Oshima Stable (2022)

Oshima stable (大島部屋, Oshima-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. The current Oshima stable was established as Tomozuna stable in January 1961 by former komusubi Tomoegata. In June 2017, Kyokutenho became the 11th Tomozuna's owner, and the first Mongolian born wrestler to take charge of a stable.

As of January 2023, it has 7 wrestlers.

## **History**

Tomozuna stabe was established in January 1961 by former komusubi Tomoegata. The stable produced their first sekitori when Aonoumi was promoted to juryo in 1965. The stable produced their first top division rikishi when Kaiki was promoted to makuuchi in 1975.

The former Kaiki took over the stable in May 1989. He recruited Kaiō in March 1988, whom he had been aware of when he was still an active wrestler. In 1993 Kaiō reached the top division, and became an ōzeki in 2000. Kaio would go on to capture five makuuchi yusho and be regarded as the best modern ozeki. He continued to produce top level wrestlers, with Sentoryu, who is of African-American descent, reaching makuuchi in 2000 and Brazilian Kaisei in 2011.

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

## **Ring Name Conventions**

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 Kaio, Kaido, Kainishiki and Kainowaka. Since absorbing Oshima stable, they have also inherited wrestlers who use the character 旭 (read: asahi or kyoku), taken from Oshima's former head coach Asahikuni.

## **Owners**

* 2017-present: 11th Tomozuna/6th Oshima Masaru (shunin, former sekiwake Kyokutenho)
* 1989–2017: 10th Tomozuna Takanori (former sekiwake Kaiki)
* 1976–1989: 9th Tomozuna Takanori (former juryo Yamatonishiki)
* 1961–1976: 8th Tomozuna Seiichi (former komusubi Tomoegata）

## **Coaches**

* Tamagaki Shinya (iin, former komusubi Tomonohana)
* Kiriyama Kota (toshiyori, former maegashira Asahisho)

## **Notable Active Wrestlers**

* Kyokutaisei (best rank maegashira) - *transferred from Oshima stable*
* Kaisho (best rank juryo) - *later* *transferred to Asakayama stable before sekitori status*
* Kyokushori (best rank makushita)
* Kyokumizuno (best rank sandanme)

## **Notable Former Wrestlers**

### **Sekiwake**

* Kaisei (former sekiwake)
* Kyokutenho (former sekiwake) - *transferred from Oshima stable*
* Kaiki (former sekiwake)

### **Maegashira**

* Kyokushuho (former maegashira) - *transferred from Oshima stable*
* Yoshinomine (former maegashira) - *transferred from Takashima stable*
* Hanenishiki (former maegashira) - *transferred from Takashima stable*
* Asahisho (former maegashira) - *transferred from Oshima stable*
* Sentoryu (former maegashira)
* Oko (former maegashira)
* Tachihikari (former maegashira)

### **Juryo**

* Kaido (former juryo)
* Dairyu (former juryo)

### **Lower Divisions**

* Kaito (former makushita) - *transferred to Asakayama stable*
* Kaishoryu (former makushita)
* Kainowaka (former makushita)
* Kunimiyama (former makushita)
* Kasugaryu (former makushita) - *transferred from Nakagawa stable*
* Kaishin (former makushita)
* Kaihakuzan (former sandanme)

## **Referee**

* Kimura Hisanosuke (sanyaku gyoji) - *Transferred from Oshima stable*
* Shikimori Tomokazu (makushita gyoji)
* Kimura Katsunosuke (jonidan gyoji)

## **Usher**

* Kokichi (makuuchi yobidashi) - *Transferred from Kiriyama stable*
* Akira (makuuchi yobidashi) - *Transferred from Oshima stable*

## **Website**

* Tomozuna stable's website [1]
* Tomozuna stable's Facebook [2]
* Tomozuna stable's Instagram [3]