Makuuchi facts for kids

A makuuchi match with the 69th yokozuna Hakuhō beating Dejima as the 68th yokozuna Asashōryū watches in the background

Makuuchi (幕内) is the top division in professional sumo. It is the highest level of sumo wrestling. This division has 42 wrestlers, called rikishi. They are ranked into five groups based on how well they did in past tournaments.

This is the only sumo division shown live on NHK, Japan's main TV channel. Lower divisions are shown on satellite TV. The makuuchi broadcast also has English commentary.

The word Makuuchi means "inside the curtain." This name comes from a long time ago. Back then, the top wrestlers had a special curtained-off area where they waited before their matches.

Wrestlers can move up or down in rank before each big tournament. This depends on how they performed in the last tournament. If a wrestler wins more matches than they lose (this is called kachi-koshi), they usually get promoted. If they lose more matches than they win (this is called make-koshi), they usually move down. Getting promoted to the very top two ranks has stricter rules. Makuuchi (幕内) makunouchi (幕の内)

Understanding the Ranks in Sumo

At the very top of the makuuchi division are special ranks called san'yaku. These include yokozuna, ōzeki, sekiwake, and komusubi. There are usually 8 to 12 san'yaku wrestlers. The rest of the wrestlers are called maegashira, and they are ranked by number, starting from 1.

The word San'yaku (三役) means "the three ranks." But it actually includes four ranks. This is because the yokozuna was once seen as a special ōzeki. A yokozuna had a special rope to wear and a unique ring-entry ceremony. Today, san'yaku can mean different things. Sometimes it means only the bottom three ranks. Other times, it means only sekiwake and komusubi. This is because yokozuna and ōzeki have very different rules and benefits.

There must be at least one sekiwake and komusubi on each side of the banzuke (the ranking list). This usually means two of each, but there can be more. Usually, there is a yokozuna, but it's not required. Sometimes, there have been no active yokozuna or ōzeki listed. If there is more than one yokozuna but only one ōzeki, one of the yokozuna might be called yokozuna-ōzeki. This helps fill the lower rank.

Wrestlers in the san'yaku ranks have special benefits and duties. Any wrestler who reaches one of these ranks can buy a share in the Japan Sumo Association. This is true no matter how long they have been in the top makuuchi division. They might also be asked to represent all sumo wrestlers at certain events. For example, when the president of the Sumo Association gives a speech, all san'yaku wrestlers stand with him. They also help welcome important guests, like the Emperor.

The san'yaku ranks can be split into two groups. The senior group includes yokozuna and ōzeki. The junior group includes sekiwake and komusubi.

The senior group has special promotion rules and higher salaries. They also get extra benefits. For example, they have more junior wrestlers to help them. They can park at the Sumo Association building. They can also vote in elections for the Association's leaders. Yokozuna and ōzeki also have more duties. They are expected to share wrestlers' ideas with the Association. They also help promote events and meet sponsors.

The junior group, sekiwake and komusubi, have fewer duties. They can still win one of the three special prizes, called sanshō. These prizes are given for great performance at the end of each tournament.

The Highest Rank: Yokozuna

Yokozuna Kakuryū Rikisaburō (center) performing the ring-entering ceremony while flanked by a sword bearer on the left and dew sweeper on the right

Yokozuna (横綱) is the highest rank in sumo. The name means 'horizontal rope'. This comes from the special rope, called a tsuna (綱), that they wear around their waist. This rope is like the shimenawa ropes used in Shinto shrines. It shows that the area or person is pure and special. The tsuna can weigh up to 20 kg (about 44 pounds). Wrestlers do not wear it during matches. They wear it during their special dohyō-iri (ring entrance ceremony).

As of May 2025, 75 sumo wrestlers have officially become yokozuna. Records started in 1789 with Tanikaze Kajinosuke and Onogawa Kisaburō. This means, on average, about one new yokozuna every three years.

History of the Yokozuna Rank

There are old stories about how the yokozuna rank began. One story says a wrestler named Hajikami tied a shimenawa rope around his waist in the 9th century. He challenged anyone to touch it. Another story says the legendary wrestler Akashi Shiganosuke wore the shimenawa in 1630 to show respect to the Emperor. He was given the title after he died. There is not much proof for these stories. We do know that by November 1789, yokozuna like Tanikaze Kajinosuke and Onogawa Kisaburō were shown wearing the shimenawa in art. These two wrestlers received their yokozuna licenses from the important Yoshida family.

Before the Meiji era, the yokozuna title was given to ōzeki who performed sumo for the shōgun (a military ruler). This was often decided by how much influence a wrestler's supporter had, not just by the wrestler's skill. So, some early wrestlers were called yokozuna but might not meet today's standards. In those days, yokozuna was not a separate rank. It was an ōzeki with a special right to do his own ring-entering ceremony.

At first, the Yoshida family and the Gōjō family argued over who could give out yokozuna licenses. The Yoshida family won this argument. This happened because the 15th yokozuna, Umegatani Tōtarō I, wanted his license from the Yoshida family in 1884. After that, Gōjō family licenses were not officially recognized.

In May 1890, the name yokozuna was written on the banzuke (ranking list) for the first time. This was because the 16th yokozuna, Nishinoumi Kajirō I, insisted on it. In February 1909, during the time of the 19th yokozuna, Hitachiyama Taniemon, and the 20th, Umegatani Tōtarō II, yokozuna became the official highest rank. Since April 21, 1950, the Japan Sumo Association has promoted wrestlers to yokozuna. They get advice from the Yokozuna Deliberation Council (横綱審議委員会, Yokozuna-shingi-iinkai). The first yokozuna promoted by the Sumo Association was the 41st yokozuna, Chiyonoyama Masanobu.

How Wrestlers Become Yokozuna

To become a yokozuna today, an ōzeki must have great power, skill, and dignity (品格 hinkaku). There are no exact rules, and there isn't a set number of yokozuna. Sometimes there are none, and sometimes there are as many as four.

Power and skill are usually judged by how well a wrestler has done in recent tournaments. The common rule is to win two championships in a row as an ōzeki. Or, they can have a similar great performance. If they use the "similar performance" rule, the wrestler's results over the last three tournaments are checked. They usually need at least one tournament win and one second-place finish. Also, they should not have fewer than twelve wins in any of those three tournaments. This means they need to perform at a high level consistently. Winning two tournaments but doing poorly in between is usually not enough. Also, finishing second in three tournaments in a row is not enough. For example, Ozeki Kisenosato did this in 2013 and 2016. The rules are not set in stone. The Yokozuna Deliberation Council and Sumo Association can be more flexible or strict. They also consider other things, like how many tournaments the wrestler has won in total. They also look at the quality of their wins and if their losses show any weaknesses.

The idea of hinkaku (dignity and grace) is harder to judge. It's a personal opinion. For example, some people felt that Hawaiian-born ōzeki Konishiki was unfairly kept from becoming yokozuna. This was because he was not Japanese. Some Sumo Association members even said that foreigners could never have the hinkaku needed for a yokozuna. Other things, like Konishiki's weight, were also mentioned. The debate about foreigners having dignity ended on January 27, 1993. That's when Hawaiian-born ōzeki Akebono became yokozuna after only eight months as an ōzeki. Since then, seven of the ten wrestlers who became yokozuna after Akebono were not born in Japan. These include Musashimaru (USA) and Asashōryū, Hakuhō, Harumafuji, Kakuryū, Terunofuji, and Hōshōryū (all from Mongolia).

Other wrestlers have also faced delays. For example, Chiyonoyama in the 1950s was not promoted right away. This was because he was young, even though he won tournaments in a row. He did reach the top rank later. On the other hand, Futahaguro became yokozuna in 1986. Some people thought he was not mature enough. After his promotion, he had some misbehaviors that caused problems for the Sumo Association. He retired after only one and a half years as yokozuna. He is the only yokozuna in sumo history to retire without winning at least one top division championship.

The Process of Becoming a Yokozuna

A tsuna belonging to the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Becoming a yokozuna involves several steps. After a tournament, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council meets. This group is made up of people who are not former sumo wrestlers. They are chosen by the Japan Sumo Association to make sure yokozuna promotions are fair. They discuss how the top wrestlers performed. Usually, the Japan Sumo Association asks them to recommend an ōzeki wrestler for promotion. They decide if the wrestler has what it takes. Their recommendation then goes to the Judging division and then to the Sumo Association's Board of Directors. They make the final decision.

If a wrestler is chosen, a member of the Sumo Association Board of Directors visits their training stable. They officially tell the wrestler the good news. In the next few days, a special ceremonial rope, a tsuna, is made in their stable. The new yokozuna practices the ring entrance ceremony. They get advice from a past or current yokozuna. Finally, they have their first official ring entry ceremony at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. This usually happens within a couple of weeks after the tournament ends.

When a Yokozuna Retires

Unlike other sumo ranks, a yokozuna cannot be moved down in rank. But, they are expected to perform at a very high level. A yokozuna should win championships often, or at least be a strong contender. Even one losing record (make-koshi) can cause concern. It is common for a yokozuna to leave a tournament early if they are injured or cannot perform as expected. A yokozuna who cannot consistently compete at the top level is expected to retire from sumo. The strict rules for becoming yokozuna are partly because of these high expectations.

Sometimes, a yokozuna might retire because they have not shown the dignity expected of the rank. This can happen even if their tournament performance is good. Examples include Futahaguro, Asashōryū, and Harumafuji.

Official Notices for Yokozuna

In very rare cases, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council can issue notices to yokozuna. This happens if their performance, behavior, or character is not what is expected. More than two-thirds of the council members must agree. These notices have different levels of seriousness:

• Encouragement (激励 gekirei)
• Warning (注意 chūi)
• Recommendation to Retire (引退勧告 intai kankoku)

Notices have been given out three times since the council started in 1950:

• January 2010: Recommendation to Retire was given to Asashōryū. This was after reports that he was involved in an incident outside the ring. It is thought that Asashōryū chose to retire before the Sumo Association could act on the council's recommendation.
• November 2018: Encouragement was given to Kisenosato. He lost his first five matches in the November 2018 tournament and then withdrew. Before that, he had often withdrawn or had losing records in tournaments due to injuries. He retired from sumo after three losses in the January 2019 tournament.
• November 2020: Warning was given to two yokozuna, Hakuhō and Kakuryū. The council felt they did not perform at the required level between November 2019 and November 2020. Both wrestlers missed the September and November 2020 tournaments due to injuries. This warning was kept in place in March 2021. Kakuryū retired during the March 2021 tournament. Hakuhō returned to win the September 2021 tournament with a perfect 15–0 record before retiring.

Yokozuna Ceremonies and Traditions

68th yokozuna Asashoryū's Unryū-style Yokozuna Dohyō-iri

69th yokozuna Hakuhō's Shiranui-style Yokozuna Dohyō-iri

The yokozuna rank was created partly so the best wrestlers could have their own special ring entry ceremony (dohyō-iri). This ceremony happens before the matches each day. For most top-division wrestlers, they are introduced and form a circle around the wrestling ring (dohyō). They wear special silk "aprons" called keshō-mawashi. They do a short symbolic "dance" and then leave to change into their fighting gear.

A yokozuna, however, is introduced after the lower-ranked wrestlers. Two other top-division wrestlers walk with him. The "dewsweeper" (tsuyuharai) walks in front of the yokozuna. The "sword bearer" (tachimochi) walks behind him. The sword is a Japanese katana. It shows the yokozuna's status, like a samurai warrior. The sword bearer is always a higher-ranked wrestler. During the ceremony, the yokozuna wears his tsuna rope around his waist. The ceremonial aprons of all three wrestlers match.

Once in the ring, the yokozuna stands in the middle and performs a more complex ritual dance. This dance can be one of two styles. The yokozuna usually chooses a style when he is first promoted. The style can also be seen in how the rope is tied around his waist. The "Unryū" style has one loop at the back. The "Shiranui" style has two loops. These styles are named after 10th yokozuna Unryū Kyūkichi and 11th yokozuna Shiranui Kōemon from the Edo period. However, there is no proof they actually performed these dances.

When a former yokozuna turns 60, he usually performs a special ring-entering ceremony. This is called kanreki dohyō-iri. He wears a red tsuna to celebrate his long life. The first time this ceremony happened was with former yokozuna Tachiyama in 1937.

Current Yokozuna

• Hōshōryū, the 74th yokozuna, from Mongolia, promoted January 2025.
• Ōnosato, the 75th yokozuna, from Japan, promoted May 2025.

Ōzeki: The Champion Rank

The ōzeki (大関) rank, also called champion, is just below yokozuna. Before the yokozuna rank was created, ōzeki was the highest rank. There must always be at least two ōzeki on the banzuke (ranking list). One is on the east side, and one is on the west. If there are fewer than two regular ōzeki, then one or more yokozuna will be called "yokozuna-ōzeki." This happened for five tournaments from May 1981 to January 1982. Three yokozuna (Wakanohana, Chiyonofuji, and Kitanoumi) took on this role. The name was used again in March 2020 when only Takakeishō was an ōzeki. Kakuryū was then called yokozuna-ōzeki. In the first three tournaments of 2023, Terunofuji was given this special name because Takakeishō was the only ōzeki. When Ōnosato became yokozuna in May 2025, Kotozakura was the only ōzeki. So, Ōnosato was given the special yokozuna-ōzeki title.

There is no limit to how many ōzeki there can be. In 2012, there were six ōzeki in the May, July, and September tournaments.

How Wrestlers Become Ōzeki

Becoming an ōzeki takes good performance over several tournaments. A wrestler who is a sekiwake might be promoted if they have won at least 33 matches over their last three tournaments. They also need to have won ten or more matches in the most recent tournament. Promotion is not automatic. There are no strict rules, but 33 wins over three tournaments usually guarantees promotion. Other things that help include winning a tournament or beating a yokozuna. The wrestler's overall consistency and skill are also important. For example, using illegal moves or dodging too much would count against them. This is because ōzeki are expected to have dignity.

The Judging Division recommends promotions to the board of directors of the Japan Sumo Association. If it's a wrestler's first time becoming ōzeki, a board member will visit their stable. They will officially tell the new ōzeki about their promotion. The ōzeki usually gives a speech, promising to uphold the dignity of the rank.

During the Edo period, wrestlers sometimes started as ōzeki just because they were big. Their real fighting skill had not been tested. This was called "guest ōzeki" (看板大関 kanban ōzeki). Most of these wrestlers quickly disappeared from the ranking list. But a few, like Tanikaze Kajinosuke, became real, strong wrestlers.

Demotion from Ōzeki

Like other san'yaku ranks, but unlike a yokozuna, an ōzeki can be moved down in rank. For an ōzeki, this happens in two steps. First, the ōzeki must have a losing record in a tournament (7 wins and 8 losses or worse). At this point, the ōzeki is called kadoban. If they get a winning record (8 wins and 7 losses or better) in the next tournament, they become a regular ōzeki again. But if they have another losing record in the next tournament while kadoban, they are moved down to sekiwake in the following tournament. No matter how badly they do, they will not fall lower than sekiwake.

If they win ten or more matches in that sekiwake tournament, they are promoted back to ōzeki for the next tournament. But if they don't win ten or more matches, they are treated like any other wrestler trying to get back to ōzeki. This system has been in place since the Nagoya Tournament of 1969. Since then, six wrestlers have quickly returned to ōzeki: Mienoumi, Takanonami, Musōyama, Tochiazuma (who did it twice), Tochinoshin, and Takakeishō.

Mitakeumi is the only wrestler to be moved down from ōzeki after three losing records in a row, instead of two. He was kadoban in the July 2022 tournament. But he had to withdraw because a stablemate got sick. Under the rules at the time, Mitakeumi's ōzeki rank and kadoban status were extended to the next tournament in September. There, he had another losing record and was moved down.

Benefits of Being an Ōzeki

Besides a higher salary, being an ōzeki comes with many benefits:

• They are guaranteed a higher rank in the Sumo Association when they retire.
• They get a three-year temporary membership in the Sumo Association if they don't own a share yet.
• They receive a special payment when they retire. The amount depends on how strong and long they were an ōzeki.
• They get a parking space at the Sumo Association headquarters.
• They can vote in the election of the Sumo Association directors.
• They usually get more help from their stable, with junior wrestlers acting as assistants.
• They can wear purple fringed ceremonial aprons (keshō-mawashi).
• They may be asked to represent the wrestlers at formal events. This includes when important people visit a sumo tournament or during visits to Shinto shrines.

Current Ōzeki

• Kotozakura, since March 2024.

Sekiwake: The Third Highest Rank

Sekiwake (関脇) is the third-highest rank in professional sumo wrestling. It is one of the san'yaku ranks. The name is thought to mean "guarding the ōzeki (大関 or 関) at his side (脇)."

This is the highest rank a wrestler can reach just by consistently having a winning record (kachi-koshi) in tournaments. To become sekiwake, there might be an open spot, which is common. Or, a wrestler might have a very strong performance in the previous tournament. Usually, winning 11 or more matches as a komusubi is enough to become sekiwake, even if there isn't a normal open spot. Lower ranks need even more wins. There are special rules for moving from sekiwake to ōzeki. Wrestlers typically need at least 33 wins over three tournaments. Just having winning records in a row as sekiwake is not enough to move up. For example, Sakahoko stayed at sekiwake for nine tournaments in a row in the 1980s without getting close to ōzeki. Goeidō was stuck at this rank for fourteen tournaments in a row, a modern record, between May 2012 and July 2014, before becoming ōzeki in September 2014.

Unlike the higher ranks of ōzeki and yokozuna, a wrestler will almost always lose the sekiwake rank after a losing tournament (make-koshi). However, sometimes a lucky sekiwake might keep his rank even with a 7–8 record. This happens if there are no clear wrestlers to replace him. For example, if the komusubi and upper maegashira wrestlers also had losing records. This has happened five times since 1958, when there started to be six tournaments a year. The most recent was with Gōeidō in July 2013. In these cases, the wrestler just moved from the more important sekiwake East rank to the less important West side.

For many purposes, sekiwake and komusubi are grouped together as the junior san'yaku ranks. This is different from ōzeki and yokozuna. Sumo publications often mention how many tournaments wrestlers have spent in junior san'yaku.

Wrestlers who reach this rank get benefits similar to a komusubi. Their salary is higher than a maegashira. They are also usually asked to stand with the chairman of the Sumo Association. This happens during speeches on the opening and closing days of the 15-day tournaments. These tournaments are held six times a year. They might also be asked to represent the wrestlers for the Sumo Association at other events. This is especially true if there are few ōzeki and yokozuna. If sekiwake is the highest rank a wrestler reaches, even for just one tournament, they will always be called "former sekiwake (their ring name)" after they retire. This shows they had a successful sumo career.

There must always be at least two wrestlers ranked as sekiwake. If needed, this number can go up to three or four. The rule of having at least two means that sometimes wrestlers can reach this rank due to luck. This happens if other wrestlers' performances leave no clear choices to fill the rank. This luck factor is less common than it is for komusubi promotions.

Current Sekiwake

• Daieishō, since November 2024 (previous rank: komusubi).
• Kirishima, since May 2025 (previous rank: komusubi).
• Wakatakakage, since July 2025 (previous rank: komusubi).

Wrestlers with Most Sekiwake Appearances

Names in bold indicate a still active wrestler.

Komusubi: The Little Knot Rank

Komusubi (小結) means "the little knot." The "knot" refers to the pairing of two wrestlers for a match. It is the fourth highest rank in sumo wrestling. It is the lowest of the special "titleholder" ranks, or san'yaku.

At komusubi, just having a winning tournament (8 wins and 7 losses or better) is not enough to guarantee promotion to a higher rank. To move up to the next rank, sekiwake, there needs to be an open spot, which is quite common. Or, the wrestler needs to have at least 11 wins in the previous tournament if there isn't a normal sekiwake spot available. For example, Tochiōzan was promoted to a third sekiwake spot in March 2014 with 11 wins. This happened when the other two sekiwake had winning records. But Tochinoshin was not promoted with 10 wins in November 2015 in a similar situation.

For many purposes, komusubi and the sekiwake rank are grouped together as the junior san'yaku ranks. This is different from ōzeki and yokozuna, which have very strict promotion rules. Sumo publications often mention how many tournaments wrestlers have spent in junior san'yaku. This is because these two ranks are hard to keep.

Wrestlers who reach this rank get a higher salary. They also appear with the chairman of the Sumo Association during speeches. These speeches happen on the opening and closing days of the official tournaments, held six times a year. They might also be asked to represent the wrestlers for the Sumo Association at other events. This is especially true if there are few ōzeki and yokozuna. If komusubi is the highest rank a wrestler reaches, even for just one tournament, they will always be called "former komusubi (their ring name)" after they retire. This shows they had a fairly successful sumo career.

There must always be at least two wrestlers ranked as komusubi. If needed, this number can go up to three or four. For example, if both komusubi have winning records and a higher maegashira performs so well that he deserves a promotion. However, this is quite rare. The rule of having at least two means that sometimes wrestlers can reach this rank due to luck. This happens if other wrestlers' performances leave no clear choices to fill the rank.

Komusubi is known as a difficult rank to keep. Wrestlers at this rank usually face all the ōzeki and yokozuna in the first week of a tournament. A yokozuna is usually scheduled for the opening day. Komusubi wrestlers mainly face maegashira in the second week. But often, wrestlers new to the rank are so discouraged by then that they lose these matches too. Few wrestlers making their komusubi debut get a winning record in that tournament.

Before World War II, there were fewer tournaments each year. More importance was placed on each tournament's performance. There were several times when komusubi wrestlers immediately moved up to ōzeki after almost winning a tournament. But this has not happened since then.

Current Komusubi

• Takayasu, since May 2025 (previous rank: maegashira 4).
• Ōshōma, since July 2025 (previous rank: maegashira 6).

Wrestlers with Most Komusubi Appearances

Names in bold indicate a still active wrestler.

Maegashira: The Lowest Makuuchi Rank

Maegashira (前頭) is the lowest of the five ranks in the top makuuchi division.

All makuuchi wrestlers who are not in the san'yaku ranks are called maegashira. They are numbered from one downwards. In each rank, there are two wrestlers. The higher-ranked one is called "east," and the lower one is called "west." So, No. 1 east is a higher rank than No. 1 west, and so on.

The total number of wrestlers in makuuchi is fixed at 42 since 2004. But the number of san'yaku wrestlers can change. So, the number of maegashira ranks can vary. It is usually between 15 and 17. This means the makuuchi division usually has about 10 san'yaku wrestlers and 32 maegashira wrestlers.

A wrestler's rank can change a lot within the maegashira ranks. This depends on their score in the previous 15-match tournament. For example, a maegashira 2 who wins 8 out of 15 matches might only move up one level to maegashira 1 for the next tournament. But a maegashira 14 who wins the entire division championship could be promoted as high as komusubi. This happened in March 2000 when Takatōriki won the championship with 13 wins and 2 losses.

Maegashira ranked five or lower usually only fight against other maegashira. However, if they start winning a lot in the middle of a tournament, they might be scheduled to fight higher-ranked wrestlers. Maegashira ranked four or higher will likely have several matches against san'yaku wrestlers, including ōzeki and yokozuna. Wrestlers at maegashira 1 and 2 will usually face everyone in the san'yaku ranks. The only exception is that they cannot fight someone from their own stable. These are very difficult ranks to keep. If a lower-ranked maegashira is close to winning the title in the second week of a tournament, they are often matched against higher-ranked opponents later on. For example, in January 2020, the lowest-ranked wrestler, maegashira 17 Tokushōryū, was in the running for the title. He had only faced lower-ranked opponents. On the final day, he was matched against ōzeki Takakeisho, the highest-ranked wrestler in the tournament. Tokushōryū won the tournament with his victory.

When a maegashira defeats a yokozuna, it is called a gold star or kinboshi. The wrestler gets extra money for this victory for the rest of their career. When a wrestler earns a kinboshi by beating a yokozuna, it often creates great excitement at a sumo event. People in the audience often throw their seat cushions into the ring. This is technically not allowed, but it is a common way to show excitement.

Wrestlers with Most Maegashira Appearances Without a San'yaku Title

Names in bold indicate a still active wrestler.

See also

In Spanish: Makuuchi para niños

• Glossary of sumo terms
• List of sumo record holders
• List of sumo tournament top division champions
• Professional sumo divisions
• List of active sumo wrestlers