The is a stable of

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 in Japan, one of the Tokitsukaze group of stables. It was founded in 1769 and was dominant during the Taishō period. In its modern form it dates from 1941 when it was established by

Futabayama was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Oita Prefecture. Entering sumo in 1927, he was the sport's 35th ''yokozuna'' from 1937 until his retirement in 1945. He won twelve ''yūshō'' or top division championships and had a winning streak ...

, who was still an active wrestler at the time. It was known as Futabayama Dojo until it was re-named Tokitsukaze stable in November 1945 when Futabayama retired. (The stable has the names of both Futabayama and Tokitsukaze at its entrance.) Upon Futabayama's death in 1968 the former

Kagamisato was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Aomori Prefecture. He was the sport's 42nd ''yokozuna''. Career He was born in a small fishing village in Sannohe District. He came from a poor family as his father had died when he was very you ...

took charge for a short time, but Futabayama's widow wanted

Yutakayama Katsuo Yutakayama Katsuo (born 18 August 1937 as Katsuo Uchida) is a former sumo wrestler from Niigata, Japan. His highest rank was '' ōzeki.'' Although he never won a top division tournament championship he was a runner-up on eight occasions. Before ...

to take over, which he did upon his retirement in 1969. He in turn passed control of the stable on to his successor Futatsuryū in August 2002. As of January 2022 it had 17 active wrestlers, two of whom are ''

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 ...

.'' The death of 17-year-old junior member Tokitaizan (real name Takashi Saito) in a hazing scandal on June 26, 2007, eventually resulted in the dismissal and six years in prison for Futatsuryū. This compelled

Tokitsuumi Tokitsuumi Masahiro (born November 8, 1973 as Masahiro Sakamoto) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Fukue, Nagasaki, Japan. A former amateur sumo champion, he turned professional in 1996. His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 3. He became ...

, a long time top division wrestler from the stable, to retire from active sumo and take over as the new head of the stable. Tokitsuumi was asked by 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 ...

to retire in February 2021 after twice violating

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 ...

safety protocols. Tokitsukaze stable was taken over by former ''maegashira'' Tosayutaka.

Ring name conventions

Many wrestlers at this stable have 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 時 (read: toki), meaning time, which is the first character in the stable's name, such as

Tokitsunada Tokitsunada Hironori (born Hironori Yoshioka; 2 August 1969 – 14 February 2019) was a sumo wrestler from Waki, Tokushima, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1985, and reached the top division in May 1992. His highest rank was ''ma ...

, Tokibayama and Tokitenkū. However this has fallen out of favour in recent years with Tokisakae being the only active wrestler using this kanji as of 2019. A number of wrestlers have also included the character 豊 (read: yutaka) in their ''shikona'' in deference to the last ''ōzeki'' produced by the stable, Yutakayama Katsuo, and the successor to his ''shikona'',

Yutakayama Hiromitsu was a sumo wrestler from Shibata, Niigata, Japan. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 1970. His highest rank was ''komusubi''. He wrestled for Tokitsukaze stable and took his ''shikona'' or fighting name from the head coach wh ...

. Examples include Yutakafuji, Tosayutaka and the active wrestler

Yutakayama Ryōta is a retired Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kita-ku, Niigata. He made his professional debut at '' sandanme tsukedashi'', which allowed him to skip the lower divisions, in March 2016, and his first ''makuuchi'' division ''honbasho'' ...

Owners

*2021–Present: 17th Tokitsukaze (''

toshiyori A is a sumo elder of the Japan Sumo Association (JSA). Also known as , former wrestlers who reached a sufficiently high rank are the only people eligible. The benefits are considerable, as only ''toshiyori'' are allowed to run and coach in su ...

'', former ''maegashira'' Tosayutaka) *2007-2021: 16th Tokitsukaze ('' iin'', former ''maegashira''

) *2002–2007: 15th Tokitsukaze (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 ...

'' Futatsuryū) *1969–2002: 14th Tokitsukaze (former '' ōzeki''

) *1968–1969: 13th Tokitsukaze ( the 42nd ''yokozuna''

) *1941–1968: 12th Tokitsukaze ('' shunin'', the 35th ''yokozuna''

)

Notable active wrestlers

* Shōdai (best rank '' ōzeki'')

Coaches

*Izutsu Daiki (''

'', former ''sekiwake''

Toyonoshima Toyonoshima Daiki (born June 26, 1983 as Daiki Kajiwara) is a former professional sumo wrestler from Sukumo, Kōchi, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 2002, reaching the top ''makuuchi'' division in September 2004. He was a runner ...

) *Edagawa Hideki ('' iin'', former ''maegashira''

Aogiyama Aogiyama Hideki (born 18 February 1970 as Hideki Teraki) is a former sumo wrestler from Hikone, Shiga, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1985, and reached the top division in March 1993. His highest rank was ''maegashira'' 1. He re ...

) *Nakagawa Kenji (''

,'' 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 ...

Asahisato Asahisato Kenji (born 9 November 1965 as Kenji Masuda) is a former sumo wrestler from Ikeda, Osaka, Japan. His active career spanned 17 years and 102 tournaments from 1981 until 1998, and his highest rank was ''maegashira'' 14. Upon his retirement ...

)

Notable former members

( the 42nd ''yokozuna'') *

Kitabayama Kitabayama Hidetoshi (17 May 1935 – 20 July 2010) was a former sumo wrestler and coach from Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank was '' ōzeki''. Career Kitabayama entered sumo in May 1954, joining Tokitsukaze stable. He was recruited b ...

(former '' ōzeki'') * Ōuchiyama (former ''ōzeki'') *

(former ''ōzeki'') * Kurama (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 ...

'') * Ōshio (former'' komusubi'') * Ōyutaka (former ''komusubi'') * Shimotori (former ''komusubi'') * Tokitenkū (former'' komusubi'') *

(former ''komusubi'') *

(former ''maegashira'') * Tosayutaka (best rank ''maegashira'') * (former ''maegashira'') *

(best rank ''

'')

Usher

*Mamoru (''

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 ...

'' ''

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 Mamoru Nagae)

Hairdresser

*Tokoyoshi (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, Ryōgoku 3-15-4
3 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 the Sōbu Line

References

External links

Homepage

Facebook site

Japan Sumo Association profile
{{coord, 35.6938, N, 139.7945, E, source:wikidata, display=title Active sumo stables