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), also called makunouchi (幕の内), is the top division in professional sumo. It's the highest level of the six sumo divisions. There are always 42 wrestlers, called rikishi, in this division. They are ranked into five levels based on how well they did in past tournaments.

This is the only sumo division shown live on TV in Japan. The lower divisions are shown on satellite channels. Makuuchi broadcasts even have English commentary.

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

Wrestlers can move up or down in rank after each big tournament. If a wrestler wins more matches than they lose (this is called kachi-koshi), they usually get promoted. If they lose more than they win (called make-koshi), they usually move down. The rules for moving up to the very top ranks are much stricter.

Understanding Sumo's Top Division

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. All the other wrestlers are called maegashira, and they are ranked by number, starting from 1.

San'yaku (三役) means "the three ranks," but there are actually four. This is because the yokozuna was once seen as an ōzeki with a special permission. This permission allowed them to wear a unique rope and perform a special ring entry ceremony.

There must be at least one sekiwake and komusubi on each side of the official ranking list, called the banzuke. This usually means two of each. While there is almost always a yokozuna, it's not a rule. Sometimes, there might not be any active yokozuna or ōzeki. If there's more than one yokozuna but only one ōzeki, one yokozuna will be called yokozuna-ōzeki.

Wrestlers in the san'yaku ranks get special benefits and have more responsibilities. For example, they can buy a share in the Japan Sumo Association when they retire. They might also be asked to represent all sumo wrestlers at important events. When the head of the Sumo Association gives a speech, all san'yaku wrestlers stand beside 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 different promotion rules and higher salaries. They also get extra perks, like more junior wrestlers to help them. They can park at the Sumo Association building and vote for its directors. They also have more duties, like sharing wrestler opinions with the Association. They help promote events and meet sponsors.

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

The Yokozuna: Sumo's Grand Champion

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 refers to the heavy rope, called a tsuna (綱), they wear around their waist. This rope is like the shimenawa used in Shinto shrines to mark sacred places. It shows the yokozuna's special status. The rope can weigh up to 20 kg. Wrestlers do not wear it during matches. They wear it during their special ring entrance ceremony, called dohyō-iri.

Yokozuna are the biggest stars of sumo. They are seen as the sport's grandmasters and public face. How they act is watched very closely. Their behavior reflects on sumo as a whole. As of January 2025, 74 sumo wrestlers have become yokozuna. This is about one new yokozuna every five years.

History of the Yokozuna Rank

The 11th Yokozuna, Shiranui Kōemon and the 13th Yokozuna, Kimenzan Tanigorō (1866)

There are old stories about how the yokozuna rank began. One story says a wrestler named Hajikami tied a shimenawa rope around his waist as a challenge. Another story says the legendary wrestler Akashi Shiganosuke wore the rope in 1630 to show respect to the Emperor. He was given the title after he died. We don't have much proof for these stories.

What we do know is that by 1789, yokozuna like Tanikaze Kajinosuke and Onogawa Kisaburō were shown wearing the shimenawa in art. These two wrestlers were given yokozuna licenses by 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 who a wrestler knew, not just their skill. So, some early yokozuna were only yokozuna in name. In those days, yokozuna was not a separate rank. It was an ōzeki with special permission for a unique ring ceremony.

The Yoshida family eventually won the right to give out yokozuna licenses. In 1890, the name yokozuna was first written on the official ranking list. This was because the 16th yokozuna, Nishinoumi Kajirō I, insisted on it. In 1909, it became officially recognized as the highest rank. Since 1950, the Japan Sumo Association has promoted wrestlers to yokozuna. The first was Chiyonoyama Masanobu.

How Wrestlers Become Yokozuna

To become a yokozuna, an ōzeki must show great power, skill, and dignity (品格 hinkaku). There are no exact rules, and the number of yokozuna can change. Sometimes there are none, and sometimes there are four.

Power and skill are usually judged by how well a wrestler does in recent tournaments. The common way to get promoted is to win two championships in a row as an ōzeki. Or, a wrestler can have an "equivalent performance." This means looking at their results over the last three tournaments. 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. So, they need to perform at a high level consistently. Winning two tournaments but doing poorly in between is usually not enough.

The idea of hinkaku (dignity and grace) is harder to define. It's a personal judgment. For example, some people felt that Hawaiian-born ōzeki Konishiki was unfairly kept from becoming yokozuna. Some Sumo Association members even said that foreigners could never have the hinkaku needed. This debate ended on January 27, 1993. That's when Hawaiian-born ōzeki Akebono became yokozuna. Since then, seven of the ten yokozuna promoted after Akebono were not born in Japan. They came from the United States and Mongolia.

Other wrestlers have also faced challenges. Chiyonoyama Masanobu in the 1950s was not promoted right away because he was young, even after winning two tournaments in a row. He did become yokozuna later.

The Promotion Process

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 check if an ōzeki wrestler has what it takes to be promoted. If they recommend a wrestler, their suggestion goes to the Sumo Association's Judging division and then to its Board of Directors. The Board makes the final decision.

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

A tsuna belonging to the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Retiring as a Yokozuna

Unlike other sumo ranks, a yokozuna cannot be demoted. But because of this, they are expected to win championships often. A yokozuna is expected to retire if they can no longer compete at the highest level. Sometimes, they retire if they are seen as not upholding the dignity of the rank. The expectations are so high that a yokozuna might even retire during a tournament if they are losing badly. It's common for a yokozuna to withdraw from a tournament due to injury. This helps them avoid a losing record (make-koshi) and the pressure to retire. These high expectations are why the promotion rules for yokozuna are so strict.

Yokozuna Notices

In very rare cases, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council can issue notices to yokozuna. This happens if their performance or behavior 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 issued three times since 1950:

• January 2010: Recommendation to Retire for Asashōryū. This followed reports that he hurt someone in a fight. He chose to retire before the Sumo Association could act on the recommendation.
• November 2018: Encouragement for Kisenosato. He lost his first five matches and then withdrew from the tournament. He had often withdrawn from tournaments without a winning record. He retired in January 2019.
• November 2020: Warning for Hakuhō and Kakuryū. The council felt they did not perform well enough between November 2019 and November 2020. Both missed tournaments due to injuries. The warning was upheld in March 2021. Kakuryū retired then. Hakuhō also withdrew from a tournament due to injury.

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, called dohyō-iri. This ceremony happens before the day's matches. 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, then leave to get ready for their fights.

A yokozuna is introduced after the other wrestlers. They are joined by two other top division wrestlers who act as assistants. The "dewsweeper" or tsuyuharai walks in front of the yokozuna. The "sword bearer" or tachimochi walks behind. The sword is a Japanese katana and shows the yokozuna's samurai status. The sword bearer is always the higher-ranked assistant. During the ceremony, the yokozuna wears their tsuna rope. The ceremonial aprons of all three wrestlers match.

Once in the ring, the yokozuna performs a much more complex ritual dance. There are two main styles of this dance. A yokozuna usually chooses one when they are first promoted. The choice of style can also depend on how the rope is tied. The "Unryū" style has one loop at the back, while the "Shiranui" style has two. These styles are named after old yokozuna from the Edo period.

When a former yokozuna turns 60, they often perform a special ring-entering ceremony. It's called kanreki dohyō-iri. They wear a red tsuna to celebrate their long life. This ceremony started in 1937.

As of January 2025, there have been 74 yokozuna. Official records began with Tanikaze and Onogawa in 1789.

Active Yokozuna

• Hōshōryū, the 74th yokozuna, from Mongolia, promoted January 2025

Ōzeki: The Champion Rank

The ōzeki (大関), or champion rank, is right below yokozuna. Before the yokozuna rank existed, ōzeki was the highest rank. There must always be at least two ōzeki on the official ranking list. If there are fewer than two regular ōzeki, then one or more yokozuna will be called "yokozuna-ōzeki." This happened from May 1981 to January 1982. It also happened in March 2020 and the first three tournaments of 2023. There is no limit to how many ōzeki there can be. In 2012, there were six ōzeki in three tournaments.

Becoming an 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 it. Other things that help include winning a tournament (yusho) or beating yokozuna. A wrestler's overall consistency and quality of sumo are also important. For example, using illegal moves or too many dodging techniques would count against them.

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

In the old Edo period, wrestlers sometimes started as ōzeki just because they were big. Their actual fighting skill wasn't tested. This was called "guest ōzeki." Most of these wrestlers quickly disappeared from the rankings. But a few, like Tanikaze Kajinosuke, became real, strong wrestlers.

Losing the Ōzeki Rank

Like other san'yaku ranks, but unlike a yokozuna, an ōzeki can be demoted. For an ōzeki, this happens in two steps. First, the ōzeki must have a losing record (7 wins and 8 losses or worse) in a tournament. This is called a make-koshi. 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 return to regular ōzeki status. If they have another losing record while kadoban, they are demoted to sekiwake for the next 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 can return to ōzeki. But if they don't, they are treated like any other wrestler. This system has been in place since 1969. Six wrestlers have managed to return to ōzeki right away.

Mitakeumi is the only wrestler to be demoted after three losing records in a row instead of two. He was kadoban in July 2022. He withdrew from the tournament because a stablemate had COVID-19. His ōzeki rank and kadoban status were extended to the next tournament. He had another losing record in September and was then demoted.

Benefits of Being an Ōzeki

Being an ōzeki comes with more money and other perks:

• 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-lasting they were as 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 junior wrestlers in their stable.
• They can wear special purple-fringed ceremonial aprons (keshō-mawashi).
• They may be asked to represent wrestlers at formal events. This includes visits by VIPs or trips to Shinto shrines.

Active Ōzeki

• Kotozakura, since March 2024
• Ōnosato, since November 2024

Sekiwake: The Third Highest Rank

Sekiwake (関脇, sekiwake) is the third-highest rank in professional sumo. It is one of the san'yaku ranks. The name might come from guarding the ōzeki (大関 or 関) at his side (脇).

This is the highest rank a wrestler can reach just by getting winning records (kachi-koshi) in tournaments. To become sekiwake, a space needs to be open. Or, a wrestler needs a very strong performance in the previous tournament. Usually, winning 11 out of 15 matches or more as a komusubi is enough. Wrestlers from lower ranks need even more wins. There are special rules to move from sekiwake to ōzeki. Just getting winning records at sekiwake is not enough. For example, Goeidō stayed at sekiwake for 14 tournaments in a row before becoming ōzeki.

Unlike ōzeki and yokozuna, a sekiwake will almost always lose their rank after a losing tournament (make-koshi). Sometimes, a lucky sekiwake might keep their rank even with a 7-8 record. This happens if there are no other strong wrestlers to replace them. This has happened five times since 1958. In these cases, the wrestler just moved from the East sekiwake rank to the less important West side.

For many purposes, sekiwake and komusubi are grouped together. They are called 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. This shows how hard these two ranks are to keep.

Wrestlers who reach sekiwake get similar benefits to a komusubi. Their salary is higher than a maegashira. They also stand next to the chairman of the Sumo Association during speeches. These speeches happen on the first and last days of the 15-day tournaments. They might also represent 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, they will always be called "former sekiwake (ring name)" after they retire. This shows they had a successful sumo career.

There must always be at least two wrestlers ranked as sekiwake. Sometimes, there can be three or four. The rule of having at least two means some wrestlers might reach this rank by luck. This happens if other wrestlers don't perform well enough to fill the spot. This luck factor is less common than for komusubi promotions.

Active Sekiwake

• Daieishō, since November 2024 (previous rank: komusubi)
• Wakamotoharu, since January 2025 (previous rank: komusubi)

Wrestlers with Most Sekiwake Appearances

Names in bold indicate a still active wrestler.

Komusubi: The Little Knot

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

At komusubi, just getting a winning record (kachi-koshi) is not enough to guarantee a promotion. To move up to sekiwake, a spot needs to be open. Or, a wrestler needs at least 11 wins in the previous tournament if no normal sekiwake spot is available. For example, Tochiōzan was promoted to a third sekiwake spot with 11 wins. This happened in March 2014 when the other two sekiwake had winning records.

For many reasons, komusubi and sekiwake are often grouped together. They are called 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 very hard to keep.

Wrestlers who reach komusubi get a higher salary. They also stand next to the chairman of the Sumo Association during speeches. These speeches happen on the first and last days of the official tournaments. They might also represent 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, they will always be called "former komusubi (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. Sometimes, there can be three or four. This happens if both komusubi have winning records and a higher maegashira performs so well that they must be promoted. However, this is quite rare. The rule of having at least two means some wrestlers might reach this rank by luck. This happens if other wrestlers don't perform well enough to fill the spot.

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

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

Active Komusubi

• Abi, since January 2025 (previous rank: maegashira 3)
• Wakatakakage, since January 2025 (previous rank: maegashira 2)

Wrestlers with Most Komusubi Appearances

Names in bold indicate a still active wrestler.

Maegashira: The Lowest Top 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 "west." So, No. 1 east is a higher rank than No. 1 west.

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

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 spot to maegashira 1. But a maegashira 14 who wins the whole division championship could jump all the way to komusubi. This happened in March 2000 with Takatōriki. He won the championship with a 13-2 record.

Maegashira ranked five or lower usually only fight other maegashira. But if they start winning a lot, they might get to fight higher-ranked wrestlers. Those ranked maegashira four or higher will likely have several matches against san'yaku wrestlers. This includes ōzeki and yokozuna. Wrestlers at maegashira 1 and 2 usually face everyone in the san'yaku. (They don't fight wrestlers from their own stable.) These are very hard ranks to keep. If a lower-ranked maegashira is close to winning the title in the second week, they often get matched against higher-ranked opponents. For example, in January 2020, maegashira 17 Tokushōryū was fighting for the title. He was matched against ōzeki Takakeisho on the last day. He won the tournament with that victory.

When a maegashira beats a yokozuna, it's called a gold star or kinboshi. The wrestler gets extra money for this victory for the rest of their career. When a wrestler gets a kinboshi, the audience often gets very excited. They might even throw their seat cushions into the ring. This is technically not allowed, but it's a common way to show excitement.

Wrestlers with Most Maegashira Appearances (No San'yaku Title)

Names in bold indicate a still active wrestler.

See also

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