The transfer of the Miyagino stable to the Isekehama stable has raised fears of “mass retirement” of rikishi.

Isekehama stable famous for “intense practice” of more than 100 matches every day

Of the 45 sumo stables, the Isekehama stable is famous for its “intense practice.

The Isekehama stable is different from other sumo stables, where young wrestlers practice from 40 to 50 rounds a day. In other rooms, young rikishi practice 40 to 50 rounds a day, but in the Isekehama stable, they practice more than 100 rounds every day,” said a sumo journalist.

Terunofuji, the yokozuna, is in charge of leading this intense training. Takanofuji, who became the first wrestler in 110 years to win his first tournament in the new division in the spring tournament, says, “I was able to win the championship and I am where I am today because of the training I had with yokozuna (Terunofuji). When he is in good physical condition, Terunofuji gives “kawaii” (more intense practice than usual) to younger rikishi, and is aware of his responsibility as the sole yokozuna . He also treats the rikishi in the other rooms with affection.

Many rikishi in the Miyagino stable say , “I can’t stand such intense training, and I don’t want to go to the Isekehama stable. Although it is not a transfer like this one, past sumo stable mergers have not produced good results.’ In 1993, during the heyday of Wakaki, the Fujishima and Futagoyama stable merged. The two rooms now have a total of 50 wrestlers.

There was a feud between the supporters’ associations of the two rooms, and trouble between the Fujishima and Futagoyama wrestlers, which led to the resignation of many young wrestlers. There was also a feud between the Wakaki brothers, and the merger clearly led to the decline of the Futagoyama stable.

The executive board of the Sumo Association of Japan, which oversees the Miyagino stablemaster, is not a monolithic body.

It was the executive committee that decided to transfer the Miyagino stable to the Isekehama stable.

The Asakayama stable (whose stablemaster is former ozeki Kaio) was also mentioned as a candidate, but it was a cramped stable with only nine rikishi, so in the end, the Isekehama stable was chosen,” said a sumo association official.

The Sumo Association is also in turmoil. In September of last year, inappropriate labor management and power harassment by Tetsuji Miyata, the head of the association’s office staff, were pointed out, and Miyata was suspended from work for one month, but he is still “continuing” in the same position. The governance system of the Sumo Association has only worsened since he is considered to be the right-hand man of Chancellor Yasutomo Hakkaku. Isekehama, who was in charge of Miyagino’s rehabilitation, has been demoted from the board of trustees due to the scandals involving his disciples, and is now approaching retirement at the age of 65.

Terunofuji is certain to succeed him. The executive board of the association has announced that the transfer of the Miyagino stable will be indefinite. It is unthinkable that Terunofuji will retire and become Isekehama oyakata to rehabilitate Miyagino oyakata.

The Hakkaku Executive Committee, now in its fifth term, “made a personnel change to move Shibatayama Oyakata (former yokozuna Ohnokuni), who objected to this approach, to the left from his position as head of the public relations department, and Kasugano Oyakata (former sekiwake Tochinowaka) was selected as the No. 2 business manager in the Executive Committee. There is a great possibility that Hakkaku Oyakata will stay on as chairman of the board for almost five more years until his retirement at the age of 65,” he said.

If the forbidden battle between Miyagino and Terunofuji breaks out again, the day will come when Miyagino will finally leave the Sumo Association.