List of sumo stables

The following is an alphabetical list of heya or training stables in professional sumo. All belong to one of five groups, called ichimon. These groups, led by the stable by which each group is named, are in order of size: Dewanoumi ichimon, Nishonoseki ichimon, Tokitsukaze ichimon, Takasago ichimon and Isegahama ichimon. Occasionally there have been independent stables, but the Japan Sumo Association agreed at a director's meeting in July 2018 that all sumo elders must belong to one of the five ichimon.[1] The founding dates listed below are for the current incarnation of each stable; in most cases this is not the first stable to exist under a given name, however.

The number of stables peaked at 54, with the opening of Onoe stable in August 2006. In order to limit the over-proliferation of stables, the Japan Sumo Association introduced new rules the following month that greatly raised the qualifications needed by former wrestlers wishing to branch out (namely, those ranked below yokozuna or ōzeki must have spent at least 60 tournaments in the top makuuchi division or 25 in the titled san'yaku ranks). Discounting the special circumstances of the temporary closure of Kise stable from 2010 until 2012, there were no new stables established for more than six years, while eleven folded, bringing the number of active stables down to 43. This sequence was ended by the opening of former yokozuna Musashimaru's Musashigawa stable in April 2013. Since this time the opening and closing of stables has stabilized and the number of stables has remained in the mid 40s.

Pronunciation note

Due to a Japanese speech phenomenon known as rendaku, when the word for stable, heya, comes second in a compound word, the "h" in heya changes to "b" to become beya. A sumo stable is pronounced in Japanese as "sumo-beya" and Arashio stable, as an example, is pronounced "Arashio-beya".

Active stables

There are 44 stables as of July 2020.

Name	Ichimon	Year opened	Notable active wrestlers	Notable past wrestlers	Other notable information
Arashio	Tokitsukaze	2002	Wakatakakage, Wakamotoharu	Sōkokurai	head is former Sōkokurai, made headlines when it welcomed back exonerated Sōkokurai in 2013
Asahiyama	Isegahama	2016			head is former Kotonishiki, branched off from Oguruma stable
Asakayama	Isegahama	2014	Kaisho		head is former Kaiō, branched off from Tomozuna stable
Azumazeki	Takasago	1986	Kaonishiki	Akebono, Takamisakari, Ushiomaru	head is former Takamisakari, first stable founded by foreign born wrestler (former Takamiyama)
Dewanoumi	Dewanoumi	1862 (c.)	Mitakeumi	Chiyonoyama, Mainoumi, Mienoumi, Tochigiyama	head is former Oginohana, demotion of its last sekitori left the stable without any sekitori for the first time since 1898
Fujishima	Dewanoumi	1981	Bushozan	Shōtenrō, Dejima, Miyabiyama, Musashimaru, Wakanoyama	head is former Musōyama, was the strongest stable in early 2000s, name was changed from its previous incarnation as Musashigawa
Futagoyama	Dewanoumi	2018			Head is former Miyabiyama, branched off from Fujishima stable
Hakkaku	Takasago	1993	Hokutōfuji, Okinoumi	Hokutōriki, Kaihō, Ōiwato	head is former Hokutoumi, branched off from Kokonoe stable
Irumagawa	Dewanoumi	1993	Sagatsukasa	Masatsukasa, Yōtsukasa	head is former Tochitsukasa, branched off from Kasugano stable
Isegahama	Isegahama	1979	Takarafuji, Terunofuji, Terutsuyoshi, Midorifuji, Nishikifuji	Aminishiki, Asōfuji, Harumafuji, Homarefuji, Kasugafuji	head is former Asahifuji, until 2018 one of the most well represented stables in the upper divisions, renamed from its original incarnation as Ajigawa stable
Isenoumi	Tokitsukaze	1949	Ikioi, Nishikigi	Hattori, Kashiwado, Tosanoumi	head is former Kitakachidoki, the Isenoumi name has one of the longest traditions in sumo
Kagamiyama	Tokitsukaze	1970	Kagamiō	Tagaryū, Zaōnishiki, Konuma	head is former Tagaryū, currently smallest stable with two wrestlers, branched off from Isenoumi stable
Kasugano	Dewanoumi	1925	Aoiyama, Tochinoshin	Tochinishiki, Tochinoumi, Tochihikari, Tochinowaka, Tochiōzan	head is former Tochinowaka, active since the Meiji era, currently one of the most successful stables
Kataonami	Nishonoseki	1961	Tamawashi	Tamaasuka, Tamakiyama, Tamaryū	head is former Tamakasuga, branched off from Nishonoseki stable
Kise	Dewanoumi	2003	Akiseyama, Churanoumi, Daiseidō, Hidenoumi, Higonojō, Jōkōryū, Shimanoumi, Takaryū, Tokushōryū, Ura	Gagamaru, Kiyoseumi, Kizenryu, Kizakiumi, Tokushinho	head is former Higonoumi, was dissolved over a ticket selling scandal, then allowed to reform two years later, well represented in two top divisions
Kokonoe	Takasago	1967	Chiyoarashi, Chiyomaru, Chiyonokuni, Chiyootori, Chiyonoō, Chiyoshōma, Chiyotairyū, Chiyonoumi	Kitanofuji, Chiyonofuji, Hokutoumi	head is former Chiyotaikai, as of March 2018 five of its 17 wrestlers were sekitori
Michinoku	Tokitsukaze	1974	Kakuryū, Kiribayama	Hoshitango, Jūmonji, Ryūhō, Toyozakura	head is former Kirishima, lost the largest number of wrestlers to the 2011 match fixing scandal
Minato	Nishonoseki	1982	Ichinojō		head is former Minatofuji, who is the only top division wrestler the stable had ever produced until Ichinojō in 2014.
Minezaki	Nishonoseki	1988		Arawashi	head is former Misugiiso, had never had a sekitori wrestler until absorbing Hanakago stable and inheriting Arawashi
Miyagino	Isegahama	1958	Hakuhō, Ishiura, Enhō, Hokuseihō	Myōbudani, Mutsuarashi, Kōbō, Ryūō, Daikiho	head is former Chikubayama, has had a convoluted series of successions
Musashigawa	Dewanoumi	2013		Wakaichirō	head is former Musashimaru, who is only the second foreign born wrestler to open his own stable
Naruto	Nishonoseki	2017			head is former Kotoōshū, branched off from Sadogatake stable
Nishiiwa	Nishonoseki	2018			head is former Wakanosato, branched off from Tagonoura stable
Nishikido	Takasago	2002	Gokushindo, Mitoryū		head is former Mitoizumi, was home to the only Kazakh wrestler
Nishonoseki	Nishonoseki	1990	Ichiyamamoto, Shōhōzan		head is former Wakashimazu, branched off from Futagoyama stable
Oguruma	Nishonoseki	1987	Amakaze, Tomokaze, Yago	Takekaze, Yoshikaze, Wakakirin, Wakatoba	head is former Kotokaze, branched off from Sadogatake stable, absorbed Oshiogawa stable in 2005
Oitekaze	Tokitsukaze	1998	Daiamami, Daieishō, Daishoho, Daishōmaru, Endō, Tobizaru, Tsurugishō	Hayateumi, Kokkai, Hamanishiki	head is former Daishōyama who branched off from Tatsunami stable
Onoe	Dewanoumi	2006	Ryuko	Baruto, Satoyama, Tenkaihō, Yamamotoyama	head is former Hamanoshima, branched off from Mihogaseki stable, lost three sekitori wrestlers due to match fixing scandal in 2011
Ōnomatsu	Nishonoseki	1994	Keitenkai, Ōnoshō	Daidō, Katayama, Wakakōyū, Amūru	head is former Daidō, forced out of Nishonoseki ichimon and joined Takanohana ichimon in 2010
Ōtake	Nishonoseki	1971	Ōhō	Ōzutsu, Rohō, Ōsunaarashi	head is former Dairyū, the previous head (former Takatōriki) was forced out in a gambling scandal
Sadogatake	Nishonoseki	1955	Kotoeko, Kotonowaka, Kotoshoho, Kotoyūki	Hasegawa, Kotokaze, Kotomitsuki, Kotonishiki, Kotoshōgiku, Kotoōshū, Kotozakura	head is former Kotonowaka, has produced many wrestlers in makuuchi and san'yaku over the years
Sakaigawa	Dewanoumi	1998	Myōgiryū, Sadanoumi, Toyohibiki	Gōeidō, Iwakiyama, Hochiyama, Sadanofuji	head is former Ryōgoku, has produced many sekitori
Shibatayama	Nishonoseki	1999	Sakigake	Wakanoshima, Daiyubu, Daishōchi	head is former Ōnokuni, in 2013 absorbed its parent stable (Hanaregoma), its only home-grown sekitori quit under acrimonious circumstances
Shikihide	Dewanoumi	1992		Sensho	head is former Kitazakura, took almost 20 years to produce a sekitori in 2012
Shikoroyama	Nishonoseki	2004	Abi, Irodori, Oki	Hōmashō, Seirō	head is former Terao, when he branched off from Izutsu stable, he unusually chose to start from scratch and take no wrestlers with him
Tagonoura	Nishonoseki	1989	Takayasu	Kisenosato, Rikiō, Takanowaka, Takanoyama, Wakanosato	head is former Takanotsuru, founded by yokozuna Takanosato but renamed from Naruto and moved to Ryōgoku following his death
Takadagawa	Nishonoseki	1974	Dairaidō, Kagayaki, Ryuden, Hakuyozan	Kenkō, Maenoshin, Shobushi	head is former Akinoshima, stable was ousted from Takasago ichimon in 1998, finally accepted into Nishonoseki ichimon in 2013
Takasago	Takasago	1878	Asabenkei, Asanoyama, Asagyokusei	Asashio, Asashōryū, Azumafuji, Konishiki, Maedayama, Takamiyama	head is former Asasekiryū, the second oldest and arguably one of the most successful stables throughout its history
Tamanoi	Dewanoumi	1990	Azumaryū, Fujiazuma, Tōhakuryū, Yoshiazuma	Ryūkō	head is former Tochiazuma Daisuke, passed onto him by his father, the stable's founder Tochiazuma Tomoyori
Tatsunami	Dewanoumi	1916	Akua, Hanakaze, Hoshoryu, Meisei	Annenyama, Futabayama, Futahaguro, Haguroyama, Mōkonami	head is former Asahiyutaka, one of the most prestigious stables in sumo but declined by the 1980s
Tokitsukaze	Tokitsukaze	1941	Shōdai, Yutakayama	Yutakayama, Kitabayama, Kurama, Ōshio, Tokitenkū, Tosayutaka, Toyonoshima	founded by Futabayama, head is former Tokitsuumi who took over when previous head (former Futatsuryū) went to prison for the death of a new recruit
Tokiwayama	Nishonoseki	2004	Masunoyama, Takanosho, Takagenji, Takakeishō, Takakento	Takanofuji, Takanoiwa	head is former Takamisugi, branched off from Kasugano stable
Tomozuna	Isegahama	1941	Asahishō, Kaisei, Kyokushūhō, Kyokutaisei	Kaiō, Kyokutenhō, Sentoryū, Tachiyama	head is former Kyokutenhō, incarnations have a long and prestigious history, absorbed a number of strong wrestlers in 2012 from the defunct Ōshima stable
Yamahibiki	Dewanoumi	1985	Kitaharima, Nionoumi	Hakurozan, Kitazakura, Kitataiki, Ōrora	head is former Ganyū who inherited it on the death of founder Kitanoumi, who branched off from Mihogaseki

Mergers and closures (1994 to present)

• Nakagawa stable closes July 2020, wrestlers and/or personnel move to Arashio, Asahiyama, Isenoumi, Kataonami, Miyagino, Oitekaze, Tokitsukaze, and Tomozuna stables
• Izutsu stable closes September 2019, wrestlers and personnel move to Michinoku stable
• Takanohana stable closes October 2018, wrestlers and personnel move to Chiganoura stable
• Kasugayama stable closes October 2016, some wrestlers retire, other wrestlers and personnel move to Oitekaze stable
• Asahiyama stable closes January 2015, all wrestlers and some personnel move to Isegahama, some other personnel move to Asakayama.
• Mihogaseki stable closes October 2013, wrestlers move to Kasugano
• Magaki stable closes March 2013, wrestlers move to Isegahama
• Hanaregoma stable closes February 2013, wrestlers move to Shibatayama
• Nishonoseki stable closes January 2013, remaining wrestlers retire, other personnel move to Matsugane
• Nakamura stable closes December 2012, wrestlers move to Azumazeki
• Hanakago stable closes May 2012, wrestlers move to Minezaki
• Ōshima stable closes April 2012, wrestlers move to Tomozuna
• Tagonoura stable closes February 2012, wrestlers move to Dewanoumi and Kasugano
• Takashima stable closes June 2011, head coach moves to Kasugayama
• Kiriyama stable closes January 2011, wrestlers move to Asahiyama
• Araiso stable closes September 2008, one remaining wrestler moves to Hanakago
• Isegahama stable closes February 2007, wrestlers move to Kiriyama
• Hatachiyama stable closes June 2006, wrestlers move to Kitanoumi
• Oshiogawa stable closes March 2005, wrestlers move to Oguruma
• Takekuma stable closes March 2004, no wrestlers are left but head coach moves to Tomozuna
• Kabutoyama stable closes December 2002, no wrestlers are left but head coach moves to Minato
• Wakamatsu stable merges with Takasago in February 2002
• Tatsutagawa stable closes November 2000, wrestlers move to Michinoku
• Kise stable closes February 2000, wrestlers move to Kiriyama
• Kumagatani stable closes April 1996, wrestlers move to Tatsunami
• Ōnaruto stable closes December 1994, wrestlers move to Kiriyama

Name changes (1993 to present)

• Chiganoura stable is renamed to Tokiwayama stable in November 2020.
• Kitanoumi stable is renamed Yamahibiki stable in November 2015.
• Matsugane stable is renamed Nishonoseki stable in December 2014.
• Naruto stable is renamed Tagonoura stable in December 2013.
• Musashigawa stable is renamed Fujishima stable in September 2010.
• Ajigawa stable is renamed Isegahama stable in November 2007.
• Futagoyama stable is renamed Takanohana stable in February 2004.
• Taihō stable is renamed Ōtake stable in February 2003.
• Nakadachi stable is renamed Sakaigawa stable in January 2003.

See also

• List of sumo elders
• Heya - sumo stable information
• Japan Sumo Association
• Toshiyori - sumo elder information
• List of active sumo wrestlers
• List of past sumo wrestlers
• List of yokozuna
• Glossary of sumo terms

References

1. "JSA denies putting pressure on Takanohana to clear its name". Asahi Shimbun. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.

External links

• Japan Sumo Association list of heya