Takasago stable
History. The stable was established by former "maegashira" Takasago Uragorō as in 1873 and joined the Tokyo Sumo Association in 1878. Takasago stable has produced many successful wrestlers, including six "yokozuna" and the first non-Japanese "ōzeki", American Konishiki, as well as the 33rd Kimura Shōnosuke, the "tate-gyōji" or chief referee. In February 2002, the stable merged with Wakamatsu stable, with Wakamatsu's coach, former "ōzeki" Asashio, taking over. Future "yokozuna" Asashōryū was among the wrestlers transferring over. The demotion of Asasekiryū to the "makushita" division for the January 2017 tournament saw the stable without any "sekitori  for the first time since 1878. However, at the end of that tournament Asanoyama earned promotion to the jūryō" division, ensuring "sekitori" representation once again from March. As of January 2022, it had 26 wrestlers. The former Asasekiryū took over from the former Asashio as head coach of the stable in November 2020. In June 2021, "ōzeki" Asanoyama was handed a one-year (six tournament) suspension for violating sumo protocols related to COVID-19. The following month, Takasago Oyakata, Asanoyama and six lower-ranked "rikishi" in the stable all tested positive for COVID-19. People. Ring name conventions. Most wrestlers since the  mid 1990s and all since 2003 at this stable have quickly taken ring names or "shikona" that begin with the character 朝 (read: asa), meaning morning, in deference to their head coach, the former Asashio, as well as many of his predecessors who had the same "shikona" in their active years. For example, the wrestler formerly known as Tamaki changed his "shikona" to Asagyokusei when he was promoted to "jūryō" in July 2019. Location and access. Tokyo, Sumida ward, Honjo 3-5-4 10 minute walk from Honjo-azumabashi Station on the Toei Asakusa Line