List of sumo record holders
Encyclopedia
This is a list of records held by wrestlers of professional sumo
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...

. Only performances in official tournaments or honbasho
Honbasho
A is an official professional sumo tournament. There are six held each year, a system established in 1958. Only honbasho results matter in determining promotion and relegation for rikishi ....

are included here. Since 1958 six honbasho have been held every year, giving wrestlers from the modern era more opportunities to accumulate championships and wins. Before this, tournaments were held less frequently; sometimes only once or twice per year.

Names in bold indicate a still active wrestler.

Most top division championships

This table does not include unofficial championships before the current yusho
Yusho
A Yūshō is a tournament championship in sumo. It is awarded in each of the six annual honbasho or official tournaments, to the wrestler who wins the most number of bouts. Yūshō are awarded in all six professional sumo divisions...

system was established in 1909.
Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Total Years
1 Taihō
Taiho Koki
Taihō Kōki is the 48th Yokozuna in the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971...

 
32 1960–71
2 Chiyonofuji  31 1981–90
3 Asashōryū  25 2002–10
4 Kitanoumi  24 1974–84
5 Takanohana  22 1992–2001
6 Hakuhō
Hakuho Sho
is a professional sumo wrestler from Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Making his debut in March 2001, he reached the top makuuchi division in May 2004. On May 30, 2007 at the age of 22 he became the second native of Mongolia, and the fourth non-Japanese overall, to be promoted to the highest rank in sumo,...

21 2006–
7 Wajima
Wajima Hiroshi
is a former sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Nanao, Ishikawa, Japan. He was sumo's 54th Yokozuna. He won a total of 14 tournament championships or yusho during his career and retired in March 1981....

 
14 1972–81
8= Futabayama  12 1936–43
8= Musashimaru  12 1994–2002
10 Akebono
Akebono Taro
is a retired American born-Japanese sumo wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining the professional sport in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian sumo wrestler Takamiyama and rose swiftly up the rankings, reaching the top division in 1990...

 
11 1992–2000
11= Tsunenohana  10 1921–30
11= Tochinishiki  10 1952–60
11= Wakanohana I
Wakanohana Kanji I
was a sumo wrestler, the sport's 45th Yokozuna .Wakanohana's younger brother was the late former ozeki Takanohana Kenshi and he was the uncle of Takanohana Koji and Wakanohana Masaru...

 
10 1956–60
11= Kitanofuji  10 1966–73

Most undefeated championships

This table lists wrestlers with the most championships achieved without a single loss, which is known as a zenshō yūshō. Tournaments have been consistently fifteen days long since May 1949. Before that date there were a number of different lengths, including ten, twelve and thirteen days. The records of Tachiyama, Tochigiyama and Tsunenohana also include some draws, holds and rest days.
Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Zenshō YūshōYears
1= Futabayama 8 1936–43
1= Taihō
Taiho Koki
Taihō Kōki is the 48th Yokozuna in the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971...

 
8 1963–69
1= Hakuhō 8 2007–
4= Tachiyama  7 1910–15
4= Kitanoumi  7 1977–84
4= Chiyonofuji  7 1983–89
7 Tochigiyama  6 1917–25
8 Asashōryū  5 2004–10
9= Haguroyama
Haguroyama Masaji
Haguroyama Masaji was a sumo wrestler from Nakanokuchi, Niigata, Japan. He was the sport's 36th yokozuna. He was a yokozuna for a period of twelve years and three months dating from his promotion to that rank in May 1941 until his retirement in September 1953, which is an all-time record...

 
4 1944–52
9= Tsunenohana 4 1921–28
9= Takanohana  4 1994–96

Most top division championship playoffs

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Total Won Lost
1 Takanohana
Takanohana Koji
is a former sumo wrestler from Suginami, Tokyo, Japan. He was the 65th man in history to reach sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, and he won 22 tournament championships between 1992 and 2001, the fifth highest total ever...

 
10 5 5
2= Hakuhō 8 4 4
2= Kitanoumi  8 3 5
4= Akebono
Akebono Taro
is a retired American born-Japanese sumo wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining the professional sport in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian sumo wrestler Takamiyama and rose swiftly up the rankings, reaching the top division in 1990...

 
7 4 3
4= Musashimaru  7 1 6
6= Chiyonofuji  6 6 0
6= Asashōryū  6 5 1
6= Taihō
Taiho Koki
Taihō Kōki is the 48th Yokozuna in the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971...

 
6 4 2
9 Hokutoumi  5 3 2
10= Wajima
Wajima Hiroshi
is a former sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Nanao, Ishikawa, Japan. He was sumo's 54th Yokozuna. He won a total of 14 tournament championships or yusho during his career and retired in March 1981....

 
4 3 1
10= Takanonami  4 2 2
10= Sadanoyama  4 1 3
10= Wakanohana
Wakanohana Masaru
is a former sumo wrestler from Tokyo, Japan. As an active wrestler he was known as Wakanohana III Masaru , and his rise through the ranks alongside his younger brother Takanohana Koji saw a boom in sumo's popularity in the early 1990s...

 
4 1 3

Most career wins

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Wins Years Highest rank
1 Kaiō
Kaio Hiroyuki
Kaiō Hiroyuki is a former professional sumo wrestler from Nōgata, Fukuoka, Japan.He made his debut in 1988, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1993. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for eleven years from 2000 to 2011, and is the longest-serving ozeki of all time in terms of...

 
1047 1988–2011 Ōzeki
2 Chiyonofuji  1045 1970–91 Yokozuna
3 Oshio
Oshio Kenji
Ōshio Kenji is a former sumo wrestler from Kitakyushu, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. His career lasted twenty six years, from 1962 until 1988, and he holds the record for the most bouts contested in professional sumo.-Career:He was born in Yahata Higashi ward...

 
964 1962–88 Komusubi
4 Kitanoumi  951 1967–84 Yokozuna
5 Taihō
Taiho Koki
Taihō Kōki is the 48th Yokozuna in the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971...

 
872 1956–71 Yokozuna
6 Terao
Terao Tsunefumi
Terao Tsunefumi is a former sumo wrestler. He was born in Tokyo, but brought up in Kajiki, Aira District, Kagoshima, Japan. He fought out of Izutsu stable...

 
860 1979–2002 Sekiwake
7 Akinoshima  822 1982–2003 Sekiwake
8 Takamiyama
Takamiyama Daigoro
Takamiyama Daigorō 高見山大五郎 is a former sumo wrestler, the first foreign born rikishi to win the top division championship . His highest rank was sekiwake...

 
812 1964–84 Sekiwake
9 Mitoizumi  807 1978–2000 Sekiwake
10 Takanohana  794 1988–2003 Yokozuna


Most top division wins

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Wins Years Highest rank
1 Kaiō
Kaio Hiroyuki
Kaiō Hiroyuki is a former professional sumo wrestler from Nōgata, Fukuoka, Japan.He made his debut in 1988, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1993. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for eleven years from 2000 to 2011, and is the longest-serving ozeki of all time in terms of...

 
879 1993–2011 Ōzeki
2 Chiyonofuji  807 1975–91 Yokozuna
3 Kitanoumi  804 1972–84 Yokozuna
4 Taihō
Taiho Koki
Taihō Kōki is the 48th Yokozuna in the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971...

 
746 1960–71 Yokozuna
5 Musashimaru  706 1991–2003 Yokozuna
6 Takanohana  701 1990–2003 Yokozuna
7 Takamiyama
Takamiyama Daigoro
Takamiyama Daigorō 高見山大五郎 is a former sumo wrestler, the first foreign born rikishi to win the top division championship . His highest rank was sekiwake...

 
683 1968–84 Sekiwake
8 Konishiki  649 1984–97 Ōzeki
9= Akinoshima  647 1988–2003 Sekiwake
9= Takanonami  647 1991–2004 Ōzeki

Most wins in a calendar year (90 bouts)

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Wins Year
1= Hakuhō 86 2009
1= Hakuhō 86 2010
3 Asashōryū  84 2005
4 Kitanoumi  82 1978
5 Taihō
Taiho Koki
Taihō Kōki is the 48th Yokozuna in the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971...

 
81 1963
6= Kitanoumi 80 1977
6= Chiyonofuji  80 1985
6= Takanohana
Takanohana Koji
is a former sumo wrestler from Suginami, Tokyo, Japan. He was the 65th man in history to reach sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, and he won 22 tournament championships between 1992 and 2001, the fifth highest total ever...

 
80 1994
6= Takanohana 80 1995


Most consecutive wins

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

Wins Start End Duration Defeated by
1 Futabayama  69 7th day January 1936 3rd day January 1939 2 years 11 months 27 days Akinoumi
=2 Tanikaze  63 1st day October 1778 6th day February 1782 3 years 4 months 5 days Onogawa
=2 Hakuhō 63 14th day January 2010 2nd day November 2010 9 months 23 days Kisenosato
Kisenosato Yutaka
Kisenosato Yutaka is a sumo wrestler from Ibaraki, Japan. He made his professional debut in 2002, and reached the top makuuchi division in 2004 at the age of just 18. His highest rank to date is sekiwake, which he reached in March 2009...

4 Umegatani I
Umegatani Totaro I
Umegatani Tōtarō was a sumo wrestler from Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. He was the sport's 15th Yokozuna. He was generally regarded as the strongest wrestler to emerge since the era of Tanikaze and Raiden.-Career:...

 
58 1st day April 1876 8th day January 1881 4 years 9 months 7 days Wakashima
5 Tachiyama  56 9th day January 1912 7th day May 1916 4 years 3 months 29 days Tochigiyama
6 Chiyonofuji  53 7th day May 1988 15th day November 1988 6 months 8 days Onokuni
7 Taihō
Taiho
Taihō or Taiho can refer to:* Taihō , a Japanese name for the years 701–704* Taihō Code, a reorganization of the Japanese government at the end of the Asuka period.* Japanese aircraft carrier Taihō...

 
45 2nd day September 1968 2nd day March 1969 6 months 0 days Toda

All time

The list includes Yokozuna and Ozeki (the highest rank before the yokozuna rank was introduced), but excludes so-called kanban or "Guest Ozeki" (usually big men drawn from local crowds to promote a tournament who would never appear on the banzuke
Banzuke
This article is about the banzuke document, for a list of wrestlers as ranked on an actual banzuke see List of active sumo wrestlersA , officially called is a document listing the rankings of professional sumo wrestlers published before each official tournament or honbasho. The term can also...

again) and wrestlers for which insufficient data is available.
Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Win-Loss Years rate
1 Raiden Tameemon  254–10 1790–1811 96.2%
2 Umegatani Tōtarō I
Umegatani Totaro I
Umegatani Tōtarō was a sumo wrestler from Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. He was the sport's 15th Yokozuna. He was generally regarded as the strongest wrestler to emerge since the era of Tanikaze and Raiden.-Career:...

 
116–6 1874–1885 95.1%
3 Tanikaze Kajinosuke
Tanikaze Kajinosuke
was a sumo wrestler in Japan in the Tokugawa era, and the first to be awarded the title of Yokozuna within his own lifetime. He achieved great fame and won 21 tournament championships. He was also the coach of Raiden Tameemon.- Early career :...

 
258–14 1769–1794 94.9%
4 Jinmaku Kyūgorō
Jinmaku Kyugoro
Jinmaku Kyūgorō was a sumo wrestler from what is now Shimane, Japan. He was the sport's 12th Yokozuna.-Career:...

 
87–5 1858–1867 94.6%
5 Onogawa Kisaburō
Onogawa Kisaburo
Onogawa Kisaburō was a sumo wrestler from Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. He was the sport's 5th Yokozuna. Along with Tanikaze he was the first to be given a yokozuna licence by the House of Yoshida Tsukasa and the first to perform the dohyō-iri to promote sumo tournaments.-Career:Onogawa was...

 
144–13 1781–1797 91.7%


Modern era

In 1927, Tokyo sumo merged with Osaka sumo and most of the sumo systems were changed. The list excludes active wrestlers. As of May 21, 2011, Hakuhō's is 83.4%
Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Win-Loss Years rate
1 Taihō Kōki
Taiho Koki
Taihō Kōki is the 48th Yokozuna in the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971...

 
746-144 1960-1971 83.8%
2 Futabayama Sadaji
Futabayama Sadaji
Futabayama Sadaji , born as Akiyoshi Sadaji in Oita Prefecture, Japan, was the 35th Yokozuna in sumo wrestling, from 1937 until 1945. He won twelve top division championships and had a winning streak of 69 consecutive bouts, an all-time record. Despite his dominance he was extremely popular with...

 
276-68 1932-1945 80.2%
3 Asashōryū Akinori
Asashōryū Akinori
is a former sumo wrestler from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. He was the 68th yokozuna in the history of the sport in Japan and became the first Mongol to reach sumo's highest rank in January 2003. He was one of the most successful yokozuna ever. In 2005 he became the first man to win all six official...

 
596-153 2001-2010 79.6%
4 Haguroyama Masaji
Haguroyama Masaji
Haguroyama Masaji was a sumo wrestler from Nakanokuchi, Niigata, Japan. He was the sport's 36th yokozuna. He was a yokozuna for a period of twelve years and three months dating from his promotion to that rank in May 1941 until his retirement in September 1953, which is an all-time record...

 
321-94 1937-1953 77.3%
5 Kitanoumi Toshimitsu
Kitanoumi Toshimitsu
Kitanoumi Toshimitsu is a former sumo wrestler and former Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. He was the dominant yokozuna in sumo during the 1970s. Toshimitsu was promoted to yokozuna at age 21, becoming the youngest ever to achieve sumo's top rank, and he remained a yokozuna for a record 63...

 
804-247 1972-1985 76.5%


Most career bouts

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Total Years Highest rank
1 Ōshio
Oshio Kenji
Ōshio Kenji is a former sumo wrestler from Kitakyushu, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. His career lasted twenty six years, from 1962 until 1988, and he holds the record for the most bouts contested in professional sumo.-Career:He was born in Yahata Higashi ward...

 
1891 1962-88 Komusubi
2 Terao
Terao Tsunefumi
Terao Tsunefumi is a former sumo wrestler. He was born in Tokyo, but brought up in Kajiki, Aira District, Kagoshima, Japan. He fought out of Izutsu stable...

 
1795 1979-2002 Sekiwake
3 Kaiō
Kaio Hiroyuki
Kaiō Hiroyuki is a former professional sumo wrestler from Nōgata, Fukuoka, Japan.He made his debut in 1988, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1993. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for eleven years from 2000 to 2011, and is the longest-serving ozeki of all time in terms of...

 
1731 1988-2011 Ōzeki
4 Takamiyama  1654 1964-84 Sekiwake
5 Aobajō
Aobajo Yukio
Aobajō Yukio is a former sumo wrestler from Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. He did not miss a single bout in his 22 year professional career, and holds the record for the most consecutive matches fought, at 1630. He is now a sumo coach.-Career:He made his debut in March 1964, joining Nishonoseki...

 
1630 1964-86 Sekiwake
6 Fujikazura
Fujizakura Yoshimori
Fujizakura Yoshimori is a former sumo wrestler from Kōfu, Yamanashi, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. He wrestled for Takasago stable. He has one of the longest professional careers of any wrestler, fighting 1613 bouts in total, of which 1543 were consecutive. This latter record is second...

 
1613 1963-85 Sekiwake
7 Akinoshima  1575 1982-2003 Sekiwake
8 Mitoizumi  1564 1978-2000 Sekiwake
9 Kirinji
Kirinji Kazuharu
Kirinji Kazuharu is a former sumo wrestler from Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. During his long career he won several awards and set a number of longevity records. He is now a sumo coach.-Career:He made his professional debut in May 1967 at the age of just 14,...

 
1562 1967-88 Sekiwake
10 Ōzutsu
Ōzutsu Takeshi
Ōzutsu Takeshi is a former sumo wrestler from Mie, Japan. Beginning his professional career in May 1971, he was ranked in the top makuuchi division continuously from March 1979 to January 1992, and his record of 1170 consecutive bouts there is the second best in history after Takamiyama. His...

 
1561 1971-92 Sekiwake


Most top division bouts

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Total Years Highest rank
1 Kaiō
Kaio Hiroyuki
Kaiō Hiroyuki is a former professional sumo wrestler from Nōgata, Fukuoka, Japan.He made his debut in 1988, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1993. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for eleven years from 2000 to 2011, and is the longest-serving ozeki of all time in terms of...

 
1444 1993-2011 Ōzeki
2 Takamiyama  1430 1968-84 Sekiwake
3 Terao
Terao Tsunefumi
Terao Tsunefumi is a former sumo wrestler. He was born in Tokyo, but brought up in Kajiki, Aira District, Kagoshima, Japan. He fought out of Izutsu stable...

 
1378 1985-2001 Sekiwake
4 Akinoshima  1283 1988-2003 Sekiwake
5 Kotonowaka  1260 1990-2005 Sekiwake
6 Kirinji
Kirinji Kazuharu
Kirinji Kazuharu is a former sumo wrestler from Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. During his long career he won several awards and set a number of longevity records. He is now a sumo coach.-Career:He made his professional debut in May 1967 at the age of just 14,...

 
1221 1974-88 Sekiwake
7 Tosanoumi  1183 1995-2010 Sekiwake
8 Tochinonada 1182 1997- Sekiwake
9 Ozutsu
Ōzutsu Takeshi
Ōzutsu Takeshi is a former sumo wrestler from Mie, Japan. Beginning his professional career in May 1971, he was ranked in the top makuuchi division continuously from March 1979 to January 1992, and his record of 1170 consecutive bouts there is the second best in history after Takamiyama. His...

 
1170 1979-92 Sekiwake
10 Tsurugamine  1128 1953-67 Sekiwake


Most consecutive career bouts

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Total Years Highest rank
1 Aobajo  1630 1964-86 Sekiwake
2 Fujizakura  1543 1963-84 Sekiwake
3 Takatoriki  1456 1983-2002 Sekiwake
4 Takamiyama  1425 1964-81 Sekiwake
5 Dairyugawa  1367 1961-79 Maegashira 1
6 Terao  1359 1979-97 Sekiwake
7 Hidanohana  1297 1969-89 Maegashira 1
8 Ozutsu
Ōzutsu Takeshi
Ōzutsu Takeshi is a former sumo wrestler from Mie, Japan. Beginning his professional career in May 1971, he was ranked in the top makuuchi division continuously from March 1979 to January 1992, and his record of 1170 consecutive bouts there is the second best in history after Takamiyama. His...

 
1267 1978-92 Sekiwake
9 Otsukasa 1256 1993-2009 Maegashira 4

Most consecutive top division bouts

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Total Years Highest rank
1 Takamiyama  1231 1968-81 Sekiwake
2 Ozutsu
Ōzutsu Takeshi
Ōzutsu Takeshi is a former sumo wrestler from Mie, Japan. Beginning his professional career in May 1971, he was ranked in the top makuuchi division continuously from March 1979 to January 1992, and his record of 1170 consecutive bouts there is the second best in history after Takamiyama. His...

 
1170 1979-92 Sekiwake
3 Kurohimeyama  1065 1969-81 Sekiwake
4 Terao  1063 1985-97 Sekiwake
5 Hasegawa
Hasegawa Katsutoshi
Hasegawa Katsutoshi is a former sumo wrestler from Sorachi, Hokkaidō, Japan. He began his professional career in 1960, reaching the top division in 1965. He won eight special prizes for his achievements in tournaments and earned nine gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He won a tournament...

 
1024 1965-76 Sekiwake
6 Takatoriki  975 1990-2001 Sekiwake
7 Ohikari  945 1950-63 Komusubi
8 Kitanoumi 863 1972-81 Yokozuna

Most tournaments in top division

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Total First Last
1 Kaiō
Kaio Hiroyuki
Kaiō Hiroyuki is a former professional sumo wrestler from Nōgata, Fukuoka, Japan.He made his debut in 1988, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1993. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for eleven years from 2000 to 2011, and is the longest-serving ozeki of all time in terms of...

 
107 July 1993 July 2011
2 Takamiyama  97 January 1968 January 1984
3 Terao
Terao Tsunefumi
Terao Tsunefumi is a former sumo wrestler. He was born in Tokyo, but brought up in Kajiki, Aira District, Kagoshima, Japan. He fought out of Izutsu stable...

 
93 March 1985 May 2001
4 Akinoshima  91 March 1988 May 2003
4 Kotonowaka  90 November 1990 November 2005
6 Kirinji
Kirinji Kazuharu
Kirinji Kazuharu is a former sumo wrestler from Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. During his long career he won several awards and set a number of longevity records. He is now a sumo coach.-Career:He made his professional debut in May 1967 at the age of just 14,...

 
84 September 1974 September 1988
7= Chiyonofuji  81 September 1975 May 1991
7= Konishiki  81 July 1984 November 1997
7= Tochinonada 81 May 1997
10 Tosanoumi  80 July 1995 September 2010

Most tournaments at Yokozuna

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Total First Last
1 Kitanoumi  63 July 1974 January 1985
2 Chiyonofuji  59 September 1981 May 1991
3 Taihō
Taiho Koki
Taihō Kōki is the 48th Yokozuna in the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971...

 
58 November 1961 May 1971
4 Takanohana II
Takanohana Koji
is a former sumo wrestler from Suginami, Tokyo, Japan. He was the 65th man in history to reach sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, and he won 22 tournament championships between 1992 and 2001, the fifth highest total ever...

 
49 January 1995 January 2003
5 Akebono
Akebono Taro
is a retired American born-Japanese sumo wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining the professional sport in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian sumo wrestler Takamiyama and rose swiftly up the rankings, reaching the top division in 1990...

 
48 March 1993 January 2001
6= Kashiwado  47 November 1961 July 1969
6= Wajima
Wajima Hiroshi
is a former sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Nanao, Ishikawa, Japan. He was sumo's 54th Yokozuna. He won a total of 14 tournament championships or yusho during his career and retired in March 1981....

 
47 July 1973 March 1981
8 Asashōryū  42 March 2003 January 2010
9 Chiyonoyama  32 September 1951 January 1959
10= Haguroyama
Haguroyama Masaji
Haguroyama Masaji was a sumo wrestler from Nakanokuchi, Niigata, Japan. He was the sport's 36th yokozuna. He was a yokozuna for a period of twelve years and three months dating from his promotion to that rank in May 1941 until his retirement in September 1953, which is an all-time record...

 
30 January 1942 September 1953
10= Hokutoumi  30 July 1987 May 1992

Most tournaments at Ozeki

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Total First Last Ended by
1= Chiyotaikai  65 March 1999 November 2009 Demotion
1= Kaiō
Kaio Hiroyuki
Kaiō Hiroyuki is a former professional sumo wrestler from Nōgata, Fukuoka, Japan.He made his debut in 1988, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1993. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for eleven years from 2000 to 2011, and is the longest-serving ozeki of all time in terms of...

 
65 September 2000 July 2011 Retirement
3 Takanohana I
Takanohana Kenshi
Takanohana Kenshi 貴ノ花健士 was a sumo wrestler from Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki, which he held for fifty tournaments. As an active rikishi he was extremely popular and was nicknamed the "prince of sumo" due to his good looks and relatively slim build...

 
50 November 1972 January 1981 Retirement
4 Hokutenyu  44 July 1983 September 1990 Retirement
5 Konishiki  39 July 1987 November 1993 Demotion
6 Takanonami  37 March 1994 May 2000 Demotion
7 Asashio
Asashio Taro IV
Asashio Tarō IV is a former sumo wrestler from Muroto, Kochi, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki...

 
36 May 1983 March 1989 Retirement
8 Kotooshu 35 January 2006
9 Yutakayama
Yutakayama Katsuo
Yutakayama Katsuo is a former sumo wrestler from Niigata, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki. Although he never managed to win a top division tournament championship he was a runner-up on eight occasions...

 
34 March 1963 September 1968 Retirement
10= Kotozakura  32 November 1967 January 1973 Promotion
10= Musashimaru  32 March 1994 May 1999 Promotion

Most tournaments in junior sanyaku (komusubi and sekiwake ranks)

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Total First Last
1 Kotonishiki  34 September 1990 September 1999
2 Kaiō
Kaio Hiroyuki
Kaiō Hiroyuki is a former professional sumo wrestler from Nōgata, Fukuoka, Japan.He made his debut in 1988, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1993. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for eleven years from 2000 to 2011, and is the longest-serving ozeki of all time in terms of...

 
32 May 1994 July 2000
3 Musoyama  31 March 1994 September 2000
4= Hasegawa
Hasegawa Katsutoshi
Hasegawa Katsutoshi is a former sumo wrestler from Sorachi, Hokkaidō, Japan. He began his professional career in 1960, reaching the top division in 1965. He won eight special prizes for his achievements in tournaments and earned nine gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He won a tournament...

 
30 November 1965 September 1974
4= Kotomitsuki  30 January 2001 July 2007
6= Akinoshima  27 November 1988 September 2000
6= Takamiyama  27 November 1969 September 1982
8= Takatoriki  26 May 1991 May 2000
8= Wakanosato 26 November 2000 September 2005
10= Daikirin  22 November 1966 September 1970
10= Tochiazuma  22 July 1997 January 2005
10= Kisenosato 22 July 2006

Progress to top division

The table for the fastest progress shows wrestlers with the fewest tournaments from their professional debut to their top division
Makuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....

 debut since the six tournaments a year system was introduced in 1958. It excludes makushita tsukedashi entrants who made their debut in the third makushita division.

Fastest progress to top division

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Tournaments Pro Debut Top division debut Highest rank
1= Kotooshu 11 November 2002 September 2004 Ozeki
1= Aran
Aran Hakutora
Aran Hakutora is a Russian sumo wrestler. He began his professional career in January 2007 and made the top division in a record eleven tournaments. The highest rank he has reached is sekiwake...

11 January 2007 November 2008 Sekiwake
3= Itai  12 September 1978 September 1980 Komusubi
3= Konishiki  12 July 1982 July 1984 Ozeki
3= Tochiazuma  12 November 1994 November 1996 Ozeki
3= Asashōryū  12 January 1999 January 2001 Yokozuna
3= Tokitenku 12 July 2002 July 2004 Komusubi
3= Yoshikaze 12 January 2004 January 2006 Maegashira 1
3= Baruto 12 May 2004 May 2006 Ozeki
3= Sakaizawa  12 March 2006 March 2008 Maegashira 15
3= Yamamotoyama
Yamamotoyama Ryuta
Yamamotoyama Ryūta is a former sumo wrestler from the city of Saitama in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Making his professional debut in January 2007, he reached the top makuuchi division in January 2009. His highest rank was maegashira 9. At , he is the heaviest Japanese-born sumo wrestler ever...

 
12 January 2007 January 2009 Maegashira 9
12= Asahifuji  13 January 1981 March 1983 Yokozuna
12= Takahanada  13 March 1988 May 1990 Yokozuna
12= Musashimaru  13 September 1989 November 1991 Yokozuna
12= Homasho 13 March 2004 May 2006 Komusubi
12= Tochiozan 13 January 2005 March 2007 Sekiwake
12= Tochinoshin 13 March 2006 May 2008 Komusubi

Slowest progress to top division

Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

 
Tournaments Pro Debut Top division debut Highest rank
1 Hoshiiwato  115 May 1970 July 1989 Maegashira 14
2 Kyokunankai  105 March 1993 September 2010 Maegashira 16
3 Yoshiazuma 93 January 1996 September 2011 Maegashira 13
4 Kotokasuga  91 March 1993 May 2008 Maegashira 7
5 Kototsubaki  89 March 1976 January 1991 Maegashira 3
6 Toyozakura  88 March 1989 November 2003 Maegashira 5
7 Takanomine  87 September 1974 March 1989 Maegashira 12
8 Kitazakura  86 March 1987 July 2001 Maegashira 9
9 Daimanazuru  85 May 1992 July 2006 Maegashira 16
10 Onohana  84 March 1974 March 1988 Maegashira 13

Most special prizes

Special prizes or sanshō
Sansho (Sumo)
Sanshō are the three special prizes awarded to top division sumo wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo honbasho or tournament. The prizes were first awarded in November 1947.-Criteria:...

were first awarded in 1947. They can only be given to wrestlers ranked at sekiwake or below.
Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

Total Outstanding
Performance
Fighting
Spirit
Technique Years Highest rank
1 Akinoshima  19 7 8 4 1988-99 Sekiwake
2 Kotonishiki  18 7 3 8 1990-98 Sekiwake
3 Kaiō
Kaio Hiroyuki
Kaiō Hiroyuki is a former professional sumo wrestler from Nōgata, Fukuoka, Japan.He made his debut in 1988, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1993. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for eleven years from 2000 to 2011, and is the longest-serving ozeki of all time in terms of...

 
15 10 5 0 1994-2000 Ozeki
4= Tsurugamine  14 2 2 10 1956-66 Sekiwake
4= Asashio
Asashio Taro IV
Asashio Tarō IV is a former sumo wrestler from Muroto, Kochi, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki...

 
14 10 3 1 1979-83 Ozeki
4= Takatoriki  14 3 10 1 1990-2000 Sekiwake
7= Musoyama  13 5 4 4 1994-2000 Ozeki
7= Tosanoumi  13 7 5 1 1995-2003 Sekiwake
7= Kotomitsuki  13 2 4 7 2000-07 Ozeki
10 Tochiazuma  12 3 2 7 1996-2001 Ozeki
11= Takamiyama  11 6 5 0 1968-81 Sekiwake
11= Daiju
Daiju Hisateru
Daiju Hisateru is a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki, but he held the rank for only five tournaments, fewer than any ozeki in the modern era. He won eleven sansho or special prizes during his top division career which lasted from 1970 to 1977...

 
11 4 1 6 1970-73 Ozeki
11= Kirinji
Kirinji Kazuharu
Kirinji Kazuharu is a former sumo wrestler from Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. During his long career he won several awards and set a number of longevity records. He is now a sumo coach.-Career:He made his professional debut in May 1967 at the age of just 14,...

 
11 4 4 3 1975-88 Sekiwake
11= Hoshi
Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi
Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi is a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. He is the sport's 61st Yokozuna. He is now the head coach of Hakkaku stable.-Early life:...

 
11 3 3 5 1983-86 Yokozuna

Most gold stars

Gold stars or kinboshi
Kinboshi
Kinboshi is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked wrestler's victory over a yokozuna....

are awarded to maegashira ranked wrestlers who defeat a yokozuna.
Name
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...

Total Years Highest rank
1 Akinoshima  16 1988-99 Sekiwake
2= Takamiyama  12 1968-78 Sekiwake
2= Tochinonada 12 1998-2008 Sekiwake
4 Tosanoumi  11 1995-2003 Sekiwake
5= Kitanonada  10 1954-61 Sekiwake
5= Annenyama  10 1955-61 Sekiwake
5= Tsurugamine  10 1955-61 Sekiwake
5= Dewanishiki  10 1949-63 Sekiwake
5= Ozutsu
Ōzutsu Takeshi
Ōzutsu Takeshi is a former sumo wrestler from Mie, Japan. Beginning his professional career in May 1971, he was ranked in the top makuuchi division continuously from March 1979 to January 1992, and his record of 1170 consecutive bouts there is the second best in history after Takamiyama. His...

 
10 1979-86 Sekiwake
10= Mitsuneyama  9 1944-57 Ozeki
10= Tamanoumi
Tamanoumi Daitaro
Tamanoumi Daitaro, real name Tomohiro Miura, was a sumo wrestler from Oita, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake. He won a top division tournament championship in 1957...

 
9 1953-58 Sekiwake
10= Hasegawa
Hasegawa Katsutoshi
Hasegawa Katsutoshi is a former sumo wrestler from Sorachi, Hokkaidō, Japan. He began his professional career in 1960, reaching the top division in 1965. He won eight special prizes for his achievements in tournaments and earned nine gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He won a tournament...

 
9 1965-74 Sekiwake
10= Fujizakura  9 1973-81 Sekiwake
10= Takatoriki 9 1990-98 Sekiwake
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