Shikihide stable

Shikihide stable (式秀部屋, Shikihide-beya), full name Shikimori Hidegoro stable, is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ichimon or group of stables. It was set up in 1992 by former komusubi Ōshio. The stable did not produce a sekitori until 2012, when his top wrestler Senshō of Mongolia finally won promotion to the jūryō division in the January tournament after eleven years in sumo. The nineteen years and nine months Shikihide stable took to produce a sekitori is the longest by a newly established stable since World War II.[1] Former maegashira Kitazakura took over as Shikihide Oyakata in January 2013 when his predecessor reached 65 years of age. As of January 2021, it had 20 wrestlers (19 listed on the banzuke). It is situated in Ibaraki Prefecture, and along with Tatsunami stable is one of the stables furthest away from sumo's heartland of Ryōgoku.[2]

All members of Shikihide stable have to complete their high school education, and Shikihide has also introduced yoga to his wrestlers after they have finished training for the day.[3] The stable is known for its "open door" policy, allowing anyone who can meet the entry requirements to join regardless of ability. It has several relatively small wrestlers such as Omote weighing only 67 kg (148 lb) and Baraki just 167 cm (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) tall. In 2014 a wrestler named Sodachizakari reportedly had to drink several bottles of water to meet the minimum weight requirement.[4] 16 of its 20 wrestlers have yet to make it past the bottom two divisions of jonokuchi and jonidan.[5]

Shikihide Oyakata was in poor health for much of 2020, and his wife in her role as okamisan took an increasing role in running the stable, even overseeing training. Half the stable's wrestlers ran away in early August 2020, complaining about her strict behavior and invasions of their privacy.[6] They were persuaded to return, and although no violence was involved the Sumo Association's compliance committee is continuing to investigate and interview the wrestlers involved.

Ring name conventions

Some wrestlers at this stable take ring names or shikona that end with the character 桜 (read: sakura or zakura), in deference to their coach and the stable's owner, the former Kitazakura. Examples as of 2017 include Wakatozakura, Abezakura, and Hattorizakura. The last named has attracted some attention for his persistence in the face of an almost complete lack of success: as of January 2020, Hattorizakura had recorded only three wins in 180 bouts,[5] and once had to be told by the ringside judges to fight properly after he repeatedly tried to lose to an opponent by deliberately falling down without being touched.[7]

Owners

Notable active wrestlers
  • Shonanzakura Futoshi (previously Hattorizakura Futoshi), notable for holding the all-time record for most consecutive losses, having won only three times in 32 tournaments as of January 2021.[8]

Notable former wrestlers
  • Sensho (best rank jūryō)

Referee
  • Kimura Sakuranosuke (Sandanme gyōji, real name Shōnosuke Kurihara)

Hairdresser

Location and access

Ibaraki prefecture, Ryugasaki City, Sanuki 4-17-17
10 minute walk from Sanuki Station on the Jōban Line

See also

References
  1. "2012 March Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics". February 2012. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012.
  2. Gunning, John (16 January 2019). "Sumo 101: Stable locations and layout". The Japan Times. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  3. ""It's not a sport. It's a lifestyle." A Conversation with John Gunning – Part 3". Tachiai.org. 10 March 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  4. Hongo, Jun (16 July 2014). "Extra-Lean Sumo Wrestler Loses in Debut Bout". Wall St Journal. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. Gunning, John (22 January 2020). "Kitazakura known best for talent, attitude outside ring". Japan Times. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  6. "おかみさんがモラハラ？式秀部屋の力士９人集団脱走". Nikkan Sports. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  7. Gunning, John (22 March 2019). "Sumo 101: Consistent losers". Japan Times. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  8. http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=12268

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