Nikkan Sports reports a sumo story that will have some major implications for wrestlers-MIchinoku Beya (stable/room), currently boasting Ozeki and Yokozuna candidate Kirishima, will be closing in April and will cease to exist after roughly 50 years. The closing is because the current stablemaster Michinoku (former Ozeki Kirishima, not the current one) turns 65 on April 2, which means per Japan Sumo Association rules he must retire (65 is the mandatory retirement age in sumo), and there is no successor to inherit the stable. The current Kirishima will at least temporarily transfer to Otowoyama Beya, the new stable run by former Yokozuna Kakuryu, who left Michinoku last year to form his own stable, but later on he and perhaps other MIchinoku wrestlers could transfer to Tokitsukaze Beya, but those plans will be determined after the March tournament. Michinoku currently has 8 wrestlers, with Kirishima the only one ranked above the Sandanme division, and also one Yobidashi (staff/usher/announcer) for Makushita division.
Tokitsukaze, for those who may go there, currently has 17 rikishi with the highest ranked being Shodai at Maegashira 10 (formerly Ozeki) and Tokihayate at Juryo 1. The current stablemaster is 38 and reached a highest rank of Maegashira 1.
Otowayama stable, run by Kakuryu, currently has 3 rikishi, one in the Sandanme and a second in Jonokuchi. A third rikishi is either unranked or has yet to make his pro debut.
Said transfers will not happen until after the March Tournament.
This will also affect the Association’s corporate ranks as Michinoku, real name Kazumi Yoshinaga, is a director. It also could open up elder stock, allowing an eligible retired rikishi to remain in the Association as an Oyakata, starting out as an usher and working up the ranks to coach and maybe eventually a stablemaster, also serving as a judge during tournaments.
