ōzeki'') * Tachihikari Denemon (former ''ōzeki'') *

Takamiyama Daigorō is a former sumo wrestler, the first foreign-born wrestler to win the top division championship (in 1972). His highest rank was ''sekiwake''. His active career spanned twenty years from 1964 to 1984, and he set a number of longevity list of su ...

(former ''

'') * Asasekiryū (former ''sekiwake'') *

Mitoizumi Mitoizumi Masayuki (born 2 September 1962 as Masato Koizumi) is a former sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaraki, Japan. His professional career spanned 22 years, from 1978 until 2000. The highest rank he reached was ''sekiwake''. He won over 800 career ...

(former ''sekiwake'') *

Fujizakura Fujizakura Yoshimori (富士櫻栄守) (born 9 February 1948 as Hideo Nakasawa) is a former sumo wrestler from Kōfu, Yamanashi, Japan. His highest rank was ''sekiwake''. He wrestled for Takasago stable. He made his debut in 1963 and had one of t ...

(former ''sekiwake'') *33rd Kimura Shōnosuke (given name Yōichi Nozawa - former chief referee)

Referees

*Kimura Asanosuke (''jūryō'' ''

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 Katsuya Ishida) *Kimura Satoshi (''

'' ''gyōji'', real name Satoshi Maeda)

Ushers

*Rikinojō (''

'' ''

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 Riki Tsuchida) *Kunio (''jūryō'' ''yobidashi'', real name Kunio Maekawa)

Hairdressers

*Tokoyumi (1st 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, Honjo 3-5-4
10 minute walk from Honjo-azumabashi Station on the

Toei Asakusa Line The is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the Tokyo subway operator Toei Subway. The line runs between in Ōta and in Sumida. The line is named after the Asakusa district, a cultural center of Tokyo, under which it passes. The Asak ...

References

External links

Official site (Japanese)Japan Sumo Association profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Takasago Stable Active sumo stables