Minato stable
Minato stable (湊部屋, Minato-beya) is a stable of sumo wrestlers, formerly part of the Tokitsukaze ichimon or group of stables. It was founded in 1982 by former komusubi Yutakayama, who branched off from Tokitsukaze stable. In July 2010 Minatofuji became the new Minato Oyakata when his stablemaster reached the mandatory retirement age of 65.
As of January 2023 it has 11 active sumo wrestlers.
History[]
Minato stable was established in 1982 by former komusubi Yutakayama, who branched off from Tokitsukaze stable. The stable produced their first sekitori when Minatofuji was promoted to juryo in 1992. Until the arrival of Ichinojō, the stable had produced just one makuuchi division wrestler, Minatofuji, who reached a highest rank of 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 the Chinese wrestler Nakanokuni earned promotion to the jūryō division. The stable's most successful rikishi, Mongolian Ichinojo was promoted to makuuchi in 2014. Ichinojo would earn promotion to sekiwake later that year. In December 2017 Minato Oyakata left the Tokitsukaze ichimon, leaving the stable unaffiliated to any group. As of January 2021, it had 9 wrestlers. In September 2018 it joined the Nishonoseki ichimon.
Minato-oyakata, 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.
Ring Name Conventions[]
Many wrestlers at this stable take ring names or shikona that include the character 湊 (read: minato), meaning port or harbor, which is the first character in the stable name, and which is also in deference to their coach and the stable's owner, the former 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 Takayuki (iin, former maegashira Minatofuji)
- 1982-2010: 22nd Minato Hiromitsu (former komusubi Yutakayama)
Notable Active Wrestlers[]
- none
Notable Former Wrestlers[]
- Ichinojo (former sekiwake)
- Minatofuji (former maegashira)
- Nakanokuni (former juryo)
- Kuninofuji (former jonidan)
Referee[]
- Kimura Motoki (makuuchi gyoji)
Hairdresser[]
- Tokosakura (fifth class tokoyama)