Ikazuchi Stable (2023)

**Ikazuchi stable** (雷部屋, Ikazuchi-beya), formely known as Irumagawa stable, is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ichimon or group of stables. It was set up in January 1993 by former sekiwake Tochitsukasa, who branched off from Kasugano stable.

As of January 2023 it has 7 active sumo wrestlers.

## **History**

The stable was established as Irumagawa stable in January 1993, by former sekiwake Tochitsukasa, who branched off from Kasugano stable. Irumagawa Oyakata took three rikishi with him when he established the stable. The stable produced their first sekitori when Oyamato was promoted to juryo in 1994.

In 2011, it was discovered that Maegashira Masatsukasa and a Makushita wrestler, Enatsukasa, were guilty of match-fixing. Masatsukasa was therefore expelled and Enatsukasa was suspended for two years, but opted to retire. Irumagawa Oyakata was demoted due to his rikishi's participation in the match-fixing scandal.

Irumagawa stable has had a failed history with foreign recruits. The first foreigner that Irumagawa stable recruited was Estonian, Ott Juurikas, a successful Estonian amateur sumo wrestler. Juurikas took the shikona of Kitaoji and only lasted 3 tournaments before retiring. The second foreigner recruited by Irumagawa stable was brother of successful Georgian sumo wrestler Kokkai, Merab George Tsaguria. Tsaguria would take on the shikona, Tsukasaumi. Tsukasaumi would have a good start, but ultimately returned to Georgia after one year to take care of the family business. The third foreigner recruited by Irumagawa stable was Mongolian, Aratoshi. Aratoshi would have a good start before being plagued with injuries. Aratoshi would never reach the salaried ranks and would retire in 2016. In 2020, Irumagawa stable recruited their fourth foreigner, a Ukranian, Sergey Sokolovsky. Sokolovsky would take the shikona, Shishi.

On January 26, 2023, it has been announced that coach Irumagawa, in anticipation of his mandatory retirement in April, has given control of his stable to coach Ikazuchi, without him inheriting the Irumagawa elder stock. This change had the effect of renaming the stable, creating the first incarnation of the Ikazuchi stable in 62 years.

For the July 2023 tournament, it was announced that Ukrainian Shishi would be promoted to the salaried Juryo division, becoming the first ever sekitori from Ukraine.

## **Ring Name Conventions**

Many wrestlers at this stable take ring names or shikona that end with the character 司 (read: tsukasa or shi), meaning boss, in deference to the former stable's owner, the former Tochitsukasa.

## **Owners**

* 2023-present: 17th Ikazuchi Toru (iin, former komusubi Kakizoe)
* 1993-2023: 16th Irumagawa Tetsuo (former sekiwake Tochitsukasa)

## **Coaches**

* Irumagawa Tetsuo (sanyo, former sekiwake Tochitsukasa)

## **Notable Active Wrestlers**

* Shishi (best rank juryo)
* Omoto (best rank makushita)

## **Notable Former Wrestlers**

* Otsukasa (former maegashira)
* Masatsukasa (former maegashira)
* Sagatsukasa (former maegashira)
* Yotsukasa (former maegashira)
* Oyamato (former juryo)
* Surugatsukasa (former makushita)
* Tokitsukasa (former makushita)
* Enatsukasa (former makushita)
* Mitotsukasa (former makushita)
* Aratoshi (former makushita)
* Hirotsukasa (former makushita)
* Tsukasaumi (former sandanme)
* Fukutsukasa (former sandanme)
* Kitaoji (former jonidan)

## **Other personnel**

* Aranonami Jiro (sewanin, former makushita)