Nishonoseki Stable
Encyclopedia
is a stable
of sumo
wrestlers, part of the Nishonoseki group of stables (ichimon) named after it. It first appeared in the late eighteenth century and was re-established in its current form in 1935 by the 32nd Yokozuna Tamanishiki
while still active. The former ozeki Saganohana produced the stable's greatest wrestler, yokozuna Taiho
, who won a record 32 yusho
or tournament championships between 1961 and 1971. The stable's current head coach, former sekiwake Kongo
, has been in charge since 1976, when he was adopted by the widow of the previous head. He is also on the board of directors of the Japan Sumo Association
. The heya's fortunes have declined in recent years. It has not had any sekitori
wrestlers since the retirement of Daizen in 2003 and as of September 2011 it had just three active wrestlers, all in sandanme or below (and one of whom, Kasachikara, is 41 years old). The naturalisation
of a Chinese born rikishi, Ryutei, opened up another spot in the heya for a foreigner, and a Mongolian rikishi was recruited in March 2010, but he retired in May 2011.
In February 2010 general affairs manager Yoshiyuki Inoguchi, a former wrestler for the stable from 1975 to 1993 under the shikona
of Nijodake, was found hanged in an apparent suicide.
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, part of the Nishonoseki group of stables (ichimon) named after it. It first appeared in the late eighteenth century and was re-established in its current form in 1935 by the 32nd Yokozuna Tamanishiki
Tamanishiki San'emon
Tamanishiki San'emon was a sumo wrestler from Kōchi, Japan. He was the sport's 32nd Yokozuna. He won a total of nine top division yusho or tournament championships from 1929 to 1936, and was the dominant wrestler in sumo until the emergence of Futabayama...
while still active. The former ozeki Saganohana produced the stable's greatest wrestler, yokozuna Taiho
Taiho Koki
Taihō Kōki is the 48th Yokozuna in the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971...
, who won a record 32 yusho
Yusho
A Yūshō is a tournament championship in sumo. It is awarded in each of the six annual honbasho or official tournaments, to the wrestler who wins the most number of bouts. Yūshō are awarded in all six professional sumo divisions...
or tournament championships between 1961 and 1971. The stable's current head coach, former sekiwake Kongo
Kongo Masahiro
Kongō Masahiro is a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. He is now a sumo coach and head of the Nishonoseki stable.-Career:...
, has been in charge since 1976, when he was adopted by the widow of the previous head. He is also on the board of directors of the Japan Sumo Association
Japan Sumo Association
The is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Rikishi , gyōji , tokoyama , and yobidashi , are all on the Association's payroll, but the organisation is run...
. The heya's fortunes have declined in recent years. It has not had any sekitori
Sekitori
A sekitori is a sumo wrestler who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: makuuchi and juryo.Currently there are 70 rikishi in these divisions...
wrestlers since the retirement of Daizen in 2003 and as of September 2011 it had just three active wrestlers, all in sandanme or below (and one of whom, Kasachikara, is 41 years old). The naturalisation
Japanese Naturalization
Naturalization in Japan requires the applicant to renounce their current citizenship after the naturalization takes place. Japanese government does not have strict rules for naturalization process, even though the documents that need to be collected for application from applicant's home country...
of a Chinese born rikishi, Ryutei, opened up another spot in the heya for a foreigner, and a Mongolian rikishi was recruited in March 2010, but he retired in May 2011.
In February 2010 general affairs manager Yoshiyuki Inoguchi, a former wrestler for the stable from 1975 to 1993 under the shikona
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...
of Nijodake, was found hanged in an apparent suicide.
Nishonoseki oyakata
- 6th Nishonoseki: former Yokozuna Tamanishiki 1935-1938
- 7th Nishonoseki: former sekiwake Tamanoumi Umekichi 1938-1952
- 8th Nishonoseki: former ozeki Saganohana 1952-1975
- 9th Nishonoseki: interim 1975-76
- 10th Nishonoseki: (former sekiwake Kongo MasahiroKongo MasahiroKongō Masahiro is a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. He is now a sumo coach and head of the Nishonoseki stable.-Career:...
1976-present
Famous former wrestlers
- Tamanishiki San'emonTamanishiki San'emonTamanishiki San'emon was a sumo wrestler from Kōchi, Japan. He was the sport's 32nd Yokozuna. He won a total of nine top division yusho or tournament championships from 1929 to 1936, and was the dominant wrestler in sumo until the emergence of Futabayama...
(the 32nd Yokozuna) - Taiho KokiTaiho KokiTaihō Kōki is the 48th Yokozuna in the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971...
(the 48th Yokozuna) - Daikirin (former ozeki)
- Saganohana (former ozeki)
- RikidōzanRikidozan, better known as Rikidōzan , was a Korean Japanese professional wrestler, known as the "Father of Puroresu" and one of the most influential men in wrestling history. Initially, he had moved from his native country Korea to Japan to become a sumo wrestler...
(former sekiwake) - Tamanoumi DaitaroTamanoumi DaitaroTamanoumi Daitaro, real name Tomohiro Miura, was a sumo wrestler from Oita, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. He won a top division tournament championship in 1957...
(former sekiwake) - KongoKongo MasahiroKongō Masahiro is a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. He is now a sumo coach and head of the Nishonoseki stable.-Career:...
(former sekiwake)
Toshiyori
- Kitajin (former sekiwake KirinjiKirinji KazuharuKirinji Kazuharu is a former sumo wrestler from Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. During his long career he won several awards and set a number of longevity records. He is now a sumo coach.-Career:He made his professional debut in May 1967 at the age of just 14,...
) - Minatogawa (former komusubi Daitetsu)
- Fujigane (former komusubi Daizen)