Entrance to the stable

Asahiyama stable (朝日山部屋, Asahiyama-beya) was a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Isegahama ichimon or group of stables. It had a long history. It closed its doors in January 2015, and its staff and wrestlers transferred to other stables.

History

In its active period, Asahiyama stable was one of the oldest continually-running stables in sumo, dating back to 1896. At the time of its closing it was the only stable still in existence that could trace its lineage back directly to the days of the once-rival Osaka sumo organization where it had a strong base, producing the 28th yokozuna Ōnishiki Daigorō in 1918. During the 1970s the stable was home to six Tongan wrestlers (including Sione Vailahi and Tonga Fifita) recruited by former maegashira Futaseyama, but when he died in 1975 they were caught up in a succession dispute between former maegashira Ryūō and the man who eventually became the new head, former komusubi Wakafutase.[1] They sided with Futaseyama's widow, who preferred Ryūō to take over, and were ultimately dismissed by the Japan Sumo Association.[2] As a result of the controversy sumo officials had to fly to Tonga to explain themselves to the country's king, Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV.[3] Wakafutase led the stable until his death in 1997. He was succeeded by former ōzeki Daiju.

When Daiju reached retirement age in 2015 with no clear successor, the stable was closed. A number of staff and coaches and all of the active wrestlers (all being in the unsalaried divisions) transferred to Isegahama stable (the head stable of the same ichimon), while all other remaining staff transferred to Asakayama stable.[4]

Ring name conventions

Many wrestlers in the later years at this stable took ring names or shikona that began with the character 大 (read: dai), meaning large, in deference to their coach and the stable's owner, the former Daiju.

Owner

  • 1896-1916: 11th Asahiyama Shirōemon (former maegashira Iwagatani)
  • 1916-1918: 12th Asahiyama Daigorō (the 28th yokozuna Ōnishiki)
  • 1918-1943: 13th Asahiyama Shirōemon (former ōzeki Futasegawa)
  • 1943-1959: 14th Asahiyama Shirōemon (former sekiwake Futasegawa)
  • 1959-1963: 15th Asahiyama Shirōemon (former sekiwake Kōzuzan)
  • 1963-1975: 16th Asahiyama Shōgo (former maegashira Futaseyama)
  • 1975-1997: 17th Asahiyama Tadayuki (former komusubi Wakafutase)
  • 1997-2015: 18th Asahiyama Toshiaki (yakuin taigu iin, former ōzeki Daiju)

Notable members

Coach

Assistants

  • Shiraiwa Masatoshi (wakaimonogashira, former jūryō, real name Masatoshi Satō)
  • Saisu Minoru (sewanin, former maegashira, real name Minoru Saisu)

Ushers

  • Hideo (tate yobidashi, real name Hidehito Yamaki)
  • Kōji (jūryō yobidashi, real name Takuma Hatano)

Former hairdressers

  • Tokoyodo (first class tokoyama)
  • Tokosei (second class tokoyama)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hirada, Hiroshi (25 September 2015). "Former Tongan sumo wrestler still sports the Asahiyama stable sign". Japan Times. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  2. ↑ Sharnoff, Lora (1993). Grand Sumo. Weatherhill. ISBN 0-8348-0283-X.
  3. ↑ Wehrfritz, George (20 June 1999). "The Gaijins' Woeful Tale". Newsweek. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "Prestigious Asahiyama stable active since the beginning of the Showa era closes its doors". sanspo.com. Sunday Sports. 2014-12-19. Retrieved 2015-01-30.

35°41′27″N 139°49′21″E / 35.6908°N 139.8226°E / 35.6908; 139.8226

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