Takasago stable

{{Short description|Organization of sumo wrestlers}} alt=Takasago Stable Building (2025)|thumb|right|280px|The current Takasago stable building in Ishiwara thumb|right|280px [[File:Sumo-Nobori Flag.jpg|200px|thumb|A nobori (right) supporting Takasago stable]] {{nihongo|'''Takasago stable'''|髙砂部屋 or 高砂部屋|Takasago-beya}} is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Takasago group of stables. It is correctly written in Japanese as "髙砂部屋", but the first of these ''kanji'' is rare, and is more commonly written as "高砂部屋".

==History== The stable was established by former ''maegashira'' Takasago Uragorō as {{nihongo|Takasago Kaisei-Gumi|高砂改正組}} in 1873 and joined the Tokyo Sumo Association in 1878. Takasago stable has produced many successful wrestlers, including seven ''yokozuna'' and the first non-Japanese ''ōzeki'', American Konishiki, as well as the 33rd Kimura Shōnosuke, the ''tate-gyōji'' or chief referee.

In February 2002, the stable merged with Wakamatsu stable, with Wakamatsu's coach, former ''ōzeki'' Asashio, taking over.<ref>{{cite web|author=Newton, Clyde|title=Two Ozeki aiming to boost promotion hopes in Osaka|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20020310a1.html|publisher=Japan Times|date=2002-03-10|access-date=2008-04-29}}</ref> Future ''yokozuna'' Asashōryū was among the wrestlers transferring over. The demotion of Asasekiryū to the ''makushita'' division for the January 2017 tournament saw the stable without any ''sekitori'' for the first time since 1878.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoTopics/banzuke_topics|title=Banzuke Topics - Nihon Sumo Kyokai Official Grand Sumo Home Page|date=January 2017|publisher=Japan Sumo Association|access-date=12 January 2017}}</ref> However, at the end of that tournament Asanoyama earned promotion to the ''jūryō'' division, ensuring ''sekitori'' representation once again from March. As of January 2023, it had 25 wrestlers. The former Asasekiryū, who had reached the rank of {{Transliteration|ja|sekiwake}} in 2007, took over from the former Asashio as head coach of the stable in November 2020.

In June 2021, ''ōzeki'' Asanoyama was handed a one-year (six tournament) suspension for violating sumo protocols related to COVID-19.<ref name=kyodo110621>{{cite web |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/06/1d90a76ebb13-sumo-ozeki-asanoyama-gets-1-year-ban-for-breaking-coronavirus-rules.html|title=Sumo: Ozeki Asanoyama gets 1-year ban for breaking coronavirus rules|date=11 June 2021|publisher=Kyodo News|access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref> The following month stablemaster Takasago (the former Asasekiryū), Asanoyama and six lower-ranked ''rikishi'' in the stable all tested positive for COVID-19.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202107300000873.html|title=大関朝乃山ら５人感染の高砂部屋で新たに１人、他部屋で１人感染 |date=30 July 2021|work=Nikkan Sports|access-date=30 July 2021|language=ja}}</ref>

In December 2024 it was reported by ''Nikkan Sports'' that Takasago stable would be moving to a new three-story building under construction in Sumida ward that is closer to the Ryōgoku Kokugikan and will have more space for wrestlers to practice and rest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202412270000953.html|title=高砂部屋が23年ぶりに移転同じ東京・墨田区内もさらに両国国技館の近くへ |date=28 December 2024|work=Nikkan Sports|access-date=28 December 2024|language=ja}}</ref> The stable later confirmed that they will move into the new building on 2 February 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202501210000497.html|title=高砂部屋が移転発表初場所後の２月２日に部屋開き|date=21 January 2025|work=Nikkan Sports|access-date=21 January 2025|language=ja}}</ref> That day, the stable performed the dedication ceremony for its new building in the presence of Chairman Hakkaku (the former Hokutoumi) and the stable's former ''yokozuna'', Asashōryū. The sport's newly crowned ''yokozuna'', Hōshōryū, also performed his ring-entering ceremony to dedicate the training area.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sankei.com/article/20250202-HVDYNNLS2NPGJGSDD7XJSPPNYQ/|title=移転の高砂部屋が部屋開き八角理事長や元朝青龍のダグワドルジ氏らが参列|date=2 February 2025|publisher=Sankei Shimbun|access-date=2 February 2025|language=ja}}</ref>

Takasago Stable saw three {{translit|ja|sekitori}} promotions for the September 2025 tournament, the first time this had happened in a sumo stable since three wrestlers were promoted at Sadogatake stable in September 1979.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202507300001175.html|title=高砂部屋で46年ぶり「トリプル十両昇進」石崎改め朝翠龍＆朝白龍＆朝乃山高砂親方「最高」|date=30 July 2025|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=30 July 2025|language=ja}}</ref>

==People== ===Ring name conventions=== Most wrestlers since the mid 1990s and all since 2003 at this stable have quickly taken ring names or ''shikona'' that begin with the character 朝 (read: asa), meaning morning, in deference to their head coach, the former Asashio, as well as many of his predecessors who had the same ''shikona'' in their active years. For example, the wrestler formerly known as Tamaki changed his ''shikona'' to Asagyokusei when he was promoted to ''jūryō'' in July 2019.

===Owners=== *2020–present: 8th Takasago (former ''sekiwake'' Asasekiryū) *2002–2020: 7th Takasago (former ''ōzeki'' Asashio Tarō IV) *1988–2002: 6th Takasago (former ''komusubi'' Fujinishiki Takemitsu) *1971–1988: 5th Takasago (the 46th ''yokozuna'' Asashio Tarō III) *1942–1971: 4th Takasago (the 39th ''yokozuna'' Maedayama Eigorō) *1915–1941: 3rd Takasago (former ''ōzeki'' Asashio Tarō II) *1900–1914: 2nd Takasago (former ''sekiwake'' {{Interlanguage link|Takamiyama Sōgorō|ja|3=高見山宗五郎|lt=Takamiyama}}) *1873–1900: 1st Takasago (former ''maegashira'' Takasago)

===Notable active wrestlers=== {{See also|sekitori}} *Asanoyama (best rank {{translit|ja|ōzeki}}) *Asakōryū (best rank {{translit|ja|maegashira}}) *Asahakuryū (best rank {{translit|ja|maegashira}}) *Asagyokusei (best rank {{translit|ja|jūryō}}) *{{ill|Asashiyū Ryōga|lt=Asashiyū|ja|朝志雄亮賀}} (best rank {{translit|ja|jūryō}}) *{{ill|Asanowaka Itsuki|lt=Asanowaka|ja|朝乃若樹}} (best rank {{translit|ja|jūryō}}) *{{ill|Asasuiryū Ryōma|lt=Asasuiryū|ja|朝翠龍涼馬}} (best rank {{translit|ja|jūryō}})

===Coaches=== *Wakamatsu Takehito (''iin'', former ''maegashira'' Asanowaka)

===Assistant=== *{{ill|Iyozakura Miyazaki|lt=Iyozakura|ja|伊予櫻政行}} (''wakaimonogashira'', former ''jūryō'', real name Masayuki Ichiki)

===Notable former members=== *Nishinoumi I (the 16th ''yokozuna'') *Konishiki Yasokichi I (the 17th ''yokozuna'') *Minanogawa (the 34th ''yokozuna'') *Maedayama (the 39th ''yokozuna'') *Azumafuji (the 40th ''yokozuna'') *Asashio III (the 46th ''yokozuna'') *Asashōryū (the 68th ''yokozuna'') *Zōgahana (former ''ōzeki'') *Ichinoya (former ''ōzeki'') *Asashio Tarō I (former ''ōzeki'') *Tachihikari (former ''ōzeki'') *Asashio Tarō II (former ''ōzeki'') *Maenoyama (former ''ōzeki'') *Asashio Tarō IV (former ''ōzeki'') *Konishiki Yasokichi VI (former ''ōzeki'') *Ōdate (''sekiwake'', later ''ōzeki'' after eviction) *Takamiyama Sōgorō (former ''sekiwake'') *Takamiyama Torinosuke (former ''sekiwake'') *Takamiyama Daigorō III (former ''sekiwake'') *Fujizakura (former ''sekiwake'') *Mitoizumi (former ''sekiwake'') *Asasekiryū (former ''sekiwake'') *Asabenkei (former ''sekitori'', best rank ''jūryō'' 7) *33rd Kimura Shōnosuke (given name Yōichi Nozawa; former chief referee)

===Referees=== *Kimura Asanosuke (''makuuchi'' ''gyōji'', real name Katsuya Ishida) *Kimura Satoshi (''makushita'' ''gyōji'', real name Satoshi Maeda)

===Ushers=== *Rikinojō (''makuuchi'' ''yobidashi'', real name Riki Tsuchida) *Kunio (''jūryō'' ''yobidashi'', real name Kunio Maekawa)

===Hairdressers=== *Tokoyumi (1st class ''tokoyama'')

==Location and access== 2-30-1 Ishiwara, Sumida, Tokyo<br/> 5 minute walk from Ryōgoku Kokugikan and Ryōgoku Station (JR Chūō-Sōbu Line, Toei Ōedo Line)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~wakamatu/ Official site (Japanese)]{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} *[http://www.sumo.or.jp/EnSumoDataSumoBeya/detail?id=20 Japan Sumo Association profile] *[http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_1/Heya_Peek.htm Article on Takasago stable]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Takasago Stable}} Category:Active sumo stables Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1873 Category:1873 establishments in Japan