All rikishi belong to a heya, or sumo "stable," under the tutelage of one or more oyakata (coaches). One of these oyakata bear the same name as the heya, and is the head coach; his wife generally manages the day to day affairs of the heya.
There are five Ichimon (groupings or families of heya) in Sumo Kyokai. - Masumi Abe
Currently, there are 49 heya, and every heya belongs to a group. There are 105 oyakata, and two ichidai (license issued to a Yokozuna for a single lifetime) toshiyori. The ichidai names are held by the two popular former grand champions Taiho and Kitanoumi. Unlike the other names that will be passed on to others, these two will pass away when the former Yokozuna retires.
Here is a list of the Ichimon and heya. It is in the format: *Ichimon name Heya name Address Oyakata name (former rank and fighting name) Sekitori (if any)
*Dewanoumi Ichimon Dewanoumi-beya 2-3-15 Ryogoku Sumida-ku, Tokyo Sakaigawa Rijicho (Yokozuna Sadanoyama) Dewanoumi (Sekiwake Washuyama) Takasaki (Sekiwake Oginohana) Sekinoto (Sekiwake Fukunohana) Inagawa (Makuuchi Yoshinohana) Onaruto (Makuuchi Yoshinotani) Dekiyama (Sekiwake Dewanohana) Tagonoura (Komusubi Sadanoumi) Yamashina (Komusubi Onishiki) Nakadachi (Komusubi Ryogoku) Mainoumi, Oginohana, Oginishiki, Kushimaumi
Kasugano-beya 1-7-11 Ryogoku Sumida-ku, Tokyo Kasugano (Yokozuna Tochinoumi) Sendagawa (Makuuchi Wakanaruto) Iwatomo (Makuuchi Tochiisami) Chiganoura (Sekiwake Masudayama) Tochinowaka
Kitanoumi-beya 2-10-11 Kiyosumi Koto-ku, Tokyo Kitanoumi Riji (Yokozuna Kitanoumi) Onogawa (Makuuchi Hachiya) Ganyu, Kanechika
Musashigawa-beya 4-27-1 Higashi-Nippori Arakawa-ku, Tokyo Musashigawa (Yokozuna Mienoumi) Musashimaru, Musoyama, Wakanoyama, Mutetsuyama
Tamanoi-beya 4-12-14 Umeda Adachi-ku, Tokyo Tamanoi (Sekiwake Tochiazuma) Tamawake (Makuuchi Tochifuji) Ryudo
Mihogaseki-beya 3-2-12 Chitose Sumida-ku, Tokyo Mihogaseki (Ozeki Masuiyama) Kiyomigata (Makuuchi Dairyugawa) Machiyama (Komusubi Banryuyama) Higonoumi, Hamanoshima
Hatachiyama-beya 2-1-12 Tatekawa Sumida-ku, Tokyo Hatachiyama (Ozeki Hokutenyu)
Irumagawa-beya 3-32-12 Hachioji Yono-shi, Saitama-ken Irumagawa (Sekiwake Tochitsukasa) Otsukasa
*Tatsunami-Isegahama Rengo (**how is a Rengo different from an Ichimon?) Tatsunami-beya 3-26-2 Ryogoku Sumida-ku, Tokyo Tatsunami Riji (Sekiwake Haguroyama) Tamagaki (Komusubi Wakanami) Oitekaze (Makuuchi Oiteyama) Ikazuchi (Komusubi Haguroiwa) Takekuma (Sekiwake Kurohimeyama) Nakagawa (Makuuchi Daishoyama) Tomonohana, Daishoho, Tatsuhikari
Isegahama-beya 225-9 Matsugasaki Kashiwa-shi, Chiba-ken Isegahama Riji (Ozeki Kiyokuni) Wakafuji (Komusubi Katsuhikari) Tateyama (Ozeki Daiju) Urakaze (Makuuchi Teruzakura)
Kise-beya 2-35-21 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Kimura Sehei (Makuuchi Kiyonomori)
Kumagatani-beya 1-6-28 Minami-Koiwa Edogawa-ku, Tokyo Kumagatani (Makuuchi Yoshinomine)
Asahiyama-beya 4-14-21 Kita-Kasai Edogawa-ku, Tokyo Asahiyama (Komusubi Wakafutase) Daihisho
Oshima-beya 3-5-3 Ryogoku Sumida-ku, Tokyo Oshima (Ozeki Asahikuni) Kyokudozan, Asahiyutaka, Kyokushuzan, Asahizato, Kyokutenho, Kyokugozan
Kiriyama-beya 2-47-4 Higashi-Ogu Arakawa-ku, Tokyo Kiriyama (Komusubi Kurosegawa)
Tomozuna-beya 1-20-7 Mori Koto-ku, Tokyo Tomozuna (Sekiwake Kaiki) Kaio, Sentoryu
Ajigawa-beya 1-7-4 Mori Koto-ku, Tokyo Ajigawa (Yokozuna Asahifuji) Kasugafuji, Mutsuhokkai
Miyagino-beya 4-16-3 Midori Sumida-ku, Tokyo Miyagino (Makuuchi Chikubayama) Wakahayato
Takashima-beya 3-21-2 Kami-Isshiki Edogawa-ku, Tokyo Takashima (Sekiwake Koboyama)
*Tokitsukaze Ichimon Tokitsukaze-beya 3-15-3 Ryogoku Sumida-ku, Tokyo Tokitsukaze Riji (Ozeki Yutakayama) Edagawa Riji (Ozeki Kitabayama) Nishikijima (Komusubi Futatsuryu) Tatsutayama (Makuuchi Amanoyama) Arashio (Komusubi Oyutaka) Aogiyama, Tokitsunada
Kagamiyama-beya 8-16-1 Kita-Koiwa Edogawa-ku, Tokyo Kagamiyama (Yokozuna Kashiwado) Fujigane (Makuuchi Zaonishiki) Katsunoura (Sekiwake Tagaryu) Tatekawa (Makuuchi Kirinishiki)
Tatsutagawa-beya 3-28-21 Shin-Koiwa Katsushika-ku, Tokyo Tatsutagawa (Sekiwake Aonosato) Shikishima
Isenoumi-beya 3-17-6 Harue-cho Edogawa-ku, Tokyo Isenoumi (Sekiwake Fujinokawa) Tosanoumi, Kitakachidoki
Kabutoyama-beya 5-19-7 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Kabutoyama (Makuuchi Daiyu)
Minato-beya 2-20-10 Shibanakata Kawaguchi-shi, Saitama-ken Minato (Komusubi Yutakayama) Minatofuji
Shikihide-beya 4-17-17 Sanuki Ryugasaki-shi, Ibaragi-ken Shikimori Hidejiro (Komusubi Oshio)
Michinoku-beya 971 Nagatsukuri-cho Hanamigawa-ku, Chiba Michinoku (Ozeki Kirishima) Hoshitango, Hoshiandesu
Izutsu-beya 2-2-7 Ryogoku Sumida-ku, Tokyo Izutsu (Sekiwake Sakahoko) Kasugayama (Makuuchi Sasshunada) Terao, Fukuzono
*Nishonoseki Ichimon Taiho-beya 2-8-3 Kiyosumi Koto-ku, Tokyo Taiho (Yokozuna Taiho) Nishiiwa (Makuuchi Daimonji) Onoe (Makuuchi Onohana) Odake (Sekiwake Ozutsu) Dairyu
Sadogatake-beya 39 Kushizaki-Minami-cho Matsudo-shi, Chiba-ken Sadogatake Riji (Yokozuna Kotozakura) Hidenoyama (Sekiwake Hasegawa) Shiratama (Makuuchi Kototsubaki) Kumegawa (Sekiwake Kotofuji) Kotonishiki, Kotoinazuma, Kotonowaka, Kotobeppu, Kotoryu, Kotogaume, Kotokanyu
Futagoyama-beya 3-10-6 Honmachi Nakano-ku, Tokyo Futagoyama Riji (Ozeki Takanohana) Sanoyama (Komusubi Wakajishi) Fujishima (Komusubi Takamisugi) Takanohana, Wakanohana, Takanonami, Takatoriki, Wakashoyo, Naminohana, Misugisato, Akinoshima, Toyonoumi, Gokenzan
Hanaregoma-beya 3-12-7 Asagaya-Minami Suginami-ku, Tokyo Hanaregoma (Ozeki Kaiketsu) Otowayama (Komusubi Wakanoumi) Tokiwayama (Sekiwake Wakachichibu) Shibatayama (Yokozuna Onokuni)
Oshiogawa-beya 2-17-7 Kiba Koto-ku, Tokyo Oshiogawa (Ozeki Daikirin) Shiranui (Sekiwake Aobajo) Takenawa (Makuuchi Enazakura) Daishi, Hitachiryu
Nishonoseki-beya 4-17-1 Ryogoku Sumida-ku, Tokyo Nishonoseki (Sekiwake Kongo) Hamakaze (Makuuchi Miyabashira) Kitajin (Sekiwake Kirinji) Minatogawa (Komusubi Daitetsu) Daizen
Araiso-beya 9562-2 Yaho Kunitachi-shi, Tokyo Araiso (Komusubi Futagodake)
Magaki-beya 3-8-1 Kamezawa Sumida-ku, Tokyo Magaki (Yokozuna Wakanohana-II) Wakanojo, Gojoro, Yamato, Yamanakayama
Oguruma-beya 2-15-5 Kiyosumi Koto-ku, Tokyo Oguruma (Ozeki Kotokaze)
Naruto-beya 183 Yatsugasaki Matsudo-shi, Chiba Naruto (Yokozuna Takanosato) Rikio, Takaozaki
Kataonami-beya 1-33-9 Ishihara Sumida-ku, Tokyo Kataonami (Sekiwake Tamanofuji) Tamakasuga, Takakairiki
Matsugane-beya 4-13-1 Furutsukuri Funabashi-shi, Chiba-ken Matsugane (Ozeki Wakashimazu)
Minesaki-beya 2-20-3 Tagara Nerima-ku, Tokyo Minesaki (Makuuchi Misugiiso)
Onomatsu-beya 5-15-14 Saginuma Shino-shi, Chiba-ken Onomatsu (Sekiwake Masurao)
Hanakago-beya 3956-1 Uenohara, Uenohara-cho Kami-Tsuru-gun, Yamanashi-ken Hanakago (Sekiwake Daijuyama)
*Takasago Ichimon Takasago-beya 1-16-5 Hashiba Taito-ku, Tokyo Takasago Riji (Komusubi Fujinishiki) Oyama (Makuuchi Taihi) Furiwake (Makuuchi Asaarashi) Mitoizumi, Konishiki, Sunahama, Nampu, Subaru
Kokonoe-beya 4-22-4 Ishihara Sumida-ku, Tokyo Kokonoe (Yokozuna Chiyonofuji) Chiyotaikai, Tomoefuji, Chiyotenzan
Takadagawa-beya 2-1-15 Ichinoe Edogawa-ku, Tokyo Takadagawa (Ozeki Maenoyama) Yamahibiki (Komusubi Maenomori) Kenko, Kiraiho, Zenshinyama
Nakamura-beya 4-1-10 Chuo Edogawa-ku, Tokyo Nakamura (Sekiwake Fujizakura) Saigo
Azumazeki-beya 4-6-4 Higashi-Komagata Sumida-ku, Tokyo Azumazeki (Sekiwake Takamiyama) Akebono, Daiki
Wakamatsu-beya 3-5-4 Honjo Sumida-ku, Tokyo Wakamatsu (Ozeki Asashio) Asanowaka, Asanosho
Hakkaku-beya 1-16-1 Kamezawa Sumida-ku, Tokyo Hakkaku (Yokozuna Hokutoumi) Jimmaku Riji (Yokozuna Kitanofuji) Kimigahama (Sekiwake Kitaseumi) Tanigawa (Makuuchi Shiratayama) Nishikido (Makuuchi Fujinoshin)
While a rikishi is an active sekitori, he asks his oyakata to get permission to open his own heya after retirement. If he gets this permission, he starts recruiting prospective future rikishi. While this sekitori is still active, he will ask his oyakata to take care of the young recruits. Before the retirement, he needs to get the Toshiyori-kabu one way or another. There are two common ways to get kabu, by inheritance (from father or from an in-law) or by purchasing it outright. When the sekitori retires, he pursues the process of getting permission from Sumo Kyokai.
To start a sumo heya, you need to own one of the 105 available Toshiyori-kabu. In addition, you must have at least two rikishi as your pupils, permission from the owner of your current heya, and finally, get permission from the Sumo Kyokai. Then you must acquire property and a building to house your sumo training facilities. Due to land prices, it is getting harder and harder to build a heya in downtown Tokyo these days. There are several heya out of Tokyo. They are in Chiba (Isegahama, Ohnaruto, Naruto, Matsugane, Michinoku), Ibaragi (Shikihide), Saitama (Irumagawa, Minato), and even in Yamanashi (Hanakago). In Tokyo, the most popular location for sumo-beya is Ryogoku in Sumida-ku, where the sumo arena (Kokugikan) is located.
Only those rikishi with big money can afford to intai (retire) from active sumo. There are two ways to quit sumo: intai and haigyo. When a rikishi has already acquired a right to a Toshiyori-kabu (the right to use one of the oyakata names), he can intai. But when he can't afford it, he is forced to haigyo. Haigyo means leaving sumo society for good. To stay close to the world of Sumo, he may become a voluntary scout for a heya, use his cooking skills to open a chanko (sumo style stew) restaurant, or coach amateur sumo wrestlers.
Without Toshiyori-kabu, even a Yokozuna is not allowed to stay in the Sumo Kyokai, but a Juryo rikishi with enough money can stay in as an oyakata. The only requirement to buy Toshiyori-kabu is to have fought at Juryo rank or higher.
If there is good reason, the Sumo Kyokai has the right to strip Toshiyori-kabu from the owner. One such case was Yokozuna Wajima (Hanakago Oyakata). He was forced to resign as oyakata, and he then became a professional wrestler for a western style wrestling organization. In debt to moneylenders of questionable activity, he used his Sumo stock as collateral for a loan that was called in. The Kyokai bought back the kabu from the outsiders, and Wajima found himself disgraced.
Compared to the high standard of living that the nation of Japan now enjoys, life in a Sumobeya is feudal. Sumo is not a sport where there is time off; everyday rikishi must compete for prestige and benefits in their own heya. The day begins in the early morning, when the lowest ranked men wake up and put in some practice before going about their assigned duties, which include cleaning the building and preparing the food for the main meal of the day. Everyone who lives in a heya learns to do chores, and some become so skilled or fond of cooking that after their lives in sumo are over, they go on to run ryokan (Japanese-style inns) or restaurants which serve chanko-nabe, the single-pot stew that fuel the rikishi.
Higher ranked sekitori appear at a more reasonable hour, and they begin a practice session that can run four or five hours. The Oyakata or a senior wrestler watches sternly as the youngsters are put through their paces, crashing into one another on the dohyo, slapping an upright pole (teppo) while sliding their feet on the sand, or doing stretching motions that would make a ballet dancer wince. It is not unusual for Yokozuna or rikishi from other stable to come to visit and take part, not only to keep tabs on the competition, but because it is a duty of the Yokozuna to help educate all rikishi.
Only when they are good and hungry can the denizens of the heya sit down to eat, which they do in order of rank. The oyakata sit down first, then the highest ranked rikishi all take their turns, being served by their juniors. Although there is food for all, the privilege of sitting down earlier and eating choice morsels is a powerful incentive for rikishi to climb in rank. It is not unusual for a new supplicant to lose weight before putting on solid, heavy muscle.
After the big afternoon meal, the rikishi lie down for a nap. This is part of the reason they grow so large: the calories go to putting on weight before it can be entirely consumed as fuel by muscles. When they waken there is another less strenuous workout, perhaps stressing technique rather than brute strength and basic footwork. An evening meal, less elaborate than the main meal, is served. Only then can the rikishi have a little freedom, as they go walking around their neighborhoods, perhaps enjoying a movie or drinks at local business establishments. When curfew arrives, the married rikishi go home to their families, usually at an apartment near the heya; single sekitori live in rooms in the heya, and the lower ranked deshi sleep in a communal barracks.
For the men who come from abroad, classes in Japanese language and culture are required; the Oyakata and his wife must take care that promising foreign rikishi aren't driven out of the harsh sumo world by homesickness or depression.