List of sumo record holders
Encyclopedia
This is a list of records held by wrestlers of professional sumo
. Only performances in official tournaments or honbasho
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.
system was established in 1909.
again) and wrestlers for which insufficient data is available.
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.
were first awarded in 1947. They can only be given to wrestlers ranked at sekiwake or below.
are awarded to maegashira ranked wrestlers who defeat a yokozuna.
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 yushoYusho
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 Yūshō | Years | |
---|---|---|---|
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 banzukeBanzuke
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 divisionMakuuchi
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 sanshōSansho (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 kinboshiKinboshi
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 |