Isegahama stable
Encyclopedia
is a stable
of sumo
wrestlers, one of the Tatsunami ichimon or group of stables. It was re-established by the 63rd Yokozuna Asahifuji Seiya
in November 2007, who re-named his Ajigawa stable when he acquired the Isegahama toshiyori
name.
The original Ajigawa stable was established in 1979 by former sekiwake Mutsuarashi Yukio. He had originally hoped to become head of Miyagino stable
and had married the daughter of the incumbent stablemaster there, but the marriage ended in divorce. He moved to Tomozuna stable
upon his retirement in 1977 before opening up his new stable two years later. Ajigawa stable absorbed Kasugayama stable
in 1990 on the retirement of Kasugayama-oyakata. In 1993 Asahifuji acceded to the Ajigawa name and took over running of the stable, due to the poor health of the incumbent.
The original Isegahama stable has a much longer history, as it was founded in 1859. Its sixth head was the 38th Yokozuna Terukuni Manzō
who passed control over to former ozeki Kiyokuni Katsuo
in 1977. Under Kiyokuni's leadership the stable declined to a point where it had only two active wrestlers left. The stable was wound up shortly after Kiyokuni reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in November 2006. Asahifuji's decision to switch to the Isegahama name can be seen as an attempt to restore its reputation (the Tatsunami ichimon was once known as Tatsunami-Isegahama).
Isegahama stable is currently a very successful stable, with two wrestlers in the makuuchi
division and one in juryo. During the period of Ajigawa stable, most of the wrestlers' names started with the kanji 安 . Since the revival of Isegahama the oyakata has changed all his lower ranking wrestlers names to conform with Isegahama stable tradition, and on his top wrestler Ama's promotion to ozeki (the stable's first since Kiyokuni) he changed Ama's name to Harumafuji.
Heya
In sumo wrestling, a heya , usually translated into English as stable, is an organization of sumo wrestlers where they train and live. All wrestlers in professional sumo must belong to one. There are currently 49 heya , all but four of which belong to one of five ichimon...
of sumo
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
wrestlers, one of the Tatsunami ichimon or group of stables. It was re-established by the 63rd Yokozuna Asahifuji Seiya
Asahifuji Seiya
is a former sumo wrestler from Aomori, Japan. He joined professional sumo in 1981, reaching the top makuuchi division just two years later. He reached the second highest rank of ozeki in 1987 and became the 63rd Yokozuna in the history of the sport in 1990 at the age of 30...
in November 2007, who re-named his Ajigawa stable when he acquired the Isegahama toshiyori
Toshiyori
A toshiyori is a sumo elder of the Japan Sumo Association. Also known as oyakata, former wrestlers who reached a sufficiently high rank are the only people eligible...
name.
The original Ajigawa stable was established in 1979 by former sekiwake Mutsuarashi Yukio. He had originally hoped to become head of Miyagino stable
Miyagino stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tatsunami ichimon or group of stables. It was founded by the 43rd Yokozuna Yoshibayama as Yoshibayama dōjō while he was still an active wrestler, before changing to its current name in 1960....
and had married the daughter of the incumbent stablemaster there, but the marriage ended in divorce. He moved to Tomozuna stable
Tomozuna stable
The is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tatsunami ichimon or group of stables. It has a long and prestigious history. Its current head coach is former sekiwake Kaiki, who is also a director of the Japan Sumo Association...
upon his retirement in 1977 before opening up his new stable two years later. Ajigawa stable absorbed Kasugayama stable
Kasugayama stable
is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tatsunami ichimon or group of stables. In its modern form it dates from 1954 when it was re-established by former ozeki Nayoroiwa who led it until his death in 1971...
in 1990 on the retirement of Kasugayama-oyakata. In 1993 Asahifuji acceded to the Ajigawa name and took over running of the stable, due to the poor health of the incumbent.
The original Isegahama stable has a much longer history, as it was founded in 1859. Its sixth head was the 38th Yokozuna Terukuni Manzō
Terukuni Manzo
Terukuni Manzō was a sumo wrestler from Ogachi, Akita Prefecture, Japan. He was the sport's 38th Yokozuna...
who passed control over to former ozeki Kiyokuni Katsuo
Kiyokuni Katsuo
Kiyokuni Katsuo is a former sumo wrestler from Akita, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki, which he held from 1969 to 1974. He won one top division yusho or tournament championship and was a runner-up in five other tournaments. He also earned seven special prizes and seven gold stars...
in 1977. Under Kiyokuni's leadership the stable declined to a point where it had only two active wrestlers left. The stable was wound up shortly after Kiyokuni reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in November 2006. Asahifuji's decision to switch to the Isegahama name can be seen as an attempt to restore its reputation (the Tatsunami ichimon was once known as Tatsunami-Isegahama).
Isegahama stable is currently a very successful stable, with two wrestlers in the makuuchi
Makuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
division and one in juryo. During the period of Ajigawa stable, most of the wrestlers' names started with the kanji 安 . Since the revival of Isegahama the oyakata has changed all his lower ranking wrestlers names to conform with Isegahama stable tradition, and on his top wrestler Ama's promotion to ozeki (the stable's first since Kiyokuni) he changed Ama's name to Harumafuji.
Notable wrestlers
- Harumafuji Kōhei (ozeki)
- Aminishiki RyūjiAminishiki RyujiAminishiki Ryūji is a Japanese sumo wrestler. He made his professional debut in 1997 and has been ranked in the top division since 2000. He has earned ten special prizes and won seven gold stars for defeating yokozuna during his career. He has twice been runner-up in a tournament. The highest rank...
(sekiwake) - Takarafuji Daisuke (maegashira)