Shikihide Stable

Shikihide stable (式秀部屋, Shikihide-beya), full name Shikimori Hidegoro stable, is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ichimon or group of stables. It was set up in 1992 by former komusubi Oshio. Former maegashira Kitazakura took over as Shikihide Oyakata in January 2013 when his predecessor reached 65 years of age.

As of January 2023 it has 17 active sumo wrestlers.

## **History**

Shikihide stable was established in 1992 by former komusubi Oshio, who branched off from Tokitsukaze stable. Shikihide oyakata's son joined upon the formation of Shikihide stable.

The stable did not produce a sekitori until 2012, when his top wrestler Senshō of Mongolia finally won promotion to the jūryō division in the January tournament after eleven years in sumo. The nineteen years and nine months Shikihide stable took to produce a *sekitori* is the longest by a newly established stable since World War II.

Former maegashira Kitazakura took over as Shikihide Oyakata in January 2013 when his predecessor reached 65 years of age. As of January 2021, it had 20 wrestlers (19 listed on the banzuke). It is situated in Ibaraki Prefecture, and along with Tatsunami stable is one of the stables furthest away from sumo's heartland of Ryōgoku.

All members of Shikihide stable have to complete their high school education, and Shikihide has also introduced yoga to his wrestlers after they have finished training for the day. The stable is known for its "open door" policy, allowing anyone who can meet the entry requirements to join regardless of ability. It has several relatively small wrestlers such as Omote weighing only 67 kg (148 lb) and Baraki just 167 cm (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in) tall. In 2014 a wrestler named Sodachizakari reportedly had to drink several bottles of water to meet the minimum weight requirement. 16 of its 20 wrestlers have yet to make it past the bottom two divisions of jonokuchi and jonidan*.*

Shikihide Oyakata was in poor health for much of 2020, and his wife in her role as okamisan took an increasing role in running the stable, even overseeing training. Half the stable's wrestlers ran away in early August 2020, complaining about her strict behavior and invasions of their privacy. They were persuaded to return, and although no violence was involved the Sumo Association's compliance committee is continuing to investigate and interview the wrestlers involved.

Shikihide stable's best known wrestler, Shonanzakura, had a career record of only three wins in 204 matches, never making past the jonokuchi division.

## **Ring Name Conventions**

Some wrestlers at this stable take ring names or shikona that end with the character 桜 (read: sakura or zakura), in deference to their coach and the stable's owner, the former Kitazakura. Examples as of 2017 include Wakatozakura, Abezakura, and Hattorizakura.

## **Owners**

* 2013-present: 9th Shikimori Hidegoro - abbreviated to Shikihide (toshiyori, former maegashira Kitazakura)
* 1992-2013: 8th Shikimori Hidegoro (former komusubi Oshio)

## **Notable Active Wrestlers**

* Baraki (best rank makushita)
* Furanshisu (best rank sandanme)
* Kogomaru (best rank jonidan)
* Urutora (best rank jonidan)
* Sawaisamu (best rank jonidan)

## **Notable Former Wrestlers**

* Sensho (former juryo)
* Chokozan (former makushita)
* Taiga (former makushita)
* Shonanzakura (former jonokuchi)

## **Website**

* Shikihide stable's Facebook [1]
* Shikihide stable's Twitter [2]