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, formerly part of the Tokitsukaze ''

ichimon The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...

'' or group of stables. It was founded in 1982 by former ''

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 ...

'' Yutakayama, who branched off from

Tokitsukaze stable The is a stable of sumo wrestlers in Japan, one of the Tokitsukaze group of stables. It was founded in 1769 and was dominant during the Taishō period. In its modern form it dates from 1941 when it was established by Futabayama, who was still a ...

. Minato-''

oyakata The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...

'' studied at the

Tokyo University of Agriculture The , abbreviated as Nodai (農大, ''nōdai'') or Tokyo nodai (東京農大, ''Tōkyō nōdai''), is a private university of agriculture in Japan. Tokyo University of Agriculture is a Japanese private university headquartered at 1-1-1 Sakurag ...

, and due to his interest in academia his stable was the first to introduce a library on its premises. Until the arrival of Ichinojō, the stable had produced just one ''

makuuchi , or , is the top division of Professional sumo divisions, 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 ...

'' division wrestler,

Minatofuji is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Annaka, Gunma. He made his professional debut in March 1984, and his highest rank was ''maegashira'' 2. He retired in 2002, and in 2010 became the head coach of Minato stable. Career At junior ...

, who reached a highest rank of ''

maegashira , 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 on ...

'' 2 in 1995 and later became a coach at the stable under the name Tatsutagawa. In July 2010 Minato and Tatsutagawa swapped roles. In the same month the Chinese wrestler Nakanokuni earned promotion 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. In December 2017 Minato-''oyakata'' left the Tokitsukaze ''ichimon'', leaving the stable unaffiliated to any group. As of January 2023, it had 11 wrestlers. In September 2018 it joined the Nishonoseki ''ichimon''.

People

Ring name conventions

Many wrestlers at this stable take ring names or ''

shikona A is a sumo wrestler's ring name. The tradition of ring names in sumo dates back to the Muromachi period and established itself during the Edo period, where they were used as a means to hide the identities of the . Given by the master to his di ...

'' that include the character 湊 (read: minato), which is the first character in the stable name, and which is also in deference to their coach and the stable's owner, the former Minatofuji. It can be used as a prefix, as in Minatoryū and Minatoshō, or as a suffix, as in Hamaminato and Haruminato.

Owners

*2010–present: 23rd Minato ('' iin'', former ''

) *1982-2010: 22nd Minato (former ''

'' Yutakayama)

Notable active wrestlers

Notable former members

Ichinojō Takashi is a former professional sumo wrestler from Arkhangai, Mongolia. He was the second foreign-born wrestler, and the first of non-Japanese descent allowed to debut at an elevated rank in the third ''makushita'' division of professional sumo due to ...

(former ''

sekiwake , 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 ...

'')

Referees

*Kimura Motoki (''makuuchi'' ''

gyōji A is a referee employed by the Japan Sumo Association, responsible for a variety of activities which concern the organisation of the sport in general and the refereeing of matches, as well as the preservation of Sumo#Professional sumo, profess ...

'', real name Hiromichi Okamura)

Hairdresser

*Tokomori (2nd 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 ...

'')

Location and access

Saitama Prefecture, Kawaguchi City, Shibanakata 2-20-10
15 minute walk from

Warabi Station is a passenger railway station located in the city of Warabi, Saitama, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). Lines Warabi Station is served by the Keihin-Tōhoku Line linking Saitama Prefecture with central Tokyo and Kanagaw ...

Keihin Tōhoku Line Keihin may refer to: * Keihin region, Japan * Keihin Corporation, a brand of motorcycle and powersports carburetor, common on Japanese and other motorcycles, including Harley-Davidson * Keihin-Tōhoku Line, a railway line in Japan * Keihin Ferry ...

References

External links

Japan Sumo Association profile
{{coord, 35.8295, N, 139.7029, E, source:wikidata, display=title Active sumo stables Sports clubs and teams established in 1982 1982 establishments in Japan