Asakayama stable, Sumo training facility in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, Japan
Asakayama is a training facility for sumo wrestlers in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, where athletes live together and practice under the direction of a former ozeki. The compound consists of living quarters, a training ring covered in sandy clay, and communal areas that shape the daily routine of the wrestlers.
The stable opened in February 2014 when Kaio Hiroyuki left his active career as an ozeki and retired from competitive wrestling. Its founding marked the start of an independent training house within the professional sumo world.
The facility maintains traditional sumo protocols where wrestlers follow strict daily schedules, participate in morning practices, and adhere to hierarchical structures.
Visitors can watch morning training sessions by booking in advance, allowing them to observe the daily routine of the wrestlers up close. The address is Midori 4-2-1 in Sumida, and silence is expected during practice to avoid disturbing the focus of the athletes.
In May 2014, every wrestler at the stable won more matches than they lost during a tournament, known as kachi-koshi in the sumo world. This rare collective achievement underlined the quality of training just months after the facility opened.
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