Ōshima stable (2022)

For the stable founded in 1980, see Ōshima stable.

Stable of sumo wrestlers

Former stable building in Sumida with Sky Tree in background Former stable building entrance

Ōshima stable (大島部屋, Ōshima-beya), formerly known as Tomozuna stable (友綱部屋, Tomozuna-beya), is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Isegahama ichimon or group of stables. As of January 2023, it has seven wrestlers.

The current version of the stable was established in January 1961 by former komusubi Tomoegata.[1][2] who (having previously been associated with an incarnation of Tomozuna stable that closed in 1946) had run a former incarnation of Takashima stable since 1951 and then exchanged elder names. Upon reaching the age of 65 in 1976 he turned the stable over to the former jūryō wrestler Yamatonishiki. In 1989 former sekiwake Kaiki became the stablemaster upon Yamatonishiki's retirement, and eventually produced ōzeki Kaiō.

In April 2012, the stable absorbed seven wrestlers from a previous incarnation of the Ōshima stable, due to Ōshima-oyakata reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65.[3] Among the wrestlers who transferred was former sekiwake Kyokutenhō, who one month later won his first yūshō (or tournament) for his new stable.[4] In February 2014, former ōzeki Kaiō branched off and formed Asakayama stable, taking two wrestlers from Tomozuna with him.[5] In June 2017, Kyokutenhō became the 11th Tomozuna's owner, and the first Mongolian born wrestler to take charge of a stable.[6] He had retired two years earlier and inherited the Ōshima name, but rather than immediately re-establish Ōshima stable, he chose to initially keep the Tomozuna name by swapping elder names with the previous head coach (Kaiki) upon the latter reaching 65 years of age.

On 1 February 2022, Tomozuna stable was renamed Ōshima stable following another swap of elder names between Kyokutenhō and Kaiki.[7] Following the demotion and subsequent retirement of Kaisei the stable has no sekitori as of September 2022.

On 7 February 2023, Ōshima stable, along with Kokonoe stable and Futagoyama stable, signed a partnership and cooperation agreement with the Katsushika Ward of Tokyo. The agreement was presented as having the objective of cooperating further in a wide range of areas, including tourism, culture, sports, and educational promotion, and work closely to revitalize local communities.[8] It was reported during the November 2023 tournament that Ōshima stable was preparing to move from Sumida to a new three-story location in the Aoto section of Katsushika. The land for the new stable was leased by Katsushika ward.[9] The new stable building opened in October 2024.[10]

## Ring name conventions

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Many wrestlers at this stable have taken ring names or shikona that begin with the character 魁 (read: kai), in deference to their former head coach Kaiki. Examples Kaiō, Kaidō, Kainishiki and Kainowaka. Since absorbing the old Ōshima stable, they have also inherited wrestlers who use the character 旭 (read: asahi or kyoku), taken from Ōshima's former head coach Asahikuni.

## Owners

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* 2017–present: 11th Tomozuna / 6th Ōshima (shunin, former sekiwake Kyokutenhō)
* 1989–2017: 10th Tomozuna (former sekiwake Kaiki)
* 1976–1989: 9th Tomozuna: (former jūryō Yamatonishiki)
* 1941–1976: 9th Takashima/8th Tomozuna (former komusubi Tomoegata)

## Notable active wrestlers

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See also: sekitori

* none

## Coaches

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* Tamagaki (iin, former komusubi Tomonohana)[11]

## Notable other former members

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* Kaiō (former ōzeki)
* Kaisei (former sekiwake)
* Sentoryū (former maegashira)
* Kyokushūhō (former maegashira)
* Asahishō (former maegashira)
* Kyokutaisei (former maegashira)
* Kaidō (former jūryō)
* 37th Kimura Shōnosuke (given name Saburō Hatakeyama - former chief referee)

## Referee

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* Kimura Hisanosuke (san'yaku-gyōji, real name Toshikazu Hata)
* Shikimori Tomokazu (makushita-gyōji, real name Hiromasa Shinya)
* Kimura Katsunosuke (jonidan-gyōji, real name Kaito Matsumoto)

## Ushers

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* Kōkichi (makuuchi yobidashi, real name Katsushi Chiba)
* Akira (makuuchi yobidashi, real name Toshiyuki Ichikawa)

## Hairdresser

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* Tokoyuki (1st class tokoyama)

## Location and access

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7-27-4 Aoto, Katsushika, Tokyo
15 minute walk from Aoto Station (Keisei Main Line and Oshiage Line)

## See also

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* List of sumo stables
* List of active sumo wrestlers
* List of past sumo wrestlers
* Glossary of sumo terms
* Takashima stable (1961)

## References

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1. ^ "Tomozuna Kabu History".
2. ^ Sumodb, "Tomoegata Seiichi Kabu History"
3. ^ 親方定年で大島部屋力士が友綱へ転属 (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
4. ^ "Kyokutenho: the first Japanese yusho in six-plus years . . . sort of". The Japan Times. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
5. ^ 魁皇の浅香山部屋が地鎮祭「弟子のために」国技館至近 (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 16 February 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
6. ^ "Mongolian-born wrestler turned Japanese to get to grips with sumo". Reuters. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
7. ^ "友綱部屋が「大島部屋」に名称変更 親方の名跡交換で約10年ぶり"再興"" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
8. ^ "九重、二子山、大島の相撲部屋３部屋が葛飾区と連携・協力協定 地元に「一生懸命恩返し」". Nikkan Sports. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
9. ^ "こちら葛飾区青戸 部屋の移転に大島親方もてんてこ舞い 年内引っ越しにめど" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
10. ^ "元旭天鵬の大島親方が部屋開き 充実トレーニング室、大部屋も廊下も広い"力士ファースト"部屋" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
11. ^ "Oyakata (Coaches)". Japan Sumo Association. 2012-08-27. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2012-09-18.

## External links

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* Official site
* Japan Sumo Association profile

35°42′22″N 139°48′47″E﻿ / ﻿35.7060°N 139.8131°E﻿ / 35.7060; 139.8131