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. The tables are up to date as of the end of the March 2024 tournament.
Most career championships
+ Raiden is said to have had the best record in 28 tournaments between 1790 and 1810, Tanikaze 21 between 1772 and 1793, and Kashiwado 16 between 1812 and 1822. Tachiyama won two unofficial championships and nine official, giving him a total of 11. | Most undefeated championships
+ Tournaments have been consistently fifteen days long since May 1949. Before that date there were a number of different lengths, including ten, eleven, twelve, and thirteen days. The records of Tachiyama, Tochigiyama and Tsunenohana also include some draws, holds and rest days. | Most consecutive championships
+ Four of these titles were in perfect tournaments (zenshō-yūshō) and were part of Hakuhō's second-place streak of 63 consecutive wins. | Most championship playoffs
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Most career wins
| Most top division wins
| Most wins in a calendar year (90 bouts)
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Name | Wins [a] | Start | End | Duration | Defeated by | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Futabayama | 69 | 7 January 1936 | 3 January 1939 | 2 years, 11 months and 27 days | Akinoumi |
2 | Tanikaze | 63 | 1 October 1778 | 6 February 1782 | 3 years, 4 months and 5 days | Onogawa |
Hakuhō | 63 | 23 January 2010 | 15 November 2010 | 9 months and 19 days | Kisenosato | |
4 | Umegatani I | 58 | 1 April 1876 | 8 January 1881 | 4 years, 9 months and 7 days | Wakashima |
5 | Tachiyama | 56 | 9 January 1912 | 7 May 1916 | 4 years, 3 months and 28 days | Tochigiyama |
6 | Chiyonofuji | 53 | 7 May 1988 | 27 November 1988 | 6 months and 20 days | Ōnokuni |
7 | Taihō | 45 | 2 September 1968 | 2 March 1969 | 6 months | Toda |
Name | Wins [b] | Start | End | Duration | Defeated by | Highest rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jōkōryū | 27 | 11 July 2011 | 20 January 2012 | 6 months and 9 days | Senshō | Komusubi |
2 | Itai | 26 | 12 November 1978 | 16 May 1979 | 6 months and 4 days | Ōnishiki | Komusubi |
Tochiazuma II | 26 | 15 January 1995 | 12 September 1995 | 7 months and 28 days | Dewaarashi | Ōzeki | |
4 | Ōshōryū | 24 | 8 July 2019 | 18 January 2020 | 6 months and 10 days | Kotodaigō | Makushita 7 |
5 | Tokitenkū | 22 | 8 September 2002 | 11 March 2003 | 6 months and 3 days | Furuichi | Komusubi |
6 | Kototenzan | 21 | 12 January 1986 | 20 July 1986 | 6 months and 8 days | retired | Makushita 43 |
Enhō | 21 | 15 May 2017 | 13 November 2017 | 5 months and 29 days | Jōkōryū | Maegashira 4 | |
Hokuseihō | 21 | 19 July 2020 | 15 March 2021 | 7 months and 24 days | Tokisakae | Maegashira 6 | |
Fujiseiun | 21 | 10 May 2021 | 15 November 2021 | 6 months and 5 days | Kamito | Juryo 7 | |
10 | Akiseyama | 20 | 10 March 2008 | 25 July 2008 | 4 months and 15 days | Surugatsukasa | Maegashira 12 |
Tsurugishō | 20 | 9 March 2014 | 25 July 2014 | 4 months and 16 days | Hienriki | Maegashira 7 | |
Aonishiki | 20 | 12 November 2023 | 22 March 2024 | 4 months and 10 days | Nagamura | Makushita 4 |
All timeThe list includes yokozuna and ōzeki (the highest rank before the yokozuna rank was introduced), but excludes so-called kanban or "guest ōzeki" (usually big men drawn from local crowds to promote a tournament who would never appear on the banzuke again) and wrestlers for which insufficient data is available.
| Modern eraIn 1927, the Tokyo Sumo Association merged with the Osaka Sumo Association to form the Japan Sumo Association, and most of the sumo systems were changed, so any pre-1927 records are disregarded. The list excludes active wrestlers. [c]
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Losses by default are excluded.
Most career bouts
| Most top division bouts
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Most consecutive career bouts
* No bouts missed in career/career to date | Most consecutive top division bouts
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The March 2011 and May 2020 tournaments were cancelled and are not included in these totals.
Most tournaments ranked in the top division
| Most tournaments ranked at yokozuna
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Most tournaments ranked at ōzeki
| Most tournaments ranked in junior san'yaku (komusubi and sekiwake ranks)
Most career tournamentsAs of November 2024 tournament. Tournaments in banzuke-gai (out of banzuke) status are not included
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The table for the fastest progress shows wrestlers with the fewest tournaments from their professional debut to their top division debut since the six tournaments a year system was introduced in 1958. It excludes makushita tsukedashi and sandanme tsukedashi entrants who made their debut in the third makushita division and the fourth sandanme division.
Fastest progress to top division
| Slowest progress to top division
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Special prizes or sanshō were first awarded in 1947. They can only be given to wrestlers ranked at sekiwake or below. For the current list of active special prize winners, see here.
Name | Total | Outstanding Performance | Fighting Spirit | Technique | Years | Highest rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Akinoshima | 19 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 1988–1999 | Sekiwake |
2 | Kotonishiki | 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 1990–1998 | Sekiwake |
3 | Kaiō | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 1994–2000 | Ōzeki |
4 | Tsurugamine | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 1956–1966 | Sekiwake |
Asashio | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1979–1983 | Ōzeki | |
Takatōriki | 14 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 1990–2000 | Sekiwake | |
7 | Musōyama | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1994–2000 | Ōzeki |
Tosanoumi | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1995–2003 | Sekiwake | |
Kotomitsuki | 13 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 2000–2007 | Ōzeki | |
10 | Tochiazuma II | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 1996–2001 | Ōzeki |
Aminishiki | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2000–2017 | Sekiwake | |
Takayasu | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2013–2022 | Ōzeki | |
Gold stars or kinboshi are awarded to maegashira ranked wrestlers who defeat a yokozuna. For a list of current kinboshi earners, see here.
Name | Total | Years | Highest rank | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Akinoshima | 16 | 1988–1999 | Sekiwake |
2 | Takamiyama | 12 | 1968–1978 | Sekiwake |
Tochinonada | 12 | 1998–2008 | Sekiwake | |
4 | Tosanoumi | 11 | 1995–2003 | Sekiwake |
5 | Kitanonada | 10 | 1954–1961 | Sekiwake |
Annenyama | 10 | 1955–1961 | Sekiwake | |
Tsurugamine | 10 | 1955–1961 | Sekiwake | |
Dewanishiki | 10 | 1949–1963 | Sekiwake | |
Ōzutsu | 10 | 1979–1986 | Sekiwake | |
10 | Mitsuneyama | 9 | 1944–1957 | Ōzeki |
Tamanoumi | 9 | 1953–1958 | Sekiwake | |
Hasegawa | 9 | 1965–1974 | Sekiwake | |
Fujizakura | 9 | 1973–1981 | Sekiwake | |
Takatōriki | 9 | 1990–1998 | Sekiwake | |
Ichinojō | 9 | 2014–2022 | Sekiwake |
Yokozuna by their age at the time of promotion, showing both years and months for added detail.
Rank | Yokozuna | Date of Promotion | Age at Promotion (Years, Months) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Kitanoumi | July 20, 1974 | 21 years, 2 months |
2 | Taihō | September 27, 1961 | 21 years, 4 months |
3 | Hakuhō | May 30, 2007 | 22 years, 2 months |
4 | Asashōryū | January 30, 2003 | 22 years, 4 months |
5 | Takanohana II | December 1994 | 22 years, 4 months |
6 | Futahaguro | July 1986 | 22 years, 10 months |
7 | Kashiwado | November 1961 | 23 years, 0 months |
8 | Terukuni | June 1942 | 23 years, 6 months |
9 | Akebono | January 27, 1993 | 23 years, 8 months |
10 | Ōnokuni | September 1987 | 24 years, 11 months |
Tosanoumi Toshio, is a former sumo wrestler. He first reached the top division of professional sumo in 1995, winning 13 special prizes and earning 11 kinboshi or gold stars for defeating yokozuna over his long career. The highest rank he reached was sekiwake. He retired in 2010 to become a coach at his stable, Isenoumi stable under the name of Tatekawa.
Tochinonada Taiichi is a former sumo wrestler from Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. An amateur sumo champion, he turned professional in 1996 and reached the top makuuchi division in 1997. He earned twelve kinboshi or gold stars for defeating yokozuna, the second highest ever, and he was a runner-up in two tournaments. His highest rank was sekiwake. He is now a coach at Kasugano stable under the name Takenawa Oyakata.
Tamanoshima Arata is a former sumo wrestler from Izumizaki, Fukushima, Japan. A former amateur champion, he made his professional debut in 1998, reaching the top makuuchi division at the end of 2000. He was twice runner-up in a tournament, and earned six special prizes and two gold stars during his career. His highest rank was sekiwake. He wrestled for Kataonami stable. He retired in November 2011 to become an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and is now known as Hanaregoma Oyakata. In December 2021 he became head coach of Hanaregoma stable.
The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan.
Ryōgoku Kajinosuke IV is a former sumo wrestler from Nagasaki, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. He is now a sumo coach under the name of Sakaigawa.
Kushimaumi Keita, born as Keita Kushima, was a sumo wrestler from Shingū, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. A successful amateur, his highest rank in professional sumo was maegashira 1. After his retirement he became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and established Tagonoura stable.
Myōgiryū Yasunari is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Takasago, Hyōgo. Making his debut in May 2009 as a makushita tsukedashi out of university, he reached the top division for the first time in November 2011. His highest rank to date has been sekiwake. He has earned six special prizes for Technique and six kinboshi for defeating yokozuna. He was runner-up in the September 2021 tournament.
Shōhōzan Yūya is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Chikujō, Fukuoka. Wrestling for Hanaregoma stable, he made his professional debut in March 2006 and reached the top makuuchi division in November 2011. His highest rank was komusubi, which he achieved on five separate occasions. He earned three Fighting Spirit prizes, five kinboshi or gold stars for defeating yokozuna, and was runner-up in one tournament before retiring from competition in June 2022.
Jōkōryū Takayuki is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. He made his professional debut in 2011 after a successful college career in sumo. He currently holds the record for the most consecutive wins since entering professional sumo, with 27, and for the fastest rise to the top makuuchi division from the lowest jonokuchi division. His highest was komusubi, which he reached in September 2014. However, because of injuries he fell down the rankings, reaching a low of sandanme 23 in November 2016. He returned to the jūryō division for four tournaments from November 2020 until May 2021, but announced his retirement in September 2022 having fallen to the makushita division.
Takarafuji Daisuke is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler. He made his professional debut in January 2009, reaching the top makuuchi division in July 2011. He wrestles for the Isegahama Stable. The highest rank he has reached is sekiwake. He has not missed a bout in his career to date.
Ōnishiki Ittetsu is a former sumo wrestler from Sado, Niigata, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1968, and reached the top division in September 1973. His highest rank was komusubi. He retired in January 1988 and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Yamashina, holding the Special Executive position.
Dewanohana Yoshitaka is a former sumo wrestler from Nakasato, Aomori, Japan. He made his professional debut in July 1974, and reached the top division in November 1977. His highest rank was sekiwake. He retired in January 1988 and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Dekiyama. Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 in May 2016 he was re-hired by the Sumo Association for five years as a consultant.
Asanosho Hajime is a former sumo wrestler from Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1992, and reached the top division in March 1995. His highest rank was maegashira 2. He defeated yokozuna Akebono in their first meeting in March 1997 to earn his only kinboshi. A back injury sent him down to the sandanme division, and he decided to retire in January 2002, after suffering a detached retina. He became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, but left in January 2008.
Chiyotairyū Hidemasa is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Arakawa, Tokyo, Japan. A former amateur champion at university, he made his professional debut in May 2011, as a makushita tsukedashi recruit and reached the top division in May 2012. He earned his first gold star or kinboshi by defeating yokozuna Harumafuji in the March 2013 tournament. His highest rank was komusubi. He had one special prize, for Technique. He wrestled for Kokonoe stable.
Tokushōryū Makoto is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Nara. An amateur sumo competitor while studying at Kinki University, he joined Kise stable and made his professional debut in January 2009. He won championships in the jonokuchi, sandanme and jūryō divisions, and first reached the top makuuchi division in July 2013. After spending most of 2018 and 2019 in the second tier, Tokushōryū returned to makuuchi in January 2020 and recorded 14 wins to take an upset top-division championship victory at the age of 33. He retired from competition in September 2023 and is now coaching at Kise stable as an elder. His highest rank was maegashira 2, and he earned one kinboshi and two special prizes in his career.
Ichinojō Takashi is a former professional sumo wrestler from Arkhangai, Mongolia. He was the second foreign-born wrestler, and the first of non-Japanese descent allowed to debut at an elevated rank in the third makushita division of professional sumo due to his amateur sumo success. Wrestling for Minato stable, he took the second division jūryō championship in only his third professional tournament. In his fifth tournament, his first in the top makuuchi division, he was the runner-up and promoted all the way to sekiwake, his highest rank to date. Ichinojō acquired Japanese citizenship in September 2021, taking the name Miura Takashi. He won the top division championship in July 2022. He was one of the heaviest rikishi in the top division as of September 2020. He retired from active competition in May 2023.
Shōdai Naoya is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Uto, Kumamoto. He is in the Tokitsukaze stable. He is a right hand inside-type wrestler. His highest rank is ōzeki. He has two gold stars for defeating a yokozuna and seven special prizes, six for Fighting Spirit and one for Outstanding Performance. He was runner-up in two tournaments before winning his first top-division championship in September 2020.
Hokutofuji Daiki is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Tokorozawa, Saitama. His debut in maezumō was in March 2015, and his first makuuchi division honbasho was the Kyūshū tournament in November 2016. His highest rank has been komusubi. He has seven kinboshi or gold stars for a defeat of a yokozuna and two special prizes for Technique and one for Fighting spirit. He wrestles for Hakkaku stable.
Meisei Chikara is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Setouchi, Kagoshima. He debuted in sumo wrestling in July 2011 and made his makuuchi debut in July 2018. His highest rank has been sekiwake. He wrestles for Tatsunami stable. Unusually for a top-class sumo wrestler, he uses his given name as his shikona.
Takanoshō Nobuaki is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kashiwa, Chiba. He made his professional debut in March 2010, reaching the top makuuchi division in September 2018. His highest rank has been sekiwake. He has won three prizes for Fighting Spirit and one for Outstanding Performance. He has three gold stars for defeating a yokozuna while ranked as a maegashira and has been a runner-up in three top division tournaments. He wrestles for Tokiwayama stable.