oyakata 親方
A stablemaster or coach, almost always an elder of the association.
What oyakata means
An oyakata is a stablemaster or coach. Almost all are elders, which means retired wrestlers holding one of the association's 105 elder names. A stablemaster runs training and is treated as the father of the stable. To get an elder name, a wrestler needs a strong career record and Japanese citizenship.
Related words
- toshiyori年寄
- An elder of the Japan Sumo Association. There are 105 elder names.
- myōseki名跡
- An elder name. There are 105, and a wrestler needs one to stay on as an elder.
- heya部屋
- A stable: the house where wrestlers train, and where the juniors live.
- okamisan女将さん
- The stablemaster's wife, who runs much of stable life.