Sadogatake stable

Sadogatake is a training stable for sumo wrestlers in Chiba Prefecture where athletes live together and prepare daily for tournaments. The compound includes a clay practice ring, sleeping quarters arranged by rank, and a communal kitchen for ritual meals.

Kotonishiki Noboru, a former wrestler, opened the facility in September 1955 and led it until 1974. Kotozakura, who had reached the highest rank in sumo, then took over leadership and brought new training methods.

The name comes from Sado Island, a place long associated with sumo tradition in Japan. Observers can see wrestlers wearing simple cotton practice robes, training according to strict rank order and following rituals passed down through generations.

Morning practice sessions are open to visitors who arrange their visit beforehand. Those without Japanese language skills should consider bringing an interpreter or joining an organized tour to manage access and communication.

The stable maintained at least one wrestler in the top division without interruption for 59 years, a feat no other facility achieved. This long continuity reflects the quality of training and organizational stability over decades.