Azumazeki Stable

Azumazeki stable (Japanese: 東関部屋, "Azumazeki-beya") is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Takasago group of stables. It is located at Higashi–Komagata, Sumida, Tokyo. It was founded in April 1986 by the Hawaiian born Takamiyama of the Takasago stable. Azumazeki's first sekitori was Akebono, also from Hawaii, in 1990, who subsequently reached the yokozuna rank. A total of nine foreign born wrestlers have fought for the stable: seven from the US, one from Great Britain and one (still active as of May 2008) from China. As of April 2008 it had 15 sumo wrestlers.

The current Azumazeki Oyakata will reach the mandatory retirement age of 65 in June 2009.

Azumazeki Daigoro - oyakata

*Daigoro Watanabe(given name) (former sekiwake Takamiyama(ring name))(Born: Jesse James Kalani Kuhaulua)

Former wrestlers

*Akebono the 64th Yokozuna 1988-2001
*Daiki, aka Percy Kipapa, former juryo 10, from Hawaii, 1991-98
*Takamishu aka Taylor Wiley, former makushita 2, from Hawaii, 1987-89
*Takamio, aka John Feleunga, former makushita 2, from Hawaii, 1986-97
*Ozora, aka Troy Talaimatai, former makushita 13, from Hawaii, 1989-95
*Hidenokuni aka Nathan Strange, former jonidan 93, first wrestler from Europe, 1989-90

Active wrestlers with makuuchi experience

*Takamisakari
*Ushiomaru

Toshiyori

none

See also

*List of sumo beya

External links

*Azumazeki stable page at Japan Sumo Association ( [http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_meikan/sumo_beya/azumaseki.html English] ) ( [http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/ozumo_meikan/sumo_beya/azumaseki.html Japanese] )
* [http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_3/Heya_Peek.htm Article on Azumazeki stable]