Fujishima Stable (2010)

Fujishima stable (藤島部屋, Fujishima-beya), formerly known as Musashigawa stable, is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ichimon or group of stables. It was set up in August 1981 by former yokozuna Mienoumi, who branched off from Dewanoumi stable. In September 2010 the former Mienoumi stood down as head coach and passed the stable to former ozeki Musoyama, who changed its name to Fujishima.

As of January 2023 it has 14 active sumo wrestlers.

## **History**

Former yokozuna Mienoumi established Musashigawa stable in August 1981, branching off from Dewanoumi stable. Since its founding Dewanoumi had a long tradition of not permitting its coaches to break away and form new stables, and Mienoumi was the first to amicably depart Dewanoumi stable since Tochigiyama set up Kasugano stable 62 years earlier.

The stable produced their first sekitori in 1990 when Daikiko was promoted to Juryo. Musashigawa stable also recruited their first foreigner in 1987 when they recruited Hawaiian Musashibo. Musashibo would capture the Jonidan yusho, however he retired just after his third tournament. Although, the Musashibo experiment ultimately failed, Musashigawa Oyakata recruited another Hawaiian, Musashimaru. Musashimaru would go on to be the most successful rikishi from Musashigawa stable when he became the 67th yokozuna.

By the early 2000s it had become the strongest stable in sumo, with a yokozuna, Musahimaru, and three ōzeki, Musoyama, Dejima, and Miyabiyama along with several other top division wrestlers. Wrestlers from the stable won six consecutive tournaments from March 1999 to January 2000. In September 2008 Mienoumi also became head of the Sumo Association.

In September 2010 the former Mienoumi stood down as head coach and passed the stable to former ōzeki Musōyama, who changed its name to Fujishima. Former yokozuna Musashimaru branched off from the stable in April 2013 after taking on the elder name of his former head coach, creating a new generation of Musashigawa stable. As of January 2021 Fujishima had 14 wrestlers. It had no sekitori following the demotion of Shōtenrō to the makushita division in March 2016.

The incarnation of Fujishima stable produced their first sekitori when Bushozan was promoted to juryo in 2021.

## **Ring Name Conventions**

Some wrestlers at this stable take ring names or shikona that include the character 武 (read: bu or mu), meaning war or weapon, which is taken from the first character of the former name of the stable, Musashigawa, and is also the first character in the name of the stable's current owner, former Musoyama. Examples include Bushozan and Musashiumi.

Since becoming Fujishima stable, some wrestlers have ring names that include the character 藤 (read: fuji), meaning wisteria, which is taken from the first character of the name of the stable. Examples include Fujiseiun, Fujinowaka and Fujitoshi

## **Owners**

* 2010–present: 18th Fujishima Takehito (iin, former ozeki Musoyama)
* 1981-2010: 14th Musashigawa Akihide (the 57th yokozuna Mienoumi)

## **Coaches**

* Onaruto Takeharu (iin, former ozeki Dejima)
* Yamawake Takeyoshi (iin, former maegashira Buyuzan)
* Matsuchiyama Takashi (shunin, former maegashira Bushuyama)
* Nishikijima Sho (toshiyori, former maegashira Shotenro)

## **Notable Active Wrestlers**

* Bushozan (best rank maegashira)
* Fujiseiun (best rank juryo)
* Musashiumi (best rank makushita)
* Kainoshima (best rank makushita)
* Fujinoyama (best rank makushita)
* Fujitoshi (best rank makushita)
* Tendozan (best rank makushita)

## **Notable Former Wrestlers**

### **Ozeki**

* Musoyama (former ozeki)
* Dejima (former ozeki)
* Miyabiyama (former ozeki)

### **Komusubi**

* Kakizoe (former komusubi)
* Wakanoyama (former komusubi)

### **Maegashira**

* Shotenro (former maegashira)
* Buyuzan (former maegashira)
* Bushuyama (former maegashira)
* Daikiko (former maegashira)
* Tsurugidake (former maegashira)

### **Juryo**

* Mutetsuyama (former juryo)
* Shigenoumi (former juryo)

### **Lower Divisions**

* Musashifuji (former makushita)
* Buseizan (former makushita)
* Yanagi (former makushita)
* Omusashi (former makushita)
* Minaminoshima (former makushita)
* Mori (former makushita)
* Narahikari (former makushita)
* Fujikensho (former makushita)
* Onoshima (former sandanme)
* Ogurayama (former sandanme)
* Musashibo (former jonidan)