Shikihide stable, Sumo training stable in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Shikihide stable is a sumo training facility in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, located far outside the usual sumo district. Nineteen wrestlers live and train here together under strict rules that govern daily life and athletic development within the community.
Former komusubi Ōshio founded the facility in 1992 and built it up step by step. Only after nearly two decades did the first wrestler from this school reach sekitori rank with the Mongolian Senshō, showing the long path of development.
The name comes from the ringname of the founder, who continues his tradition to this day. After morning training, the wrestlers often practice yoga together, which is rather uncommon among traditional heya and represents a bridge between old practice and new body techniques.
The location far from Tokyo's Ryōgoku district makes spontaneous visits difficult, and guests should inquire in advance about possible visiting times. All wrestlers must complete high school alongside training, which strongly structures daily life at the facility and limits visiting opportunities.
The facility accepts wrestlers regardless of their body size, some weighing only 67 kilograms (148 pounds). This open approach deviates clearly from typical requirements in sumo, where heavy build is usually seen as an advantage.
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