{{Short description|Stable (organization) of sumo wrestlers}} {{more citations needed|date=October 2010}} thumb|right|280px thumb|right|280px

{{nihongo|'''Minato stable'''|湊部屋|Minato-beya}} is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Nishonoseki {{translit|ja|ichimon}}, or group of stables. As of August 2025, the stable had 9 wrestlers.

==History== It was founded in 1982 by former {{translit|ja|komusubi}} Yutakayama Hiromitsu, who branched off from Tokitsukaze stable. The former Yutakayama studied at the Tokyo University of Agriculture, and due to his interest in academia his stable was the first to introduce a library on its premises.<ref name="Sharnoff">{{Cite book |author=Sharnoff, Lora |title=Grand Sumo|publisher=Weatherhill |year=1993 |pages=201 |isbn=0-8348-0283-X}}</ref> Until the arrival of Ichinojō, the stable had produced just one {{translit|ja|makuuchi}}-ranked wrestler, Minatofuji, who reached a highest rank of {{translit|ja|maegashira}} 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, Chinese wrestler {{Interlanguage link|Nakanokuni Shō|ja|3=仲の国将|lt=Nakanokuni}} earned promotion to the {{translit|ja|jūryō}} division. In December 2017, Minato left the Tokitsukaze {{translit|ja|ichimon}}, leaving the stable unaffiliated to any group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20171222-OHT1T50043.html|script-title=ja:錣山親方ら３親方、時津風一門を離脱…理事選は無所属で投票|date=22 December 2017|publisher=Hochi|language=ja|access-date=12 January 2018}}</ref> In September 2018, the stable joined the Nishonoseki {{translit|ja|ichimon}}.

In May 2014, Mongolian wrestler Ichinojō became the third wrestler from the stable to achieve {{translit|ja|sekitori}} status. In September of the same year, he reached the {{translit|ja|makuuchi}} division and, in just two tournaments, became Minato's most successful wrestler, achieving the rank of {{translit|ja|sekiwake}} for the November tournament. Despite a successful career and a top-division championship achieved in July 2022, the relationship between Ichinojō and his master Minato deteriorated, particularly after it was revealed that the wrestler had assaulted the {{translit|ja|okamisan}} in November 2022, also suggesting that Ichinojō had issues with alcoholism and had been disruptive at parties by drinking excessively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/cb39ef39d598a451dc8e9cc25409bbd452799032|title=逸ノ城が泥酔しボコボコ疑惑…湊部屋の美人女将「意外すぎる経歴」|date=14 November 2022|website=news.yahoo.co.jp|publisher=Friday|language=ja|access-date=25 December 2022|archive-date=14 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114022355/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/cb39ef39d598a451dc8e9cc25409bbd452799032|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref><ref name="Nikkan Sports">{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202211140001271.html|title=逸ノ城のおかみさんへの暴力は飲酒が原因 禁酒誓って１人暮らしも酔いつぶれ、稽古休んだことも|date=15 November 2022|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> As a result, Ichinojō moved out of the stable building to live on his own in December 2021.<ref name="Nikkan Sports"/> After a Sumo Association investigation, it was ruled that Ichinojō's assault on the {{translit|ja|okamisan}} was not malicious and that issues concerning both their relations and alcoholism had been ruled out.<ref name=suspension261222>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202212260000974.html|title=逸ノ城は初場所出場停止、湊親方は３カ月間報酬減額 日本相撲協会が臨時理事会で処分決定|date=26 December 2022|work=Nikkan Sports|language=ja|access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> It was also found that Ichinojō violated Sumo Association-imposed COVID rules by visiting restaurants on two separate occasions in November 2020 and August 2021 when wrestlers were not permitted to go out.<ref name=suspension261222/> As a result, Ichinojō was issued a one-tournament suspension (which was served in January 2023).<ref name=suspension261222/> Ichinojō's stablemaster was also issued a 20% salary reduction for three months.<ref name=suspension261222/> In May 2023, Ichinojō announced his retirement without resolving his relationship issues with his master, and his retirement ceremony took place without the participation of his stable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230504/p2g/00m/0sp/020000c|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504230708/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230504/p2g/00m/0sp/020000c|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 4, 2023|title=Sumo: Former sekiwake Ichinojo retires with lower back issues|date=4 May 2023|publisher=Kyodo News|website=mainichi.jp|access-date=4 May 2023}}</ref>

In June 2025, the stable positioned itself to recruit Englishman Nicholas Tarasenko, making him the potential third British-born wrestler to become a professional sumo wrestler if his official debut in May 2026 goes ahead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hochi.news/articles/20250812-OHT1T51140.html?page=1|title=英国人３人目の大相撲力士へ 湊部屋の研修生が猛稽古！ 初土俵へ向け「まだまだ学ぶこと多い」…１６歳、ニコラス・タラセンコ|date=12 August 2025|publisher=Sports Hochi|access-date=12 August 2025|language=ja}}</ref>

==Ring name conventions== Many wrestlers at this stable take {{translit|ja|shikona}}, or ring name, that include the character for 'harbour' ({{lang|ja|湊}}), which is the first character in the stable name, and which is also in deference to stablemaster 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 ({{translit|ja|iin}}, former {{translit|ja|maegashira}} Minatofuji) *1982–2010: 22nd Minato (former {{translit|ja|komusubi}} Yutakayama)

==Notable active wrestlers== {{See also|sekitori}} *none

==Notable former members== *Ichinojō (former {{translit|ja|sekiwake}}) *Minatofuji (former {{translit|ja|maegashira}}) *{{Interlanguage link|Nakanokuni Shō|ja|3=仲の国将|lt=Nakanokuni}} (former {{translit|ja|jūryō}})

==Referees== *Kimura Motoki ({{translit|ja|makuuchi gyōji}}, real name Hiromichi Okamura)

==Hairdresser== *Tokomori (2nd class {{translit|ja|tokoyama}})

==Location and access== Saitama Prefecture, Kawaguchi City, Shibanakata 2–20–10<br> 15 minute walk from Warabi Station on Keihin Tōhoku Line

==See also== *List of sumo stables *List of active sumo wrestlers *List of past sumo wrestlers *Glossary of sumo terms

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.sumo.or.jp/EnSumoDataSumoBeya/detail?id=16 Japan Sumo Association profile]

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Category:Active sumo stables Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1982 Category:1982 establishments in Japan