Tomozuna stable
Tomozuna stable (友綱部屋, Tomozuna-beya) is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Isegahama ichimon or group of stables. It has a long and prestigious history. The current Tomozuna stable was established in January 1961 by former komusubi Tomoegata.[1] As of January 2020, it has 11 wrestlers.
In April 2012, the stable absorbed seven wrestlers from Ōshima stable, due to Ōshima-oyakata reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65.[2] Among the wrestlers who transferred was former sekiwake Kyokutenhō, who one month later won his first yūshō (or tournament) for his new stable.[3] In February 2014, former ōzeki Kaiō branched off and formed Asakayama stable, taking two wrestlers from Tomozuna with him.[4] In June 2017, Kyokutenhō became the 11th Tomozuna's owner, and the first Mongolian born wrestler to take charge of a stable.[5] He had retired two years earlier and inherited the Ōshima name, but rather than re-establish Ōshima stable, he chose to keep the Tomozuna name by swapping elder names with the previous head coach (former sekiwake Kaiki) upon the latter reaching 65 years of age.
Ring name conventions
Many wrestlers at this stable have taken ring names or shikona that begin with the character 魁 (read: kai), in deference to their former head coach Kaiki. Examples Kaiō, Kaidō, Kainishiki and Kainowaka. Since absorbing Ōshima stable, they have also inherited wrestlers who use the character 旭 (read: asahi or kyoku), taken from Ōshima's former head coach Asahikuni.
Owners
Notable active wrestlers
- Asahishō (best rank maegashira)
- Kaisei (best rank sekiwake)
- Kyokushūhō (best rank maegashira)
- Kyokutaisei (best rank maegashira)
Coaches
- Tamagaki (iin, former komusubi Tomonohana)[6]
- Ōshima (consultant, former sekiwake Kaiki)
Notable former members
- Tachiyama (the 22nd yokozuna)
- Kaiō (former ōzeki)
- Kyokutenhō (former sekiwake)
- Sentoryū (former maegashira)
- Kaidō (former jūryō)
- 37th Kimura Shōnosuke (given name Saburō Hatakeyama - former chief referee)
Referee
Ushers
Hairdresser
- Tokoyuki (1st class tokoyama)
Location and access
Tokyo, Sumida ward, Narihira 3-1-9
7 minute walk from Oshiage Station on the Hanzōmon Line and Asakusa Line
See also
References
- http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Kabu.aspx?kabu=99
- 親方定年で大島部屋力士が友綱へ転属 (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
- "Kyokutenho: the first Japanese yusho in six-plus years . . . sort of". The Japan Times. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
- 魁皇の浅香山部屋が地鎮祭「弟子のために」国技館至近 (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 16 February 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
- "Mongolian-born wrestler turned Japanese to get to grips with sumo". Reuters. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- "Oyakata (Coaches)". Japan Sumo Association. 2012-08-27. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2012-09-18.