Ōtake stable

{{Short description|Organization of sumo wrestlers}} thumb|right|280px|The entrance to the stable. The horizontal sign reads "Taihō-dōjō". The vertical sign reads "Ōtake-beya". thumb|right|200px {{nihongo|'''Ōtake stable'''|大嶽部屋|Ōtake-beya}} is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Nishonoseki group of stables. As of August 2025, the stable had 10 active wrestlers.

==History== The stable was established in 1971 as '''Taihō stable''' by the 48th {{Transliteration|ja|yokozuna}} Taihō Kōki, at the time, the most successful wrestler in the history of the sport, upon his retirement from active competition.<ref name=freshstart>{{cite web|last=Gunning|first=John|author-link=John Gunning (journalist)|title=Fresh start for stable founded by legendary yokozuna Taiho|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/08/06/sumo/gunning-otake-stable-fresh-start/|work=The Japan Times|url-access=subscription|date=6 August 2025|access-date=7 August 2025|archive-date=14 August 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250814140837/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/08/06/sumo/gunning-otake-stable-fresh-start/|url-status=live}}</ref> In recognition of his sporting achievements, Taihō was allowed to retain his ring name as an elder share under the {{Transliteration|ja|ichidai toshiyori}} system.<ref name=freshstart/>

The first {{Transliteration|ja|sekitori}} the stable produced was Shishihō in 1977. The most successful wrestler was Ōzutsu, who reached the rank of {{Transliteration|ja|sekiwake}}. In May 1981 Taihō was persuaded by the editor of the English language sumo magazine ''Sumo World'' to accept a foreign wrestler, Philip Smoak of Texas, who was with the stable for just two months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/08/08/sumo/entering-sumo-world-not-something-taken-lightly/#.W5gYAeSWymQ|title=Entering sumo world not something to be taken lightly|last=Gunning|first=John|date=8 August 2018|accessdate=11 September 2018}}</ref> Being largely unprepared for the reality of sumo life, Smoak resigned after only three matches in the preparatory division ({{Transliteration|ja|maezumō}}).<ref name=freshstart/>

In 2003, Taihō passed control of the stable on to his son-in-law, former {{Transliteration|ja|sekiwake}} Takatōriki, since he was approaching the age for mandatory retirement from the Japan Sumo Association. Taihō's memory is still as important as ever in the stable, and its training ground still displays the red {{Transliteration|ja|tsuna}} that Taihō wore while performing his {{Transliteration|ja|kanreki dohyo-iri}} ceremony in 2000.<ref name="gunning0807">{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/07/08/sumo/sumos-unique-kanreki-ceremonies-provide-windows-past/|title=Sumo's unique kanreki ceremonies provide windows into past|last=Gunning|first=John|date=8 July 2020|work=Japan Times|accessdate=8 July 2020}}</ref> As the name of Taihō was an {{Transliteration|ja|ichidai toshiyori}}, it could not be passed on and the stable was re-named Ōtake, after the elder share owned by Takatōriki.<ref name=freshstart/> In 2004, the Russian Rohō reached the top division and achieved his highest rank of {{Transliteration|ja|komusubi}} but he was dismissed from sumo in September 2008 after failing a test for canabis.<ref name=freshstart/>

In January 2010 the stable, along with the Takanohana, Ōnomatsu and Magaki stables, were ejected from the Nishonoseki {{Transliteration|ja|ichimon}} after Takanohana declared his intention to run as an unofficial candidate in the elections to the Sumo Association's board of directors. The ejected stables formed their own group, which gained {{Transliteration|ja|ichimon}} status in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/sports/news/20100120p2a00m0na011000c.html|title=Takanohana speaks out after six supporters kicked out of sumo faction|date=20 January 2010|publisher=Mainichi Daily News|accessdate=1 August 2015| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100124093808/http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/sports/news/20100120p2a00m0na011000c.html| archive-date= 24 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/p-sp-tp3-20140524-1306036.html|title=Takanohana group certified as ichimon |date=24 May 2014|publisher=Nikkan Sports|accessdate=12 March 2015 }}</ref> In 2018 the stable joined the Nishonoseki {{Transliteration|ja|ichimon}}.

In July 2010, Ōtake, the former Takatōriki, was dismissed from the Sumo Association for his involvement in a scandal over illegal betting. The stable was taken over by the former {{Transliteration|ja|jūryō}} wrestler Dairyū, a former disciple of Taihō who had been working as a coach at the stable under the name Futagoyama.<ref name=freshstart/> In 2013, the Egyptian Ōsunaarashi reached the top division in 2013 but he was forced to retire in March 2018 after being caught driving without a license.<ref name=freshstart/>

The stable is known for always recruiting interesting profiles. One of its wrestlers, Ginseizan, is a former speed skater and another former wrestler, Tsuyukusa, a Polish-Japanese wrestler, was a former soccer player and translator. After Ōsunaarashi's retirement, the stable put a stop to recruiting foreign wrestlers.<ref name=freshstart/>

In January 2018, a grandson of Taihō, Kōnosuke Naya, joined the stable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/04/18/sumo/family-legacy-weighs-heavily-young-sumo-prospects/#.W1douOSWyUk|title=Family legacy weighs heavily on young sumo prospects|date=18 April 2018|publisher=Japan Times|accessdate=24 July 2018}}</ref> Naya was promoted to {{Transliteration|ja|jūryō}} for the January 2021 tournament and changed his name to Ōhō. He is the second member of the stable to reach {{Transliteration|ja|jūryō}} since the former Dairyū took over as head coach, following Ōsunaarashi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics|title=2021 January Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics|work=Japan Sumo Association|accessdate=29 December 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229212007/http://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics|archive-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> Another grandson of Taihō, {{interlanguage link multi|Mudohō Kōsei|ja|3=夢道鵬幸成}}, joined in November 2019 and was promoted to {{Transliteration|ja|jūryō}} for the May 2025 tournament. A third, {{interlanguage link multi|Naya Takamori|ja|3=納谷幸林}}, joined in March 2020 but has not achieved {{Transliteration|ja|sekitori}} status.

Following the September 2025 tournament, Kumagatani (former {{translit|ja|maegashira}} Tamaasuka) will take over the Ōtake stable as its new stablemaster by swapping elder stock with the retiring former {{translit|ja|jūryō}} Dairyū, who will reach sumo's mandatory retirement age of 65.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202507310001319.html|title=大嶽部屋、元玉飛鳥の熊ケ谷親方が秋場所後から新師匠「部屋が残るということでホッと」大嶽親方|date=31 July 2025|publisher=Nikkan Sports|lang=ja|access-date=3 August 2025}}</ref> This transfer marks the first time in the stable's history that it will be led by a wrestler with no direct ties to its founder, Taihō.<ref name=freshstart/>

==Ring name conventions== Many wrestlers at this stable take ring names or {{translit|ja|shikona}} that include the character for 'great' ({{lang|ja|大}}), which is used in the first character of the stable's name and also is in deference to the last two owners, whose former {{translit|ja|shikona}} also included this character. Examples of wrestlers who have incorporated this include Ōsunaarashi, Ōsuzuki, Daiseiryū and Dairyūki.

Breaking with tradition, the stable is also known for giving its wrestlers original {{translit|ja|shikona}}, such as {{Nihongo|Migikataagari|右肩上り||an ascending graph}}, or {{Nihongo|Moriurara|森麗}}, a name inspired by Haru Urara.<ref name=freshstart/>

==Owners== *2025–present: 18th Ōtake ({{translit|ja|Iin}}, former {{translit|ja|maegashira}} Tamaasuka) *2010–2025: 17th Ōtake (former {{translit|ja|jūryō}} Dairyū) *2003–2010: 16th Ōtake (former {{translit|ja|sekiwake}} Takatōriki) *1971–2003: Taihō Kōki (the 48th {{translit|ja|yokozuna}}, Taihō)

==Notable active wrestlers== {{See also|sekitori}} <gallery> File:Oho Konosuke20180526.jpg|Ōhō is a grandson of the stable's founder, Taihō File:Mudoho Kosei2022015.jpg|Another grandson, {{interlanguage link multi|Mudōhō Kōsei|ja|3=夢道鵬幸成|lt=Mudōhō}} </gallery> {{-}} *Ōhō (best rank {{translit|ja|sekiwake}}) *{{interlanguage link multi|Mudōhō Kōsei|ja|3=夢道鵬幸成|lt=Mudōhō}} (best rank {{translit|ja|jūryō}})

==Coaches== *Kumagatani Tadahiro ({{translit|ja|san'yo}}, former {{translit|ja|jūryō}} Dairyū)

==Notable former members== *Ōzutsu (former {{translit|ja|sekiwake}}) *Rohō (former {{translit|ja|komusubi}}) *Shishihō (former {{translit|ja|maegashira}}) *Ōnohana (former {{translit|ja|maegashira}}) *Ōsunaarashi (former {{translit|ja|maegashira}}) *Ōwakamatsu (former {{translit|ja|maegashira}})

==Ushers== *Shirō ({{translit|ja|san'yaku yobidashi}}, real name Yoshikazu Shimada) - to be promoted to {{translit|ja|fuku-tate-yobidashi}} in January 2026<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202510020001869.html|title=日本相撲協会が行司、呼び出し、床山10人の昇進承認|date=2 October 2025|publisher=Nikkan Sports|lang=ja|access-date=2 October 2025}}</ref> *Gorō ({{translit|ja|san'yaku yobidashi}}, real name Masaharu Akayama)

==Hairdresser== *Tokonao (3rd class {{translit|ja|tokoyama}})

== Location and access== Tokyo, Kotō ward, Kiyosumi 2-8-3<br> 3 minutes from Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station on the Toei Ōedo Line and Hanzōmon Line

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[https://www.ootake-beya.com/ Official site (Japanese)] *[https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnSumoDataSumoBeya/detail?id=10004 Japan Sumo Association profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Otake stable}} Category:Active sumo stables Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1971 Category:1971 establishments in Japan