Hanakago Stable (1953)

Hanakago stable (花籠部屋, Hanakago beya) was a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. It was established in May 1953 by former maegashira Onoumi of the Nishonoseki stable. The stable closed in the December 1985, with its wrestlers moving to Hanaregoma stable.

## **History**

Hanakago stable was established in May 1953 by former maegashira Onoumi of Nishonoseki stable. Onoumi recruited the future 45th Yokozuna Wakanohana whilst an active wrestler, thus Wakanohana transferred once Hanakago stable was established. The stable produced their first top division rikishi when 18-year old Wakachichibu earned promotion to makuuchi in 1958. The stable also produced ozeki Kaiketsu in 1975 who took two makuuchi yusho and sekiwake Daigo who captured one makuuchi yusho.

In 1967-1968, Hanakago stable took in three foreigners of three different countries. Tatsunishiki of Brazil, Kiyonohana of China, and Araiwa of the United States. Kiyonohana would be the most successful foreigner reaching juryo in 1974 and becoming the second ever foreign sekitori.

In 1969, Hanakago oyakata recruited two time amateur champion, Wajima Hiroshi. Wajima would go on to be the most successful rikishi from Hanakago stable becoming the 54th yokozuna and capturing 14 makuuchi yusho.

Following his retirement Wajima took over as oyakata, or head coach, of Hanakago stable in 1981, having married the eldest daughter of the previous stablemaster who had reached the mandatory retirement age for elders of 65. However, his time there as oyakata was controversial. He lacked leadership qualities and most unusually did not even live in the stable, preferring to commute. Hanakago declined to the point when it did not have any top-division wrestlers left. In 1982 his wife attempted suicide and he was demoted from his position as a judge as a result. The marriage eventually ended in divorce. In 1985 he was pressured by fellow oyakata to resign from the Sumo Association after it emerged that he was heavily in debt due to the failure of his chankonabe restaurant and had put up his share in the Association as collateral on a loan, a practice strictly forbidden. The stable folded completely with all its wrestlers transferring to the affiliated Hanaregoma stable.

## **Owners**

* 1981-1985: 12th Hanakago (the 54th Yokozuna Wajima)
* 1953-1981: 11th Hanakago (former maegashira Onoumi)

## **Notable Former Wrestlers**

### **Yokozuna**

* Wajima (the 54th yokozuna)
* Wakanohana (the 45th yokozuna) - *transferred from Nishonoseki stable*
* Onokuni (the 62nd yokozuna)- *transferred to Hanaregoma stable before sekitori status*

### **Sekiwake**

* Wakamisugi (former sekiwake)
* Arase (former sekiwake)
* Wakachichibu (former sekiwake)

### **Komusubi**

* Ryuko (former komusubi)
* Wakanoumi (former komusubi)
* Hananoumi (former komusubi) - *transferred to Hanaregoma stable*
* Futagodake (former komusubi) - *transferred to Futagoyama stable before sekitori status*

### **Maegashira**

* Hananokuni (former maegashira) - *transferred to Hanaregoma stable*
* Wakatenryu (former maegashira)
* Misugiiso (former maegashira) - *transferred to Hanaregoma stable*
* Wakanoumi (former maegashira)
* Hanahikari (former maegashira)
* Onoumi (former maegashira)
* Wakanoshima (former maegashira)
* Kaigo (former maegashira) - *transferred to Futagoyama stable before sekitori status*
* Wakanokuni (former maegashira)
* Wakakoma (former maegashira)
* Daigo (former maegashira)
* Komafudo (former maegashira) - *transferred to Hanaregoma stable before sekitori status*
* Onoura (former maegashira) - *transferred from Nishonoseki stable*

### **Juryo**

* Hananofuji (former juryo)- *transferred to Hanaregoma stable before sekitori status*
* Wakanoumi (former juryo) - *transferred to Hanaregoma stable before sekitori status*
* Kiyonohana (former juryo)
* Hidenohana (former juryo) - *transferred to Hanaregoma stable before sekitori status*
* Kumanoura (former juryo)
* Hanaarashi (former juryo)
* Rinho (former juryo) - *transferred to Hanaregoma stable*
* Hanaryu (former juryo) - *transferred to Hanaregoma stable*
* Ohashi (former juryo)
* Wakamiyama (former juryo)

### **Lower Divisions**

* Koganefuji (former makushita) - *transferred to Hanaregoma stable*
* Araiwa (former makushita)
* Takinosato (former makushita) - *transferred to Hanaregoma stable*
* Tatsunishiki (former jonidan)