Heya

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In sumo wrestling, a heya (部屋 ) (Japanese for "room"), usually translated into English as stable, is an organization of sumo wrestlers where they train and live. There are 54 heya, most of which belong to one of five ichimon (groupings of heya).

When used as a suffix, heya is usually spelled beya, e.g. the stable called Kokonoe is called Kokonoe-beya.

A special rule dictates that wrestlers from the same heya never fight each other in a main tournament. This notably worked to the advantages of brothers Takanohana and Wakanohana in recent years, as although they both achieved the top rank of yokozuna, they never had to fight each other as they both belonged to Fujishima-beya.

Heya may only be set up by a toshiyori or elder of the Japan Sumo Association. A heya is always named after its founding toshiyori. Further toshiyori may be attached to the stable.

Also attached to a heya are tokoyama (hairdressers) and, surprisingly, gyōji (referees) and yobidashi (ushers).

[edit] External links

• Heya list at Japan Sumo Association site (English) (Japanese)