Azumazeki Stable

Azumazeki stable (東関部屋, Azumazeki-beya) was a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Takasago ichimon, or group of stables. It was set up in February 1986 by former sekiwake Takamiyama, who branched off from Takasago stable. The former Takamiyama reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 in June 2009 and was succeeded by Ushiomaru who announced his retirement from active competition after the May tournament. Azumazeki Oyakata died in December 2019 at the age of 41, and after the January 2020 tournament the former Takamisakari took over as Azumazeki Oyakata. The stable closed its doors on April 1, 2022, with all personnel transferring to Hakkaku stable.

## **History**

Azumazeki stable was set up in February 1986, by Hawaiian Born Takamiyama, who became the first foreign born Oyakata to do so. Azumazeki stable started with just Japanese rikishi, before Azumazeki Oyakata started accepting and recruiting foreigners. Hawaiian born, Akebono Taro would go on to be the stable's first sekitori in 1990. Akebono would subsequently reach Yokozuna in 1993, thus bringing to prestige to the young stable. The stable's second sekitori would be another Hawaiian born, Daiki Susumu.

A total of nine foreign born wrestlers have fought for the stable: seven from the United States, one from Great Britain, one from Mongolia and one from China. The first stable produced their first Japanese sekitori, Takamisakari, in 1999. The stable would go on to produce many more sekitori such as Ushiomaru, Takamifuji, and Kaonishiki. The stable hasn't produced any sekitori since 2011, as of 2020.

Former Takamiyama reached his mandatory retirement age of 65 in June 2009 and was succeeded by the former Ushiomaru, who announced his retirement to take over the stable. In 2012, Azumazeki stable absorbed Nakamura stable when Takamiyama's former stablemate, Fujizakura, reached the mandatory retirement age. Thus, former juryo Hishofuji transferred to Azumazeki stable.

Azumazeki Oyakata died in December 2019 at the age of 41, and after the January 2020 tournament the former Takamisakari took over as Azumazeki Oyakata. However, this was on a provisional basis for one year only, and the Sumo Association announced the closure of the stable on April 1 due to no permanent successor to Ushiomaru being found, with the personnel moving to Hakkaku stable.

## **Ring Name Conventions**

Some wrestlers at this stable take ring names or shikona that begin with the characters 高見 (read: takami), meaning high and view, in deference to the now retired coach and owner, the former Takamiyama. Examples include Takamisato and Takamiryu.

## **Owners**

* 2020-2021: 14th Azumazeki Daigoro (iin, former komusubi Takamisakari)
* 2009–2019: 13th Azumazeki Daigoro (former maegashira Ushiomaru)
* 1986-2009: 12th Azumazeki Daigoro (former sekiwake Takamiyama)

## **Notable Former Wrestlers**

### **Juryo**

* Kaonishiki (former juryo)
* Daiki (former juryo)
* Takamifuji (former juryo)
* Hishofuji (former juryo) - *Transferred from Nakamura stable*

### **Lower Divisions**

* Takamio (former makushita)
* Takamishu (former makushita)
* Takamiwaka (former makushita)
* Ozora (former makushita)
* Kosei (former makushita)
* Takamisato (former makushita)
* Daitenma (best rank makushita) - *Transferred to Hakkaku stable*
* Kamikiiwa (former sandanme)
* Taikomaru (former sandanme)
* Naniwa (former sandanme)
* Hidenokuni (former jonidan)
* Taikai (former jonokuchi)

## **Website**

* Azumazeki stable's website [1]
* Azumazeki stable's Facebook page [2]