Sakaigawa stable

{{Short description|Organization of sumo wrestlers}}

Image:Sakaigawa stable 2014.JPG

{{nihongo|Sakaigawa stable|境川部屋|Sakaigawa-beya}} is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi group of stables. It was established in its modern form on 25 May 1998 by former komusubi Ryōgoku Kajinosuke IV, who branched off from Dewanoumi stable. It was originally called Nakadachi stable, but when Sakaigawa-oyakata (the 50th yokozuna Sadanoyama) reached the Japan Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age in February 2003, he passed on the Sakaigawa name, and the stable was renamed. As of January 2023, it had 19 wrestlers, with four of them ranked in the two top professional divisions.

The stable is known for its rigorous training. At the heart of the stable are written ten rules, these having been written by the master (former Ryōgoku) and Ōnaruto (former Yoshinotani) at the time of the stable's foundation. It has become traditional for wrestlers to recite them at the end of training.{{cite web|url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/901378?rct=sumo|title=平戸海、同い年のエリート・大の里に完勝　「負けられない」”たたき上げ”が見せた気迫【大相撲夏場所】|language=ja|work=Chunichi Sports|publisher=21 May 2024|access-date=21 May 2024}}

In July 2005, Satsuki, a sandanme wrestler encountered a fire in Aichi Prefecture during the Nagoya tournament, used a ladder to rescue a woman on the second floor. He left the scene without telling his name, but later received a letter of appreciation from the Aichi Konan Fire Department.{{cite web|url=https://hochi.news/articles/20200612-OHT1T50011.html?page=1|title=境川部屋の力士２０人が部屋近くの川に転落した女性を救助　警視庁が感謝状贈呈へ|language=ja|work=Hochi News|publisher=12 June 2020|access-date=28 September 2022}} In June 2020, wrestlers from the stable saved another person while being among a group of 20 people who helped rescue a woman from drowning in a nearby river in an apparent suicide attempt.{{cite web|url=https://www.tokyoreporter.com/japan/sumo-wrestlers-rescue-woman-who-plunged-into-river-in-attempted-suicide/|title=Sumo wrestlers rescue woman who plunged into river in suicide attempt|date=11 June 2020|work=Tokyo Reporter|accessdate=12 June 2020}} The Takenotsuka Metropolitan Police Department issued a letter of appreciation to the stable.{{cite web|url=https://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/18400030/|title=力士ら約20人が足立区の川で女性を救助 警視庁が感謝状贈呈を検討|language=ja|work=Livedoor News|publisher=11 June 2020|access-date=28 September 2022}}

In April 2021, the stable's 28 year-old sandanme wrestler Hibikiryū died after he fell on his head during a tournament bout on March 26.{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202104290000467.html?mode=all|language=ja|title=響龍さん死去　28歳　春場所取組で倒れ入院、寝たきり続き急性呼吸不全で|work=Nikkan Sports|publisher=29 April 2021|access-date=28 September 2022}} The long hesitation of those around the dohyō before Hibikiryū finally received professional medical attention several minutes later shocked spectators and raised criticism online and in the media about sumo proceedings, which prompted the Japanese Sumo Association to study a modification of procedure.

In February 2022, Takekuma-oyakata (former ōzeki Gōeidō) broke off from the stable to establish the Takekuma stable.{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202201270000432.html|title=元豪栄道の武隈親方が独立「武隈部屋」新設を承認 今月29日に断髪式|language=ja|work=Nikkan Sports|publisher=27 January 2022|access-date=27 January 2022}}