Minato stable (湊部屋, Minato-beya) is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tokitsukaze ichimon or group of stables. It was founded in 1982 by former komusubi Yutakayama, who branched off from Tokitsukaze stable. Minato-oyakata studied at the Tokyo University of Agriculture, and due to his interest in academia his stable was the first to introduce a library on its premises.[1] Until the arrival of Ichinojō, the stable had produced just one makuuchi division wrestler, Minatofuji, who reached a highest rank of maegashira 2 in 1995 and later became a coach at the stable under the name Tatsutagawa. In July 2010 Minato and Tatsutagawa swapped roles. In the same month the Chinese wrestler Nakanokuni earned promotion to the jūryō division.
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Ring name conventions
Many wrestlers at this stable take ring names or shikona that include the character 湊 (read: minato), which is the first character in the stable name, and which is also in deference to their coach and the stable's owner, the former Minatofuji. Is can be used as a prefix, as in Minatoryū and Minatoshō, or as a suffix, as in Hamaminato and Haruminato.
Owners
- 2010-present: 23rd Minato (iin, former maegashira Minatofuji)
- 1982-2010: 22nd Minato (former komusubi Yutakayama)
Notable active wrestlers
Referees
- Kimura Motoki (makuuchi gyōji, real name Hiromichi Okamura)
Hairdresser
- Tokomori (2nd class tokoyama)
Location and access
Saitama Prefecture, Kawaguchi City, Shibanakata 2-20-10
15 minute walk from Warabi Station on Keihin Tōhoku Line
References
- ^ Sharnoff, Lora (1993). Grand Sumo. Weatherhill. p. 201. ISBN 0-8348-0283-X.