is a

stable A stable is a building in which working animals are kept, especially horses or oxen. The building is usually divided into stalls, and may include storage for equipment and feed. Styles There are many different types of stables in use tod ...

sumo is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a ''rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring (''dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by th ...

wrestlers, part of the Tokitsukaze '' ichimon'' or group of stables. Its current head coach is former '' maegashira'' Kitakachidoki. As of January 2023 it had 12 wrestlers.

History

The name of Isenoumi stable relates to one of the oldest elder names in sumo, dating back to the mid-eighteenth century. The legendary Tanikaze, one of the first ''

yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...

'', and his protégé Raiden, arguably the greatest ''

rikishi A , or, more colloquially, , is a sumo wrestler. Although used to define all wrestlers participating in sumo wrestling matches, the term is more commonly used to refer to professional wrestlers, employed by the Japan Sumo Association, who par ...

'' ever, were both members of the first stable to be named Isenoumi. Its current incarnation, however, dates from 1949. In the 1960s the stable produced ''yokozuna'' Kashiwado, who upon his retirement left to found Kagamiyama stable in 1970. In December 1982 former '' sekiwake'' Fujinokawa took charge of the stable. The retirement of Tosanoumi in December 2010 briefly left Isenoumi stable without any '' sekitori'' for the first time since 1983, until Ikioi was promoted to the ''

jūryō Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...

'' division a year later. The former Fujinokawa reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in September 2011 and passed the stable to former '' maegashira'' Kitakachidoki. The stable was for a long time situated in

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

's Edogawa ward, and to help tackle the high crime rate in that area, the former Isenoumi-''oyakata'' instructed his wrestlers to go on night patrols, the first stable to do so. In April 2012 the stable moved to new facilities in Bunkyo ward. The stable had a policy of not accepting foreign-born wrestlers or ex-university competitors, but the Mongolian Arauma joined in 2020. In July 2021 it absorbed the small Kagamiyama stable, now down to just two wrestlers, which had originally branched off from it in 1970. In April 2024, the stable also absorbed one wrestler from the former Michinoku stable.

Owners

*2011–present: 12th Isenoumi Hayato ('' riji'', former ''maegashira'' Kitakachidoki) *1982-2011: 11th Isenoumi Yukishige (former '' sekiwake'' Fujinokawa) *1949-1982: 10th Isenoumi Hirotake (former '' maegashira'' Kashiwado)

Notable active wrestlers

* Nishikigi (best rank ''

komusubi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...

'') * (best rank ''

'')

Coaches

*Katsunoura Toshiro ('' riji'', former ''maegashira'' Kirinishiki) *Tatekawa Toshio ('' shunin'', former ''sekiwake'' Tosanoumi) *Kabutoyama Tsuyoshi (''iin'', former ''maegashira'' Ōikari) *Kasugayama Shōta (''

toshiyori A , also known as an , is a sumo Elder (administrative title), elder exercising both Coach (sport), coaching functions with rikishi, active wrestlers and Management, responsibilities within the Japan Sumo Association (JSA). All are former wrest ...

'', former ''sekiwake'' Ikioi) *Kagamiyama Shōji ('' san'yo'', former ''sekiwake'' Tagaryū)

Notable former members

* Kashiwado, ( the 47th ''yokozuna'') * Hattori (former ''maegashira'') * Kagamiō (best rank ''maegashira'')

Referee

*Shikimori Kainosuke ('' Sandanme'' '' gyoji'', real name Kaito Saita)

Usher

*Masayuki (''

jonidan Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...

'' ''

yobidashi A , often translated in English as "usher", "ring attendant", or "ring announcer", is an employee of the Japan Sumo Association, responsible for various tasks essential to the traditional running of Sumo#Professional sumo, professional sumo tour ...

'', real name Masayuki Takagi)

Hairdresser

*Tokomasa (second class ''

tokoyama A is a traditional Japanese hairdresser specializing in the theatrical arts (kabuki and ) and Sumo#Professional sumo, professional sumo. The trade is the result of a slow evolution from the traditional Japanese barbers of the Edo period, some ...

'') *Tokoharu (third class ''tokoyama'')

Location and access

Tokyo, Bunkyō ward, Sengoku 1-22-2
5 minute walk from Sengoku Station on the

Toei Mita Line The is a rapid transit, subway line of the municipal Toei Subway network in Tokyo, Japan. The line runs between Nishi-Takashimadaira Station, Nishi-Takashimadaira in Itabashi, Tokyo, Itabashi and Meguro Station, Meguro in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Shi ...

References

External links

Official site

Japan Sumo Association profile
{{coord, 35.7257, N, 139.7456, E, source:wikidata, display=title Active sumo stables Sports clubs and teams established in 1949 1949 establishments in Japan