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{{short description|Highest-ranking of the six divisions of professional sumo}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2008}}
[[File:Hakuho fight Jan08.jpg|thumb|A ''makuuchi'' match with the 69th ''yokozuna'' [[Hakuhō Shō|Hakuhō]] beating [[Dejima Takeharu|Dejima]] as the 68th ''yokozuna'' [[Asashōryū Akinori|Asashōryū]] watches in the background]]

{{nihongo|'''''Makuuchi'''''|幕内}}, or {{nihongo|'''''makunouchi'''''|幕の内}}, is the top division of [[Professional sumo divisions|the six divisions]] of professional [[sumo]]. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''[[rikishi]]''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments.

This is the only division that is featured on [[NHK]]'s standard live coverage of [[Honbasho|sumo tournaments]]. The lower divisions are shown on their satellite coverage, with only the ''makuuchi'' broadcast having bilingual English commentary.

''Makuuchi'' literally means "inside the curtain", a reference to the early period of professional sumo, when there was a curtained-off area reserved for the top ranked wrestlers, to sit before appearing for their bouts.

Wrestlers are considered for [[Promotion and relegation|promotion or demotion]] in rank before each grand tournament according to their performance in the one previous. Generally, a greater number of wins than losses (''[[kachi-koshi]]'') results in a promotion, and the reverse (''[[makekoshi|make-koshi]]'') results in demotion. There are stricter criteria for promotion to the top two ranks, which are also privileged when considered for demotion.

==Overview==
At the top fixed positions of the division are the "titleholder" or ''[[Sanyaku#sanyaku|san'yaku]]'' ranks of ''yokozuna'', ''ōzeki'', ''sekiwake'' and ''komusubi''. There are typically 8–12 ''san'yaku'' wrestlers, with the remainder, called ''maegashira'', ranked in numerical order from 1 downwards.

{{nihongo|''San'yaku''|三役}} literally means "the three ranks", even though it actually comprises four ranks. The discrepancy arose because the ''yokozuna'' was traditionally regarded as an ''ōzeki'' with a special license to wear a particular rope around his waist and perform a distinctive ring-entry ceremony. In modern use ''san'yaku'' has a somewhat flexible definition. This is largely because the top two ranks of ''yokozuna'' and ''ōzeki'' have distinctive differences from the lower two ranks and from each other.  Therefore, a reference to ''san'yaku'' can sometimes mean only the bottom three ranks, or in other cases only ''sekiwake'' and ''komusubi''.

There must be at least one ''sekiwake'' and ''komusubi'' on each side of the ''[[banzuke]]'', normally two total, but there may be more. Although there is usually a ''yokozuna'' there is no requirement for one, and it has sometimes happened that no active ''yokozuna'' or no ''ōzeki'' were listed in the ranks. If there is more than one ''yokozuna'' but only one ''ōzeki'', the lower rank will be filled out by designating one of the ''yokozuna'' as ''yokozuna-ōzeki''. There is no recorded instance of there being fewer than two ''yokozuna'' and ''ōzeki'' in total.

There are a number of privileges and responsibilities associated with the ''san'yaku'' ranks. Any wrestler who reaches one of them is entitled to purchase one of the membership shares in the [[Japan Sumo Association]], regardless of the total number of tournaments they have spent in the top ''makuuchi'' division. They may be called on to represent all sumo wrestlers on certain occasions. For example, when the president of the Sumo Association makes a formal speech on the opening and closing days of a tournament, he is flanked by all the ''san'yaku'' wrestlers in their ''[[mawashi]]''. Similarly they may be called to assist in welcoming a VIP, such as the [[Emperor of Japan|Emperor]], to the arena.

The ''san'yaku'' can be split into two groups: the senior ''yokozuna'' and ''ōzeki'', and the junior ''sekiwake'' and ''komusubi''.

The former group have special promotion criteria and higher salaries, and have additional perks such as a higher number of junior wrestlers to assist them, an entitlement to park in the Sumo Association compound and voting rights in the election for Association directors. Senior ''yokozuna'' and ''ōzeki'' also have added responsibilities. They are expected to represent wrestler views to the Association, assist in advertising events and meet event sponsors.

The latter group, ''sekiwake'' and ''komusubi'', have lesser responsibilities and are still eligible for one of the three special prizes, or ''[[Sanshō (sumo)|sanshō]]'' that are awarded for exceptional performance at the end of each tournament.

{{Makuuchi rikishi banzuke}}

==''Yokozuna''==
{{redirect|Yokozuna|the Samoan American professional wrestler|Yokozuna (wrestler)}}
{{see also|List of yokozuna|label 1=List of ''yokozuna''|List of sumo record holders#Most tournaments|label 2=Appearances at ''yokozuna'' records}}
{{split section|date=February 2025}}
[[File:Yokozuna-dohyō-iri-Kakuryu-Rikisaburo-at-Aki-basho-Sep-28-2014-cropped.jpg|thumbnail|''Yokozuna'' [[Kakuryū Rikisaburō]] (center) performing the ring-entering ceremony while flanked by a [[Tachimochi|sword bearer]] on the left and [[Tsuyuharai|dew sweeper]] on the right]]
{{nihongo|''Yokozuna''|横綱||{{IPA|ja|jo̞ko̞d͡zɯᵝna|IPA}}}} is the highest rank in [[sumo]]. The name literally means 'horizontal rope' and comes from the most visible symbol of their rank, the {{nihongo|rope|綱|tsuna}} worn around the waist.<ref name="fantsuna">{{cite web |last=Klein |first=Barbara Ann |title=Sumo 101: Making the Tsuna |publisher=sumofanmag.com |url=https://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_7/Sumo101.htm |access-date=2021-11-25}}</ref> The rope is similar to the ''[[shimenawa]]'' used to mark off sacred areas in [[Shinto]], and like the ''shimenawa'' it serves to purify and mark off its content.<ref name="fantsuna"/> The rope, which may weigh up to {{convert|20|kg}}, is not used during the matches themselves, but is worn during the ''yokozuna''{{'s}} ''dohyō-iri'' ring entrance ceremony.

As of May 2025, a total of 75 sumo wrestlers are officially recognized by the Japan Sumo Association to have earned the rank of {{translit|ja|yokozuna}}; considering that formal record-keeping only began with [[Tanikaze Kajinosuke]] and [[Onogawa Kisaburō]] in 1789, this roughly averages out to one every three years.

===History===
[[File:Sumo-Yokozuna-Shiranui-and-Kimenzan-1869.png|thumb| The 11th ''yokozuna'', [[Shiranui Kōemon]] and the 13th ''yokozuna'', [[Kimenzan Tanigorō]] (1866)]]
There are two competing legends regarding the origin of the ''yokozuna'' rank. According to one, a 9th-century wrestler named Hajikami tied a ''[[shimenawa]]'' around his waist as a handicap and dared anyone to touch it, creating sumo as it is now known in the process. According to the other, legendary wrestler [[Akashi Shiganosuke]] tied the ''shimenawa'' around his waist in 1630 as a sign of respect when visiting the Emperor and was posthumously awarded the title for the first time. There is little supporting evidence for either theory—in fact, it is not even certain that Akashi actually existed—but it is known that by November 1789, ''yokozuna'' starting from the fourth ''yokozuna'', [[Tanikaze Kajinosuke]], and the fifth ''yokozuna'', [[Onogawa Kisaburō]], were depicted in [[ukiyo-e]] prints as wearing the ''shimenawa''. These two wrestlers were both awarded ''yokozuna'' licences by the prominent [[House of Yoshida Tsukasa|Yoshida family]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Joya |title=Japan And Things Japanese |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tIUECwAAQBAJ&dq=yokozuna+history&pg=PT595 |publisher=Routledge |date=2017-07-12 |isbn=978-1-136-22186-6}}</ref>

Before the [[Meiji era]], the title ''yokozuna'' was conferred on ''ōzeki'' who performed sumo in front of the ''[[shōgun]]''. This privilege was more often determined by a wrestler's patron having sufficient influence rather than purely on the ability and dignity of the wrestler. Thus, there are a number of early wrestlers who were, by modern standards, ''yokozuna'' in name only. In these early days, ''yokozuna'' was also not regarded as a separate rank in the listings, but as an ''ōzeki'' with special dispensation to perform his own ring entering ceremony.

At first, the Yoshida family and the rival {{ill|Gōjō family|ja|五条家 (菅原氏)}} fought for the right to award a wrestler a ''yokozuna'' license. The Yoshida family won this dispute, because the 15th ''yokozuna'' [[Umegatani Tōtarō I]], one of the strongest wrestlers of his time, expressed his wish that he be awarded a license by the Yoshida family in February 1884, and consequently Gōjō family licenses were no longer officially recognized.

In May 1890, the name ''yokozuna'' was written on the ''banzuke'' for the first time due to the 16th ''yokozuna'' [[Nishinoumi Kajirō I]]'s insistence that his ''yokozuna'' status be recorded. In February 1909, during the reigns of the 19th ''yokozuna'', [[Hitachiyama Taniemon]], and the 20th, [[Umegatani Tōtarō II]], it was officially recognized as the highest rank. Since the establishment of the {{nihongo|[[Yokozuna Deliberation Council]]|横綱審議委員会|Yokozuna-shingi-iinkai}} on 21 April 1950, wrestlers have been promoted to ''yokozuna'' by the [[Japan Sumo Association]]. The first ''yokozuna'' promoted by the Sumo Association was the 41st ''yokozuna'' [[Chiyonoyama Masanobu]].

===Criteria for promotion===
In modern sumo, the qualifications that an ''ōzeki'' must satisfy to be promoted are that he has enough power, skill and dignity/grace (品格 ''hinkaku'') to qualify. There are no absolute criteria, nor is there a set quota: there have been periods with no wrestlers at ''yokozuna'' rank, and there have been periods with as many as [[2000_in_sumo|four simultaneously]].

The power and skill aspects are usually considered with reference to recent tournament performance. The ''de facto'' standard is to win two consecutive championships as ''ōzeki'' or an equivalent performance. In the case where the "equivalent performance" criterion is used, the wrestler's record over the previous three tournaments is taken into account with an expectation of at least one tournament victory and one runner-up performance, with none of the three records falling below twelve wins. Thus, a consistent high level of performance is required. Winning two tournaments with a poor performance between them is not usually sufficient. Also, achieving runner-up performance in three consecutive tournaments is not sufficient: an example is Ozeki [[Kisenosato]] in 2013 and 2016. The rules are not set in stone; hence, in reaching their conclusion the Yokozuna Deliberation Council and Sumo Association can interpret the criteria more leniently or strictly and also take into account other factors, such as total number of tournament victories, the quality of the wins, and whether the losses show any serious vulnerabilities.

The issue of ''hinkaku'' (dignity and grace) is more contentious, as it is essentially a subjective issue. For example, Hawaiian-born ''ōzeki'' [[Konishiki]], in particular, was felt by many to be unfairly kept from ''yokozuna'' status due to his non-Japanese origin, and many Sumo Association members even openly said that foreigners (''[[gaijin]]'') could never achieve the ''hinkaku'' needed to be a ''yokozuna''. In the case of Konishiki, other issues such as his weight were also cited.<ref>{{cite web| author=Gould, Chris| title=Konishiki| publisher=sumofanmag.com| url=http://sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_12/Konishiki.htm| date=April 2007| access-date=24 January 2018}}</ref> The debate concerning foreigners having the dignity to be a ''yokozuna'' was finally laid to rest on 27 January 1993, when Hawaiian-born ''ōzeki'' [[Akebono Taro|Akebono]] was formally promoted to ''yokozuna'' after only eight months as an ''ōzeki''. Since then, the issue of whether foreigners have the necessary dignity has become irrelevant as seven of the ten wrestlers to achieve sumo's ultimate rank following Akebono in 1993 were not born in Japan: [[Musashimaru Kōyō|Musashimaru]] in the United States and [[Asashōryū Akinori|Asashōryū]], [[Hakuhō Shō|Hakuhō]], [[Harumafuji Kōhei|Harumafuji]], [[Kakuryū Rikisaburō|Kakuryū]], [[Terunofuji Haruo|Terunofuji]], and [[Hōshōryū Tomokatsu|Hōshōryū]] all in Mongolia.

Other wrestlers have also been held back. For example, [[Chiyonoyama Masanobu|Chiyonoyama]] in the 1950s was not immediately promoted due to his relative youth despite winning consecutive tournaments, although he later achieved the top rank.<ref>{{cite web | author= Kuroda, Joe| title=Rikishi of Old: Chiyonoyama| publisher=sumofanmag.com | url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_4/Rikishi_of_Old.htm|date=December 2005| access-date=2007-07-04}}</ref> On the other hand, [[Futahaguro]] was given the title of ''yokozuna'' in 1986, despite immaturity being cited in opposition to his promotion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~sumo/profile/1/19840901.htm |script-title=ja:双羽黒 光司 |language=ja |publisher=Fsinet.or.jp |access-date=2013-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715234038/http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~sumo/profile/1/19840901.htm |archive-date=15 July 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After being promoted, he was involved in several misbehaviors that embarrassed the Sumo Association such as hitting one of his ''[[tsukebito]]'' (manservant or personal assistant) over a trivial matter in a scandal that had six of his seven ''tsukebito'' decide to leave him.<ref>{{cite news | author= Haberman, Clive| title=Tokyo Journal; Wrestler fails to keep hold on an honorable past |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/02/world/tokyo-journal-wrestler-fails-to-keep-hold-on-an-honorable-past.html | date=2 January 1988| access-date=14 December 2011}}</ref> The promotion again proved to be a fiasco when it was later revealed that he had a heated argument with his stable boss, Tatsunami, and stormed out of the ''[[heya (sumo)|heya]]'', allegedly striking Tatsunami's wife on the way. Futahaguro eventually retired after only one and a half years at the top rank and became the only ''yokozuna'' in sumo history ever to retire without having won at least one top division championship.

===Becoming===
[[File:MET 3673.jpg|thumbnail|upright|A ''tsuna'' belonging to the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]]]]
Elevation to ''yokozuna'' rank is a multi-stage process. After a tournament, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, a body of lay people (that is, not former sumo wrestlers) who are appointed by the [[Japan Sumo Association]] to provide an independent quality control on ''yokozuna'' promotion, meet and discuss the performance of the top-ranked wrestlers. Usually, at the instigation of the Japan Sumo Association, they can make a recommendation that a particular ''[[Makuuchi#Ōzeki|ōzeki]]''-ranked wrestler has the necessary attributes to be promoted. Their recommendation is then passed to the Judging division and then the Board of Directors of the Sumo Association who make the final decision.

If a wrestler is deemed to have met the criteria, then he will be visited in his training stable by a member of the Sumo Association Board of Directors who will formally give him the news. In the following days, a ''tsuna'' or ceremonial rope will then be made in his stable, and he will practice the ring entrance ceremony with advice from a previous or current ''yokozuna''. Finally, he will have his inaugural ceremonial ring entry ceremony held at [[Meiji Shrine]] in Tokyo, which is usually completed within a couple of weeks of the tournament end.

===Retiring===
Unlike other sumo ranks, a ''yokozuna'' cannot be demoted, but in exchange their performance is held to a very high standard. A ''yokozuna'' is expected to regularly win championships, or at least be a serious contender for them, and even a single ''[[make-koshi]]'' (losing record) can pose concerns. It is common for a ''yokozuna'' to withdraw from a tournament for health reasons, even after the tournament has started, if they find themselves unable to perform at the expected level. A ''yokozuna'' who is consistently unable to compete at the peak of the sport is expected to retire from competition altogether. The strength and informal nature of these expectations are a major reason that the promotion criteria for ''yokozuna'' are so strict in the first place.

Retirement can also in some cases (such as [[Futahaguro]], [[Asashōryū Akinori|Asashōryū]], or [[Harumafuji Kōhei|Harumafuji]]) be prompted by a judgment that the ''yokozuna'' has not upheld the dignity of the rank, independent of tournament performance.

===Notices===
In extremely rare instances the Yokozuna Deliberation Council can, with over two-thirds of the members in favor, issue notices to ''yokozuna'' whose performance as well as poise and character are contrary to what is expected of the rank.<ref name=kyodo261118>{{cite news |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20181126/p2a/00m/0sp/018000c|title=Sumo yokozuna council issues rare 'encouragement' notice to struggling Kisenosato|date=26 November 2018|newspaper=Mainichi Daily News|publisher=Mainichi|access-date=24 November 2020}}</ref> These notices are, in increasing level of severity:

*{{nihongo|'''Encouragement'''|激励|''gekirei''}}
*{{nihongo|'''Warning'''|注意|''chūi''}}
*{{nihongo|'''Recommendation to Retire'''|引退勧告|''intai kankoku''}}

Notices have been issued three times since the council's inception in 1950:

* '''January 2010: Recommendation to Retire''' issued to [[Asashōryū Akinori|Asashōryū]].<ref name=kyodo261118/><br/>The recommendation was issued following allegations that Asashōryū punched and injured an acquaintance in a drunken brawl at a nightclub during the January 2010 tournament. It has been suggested in the media that Asashōryū chose to retire before the Sumo Association could follow through on the council's recommendation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ed20100206a2.html|title=End of the line for Asashoryu|date=6 February 2010|work=Japan Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907032751if_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2010/02/06/editorials/end-of-the-line-for-asashoryu/#.WbC8yc37RPY|archive-date=7 September 2017|access-date=24 November 2020}}</ref>
* '''November 2018: Encouragement''' issued to [[Kisenosato Yutaka|Kisenosato]].<ref name=kyodo261118/><br/>Kisenosato lost his first five matches in the November 2018 tournament before withdrawing. Prior to that, he had withdrawn (either partially or fully) without a winning record in eight out of ten tournaments as ''yokozuna''. The withdrawals were due in part to injuries suffered at the end of his winning tournament run in March 2017. He eventually retired from the sport after three consecutive defeats in the January 2019 ''basho''.
* '''November 2020: Warning''' issued to two ''yokozuna'', [[Hakuhō Shō|Hakuhō]] and [[Kakuryū Rikisaburō|Kakuryū]].<ref name=KYODO241120>{{cite web |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201124/p2g/00m/0sp/026000c|title=Sumo: Advisory board issues warning to rehabbing yokozuna duo|date=24 November 2020|website=mainichi.jp|publisher=Kyodo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124131533/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201124/p2g/00m/0sp/026000c |access-date=24 November 2020|archive-date=24 November 2020 }}</ref><br/>According to the council, both wrestlers did not perform to the level required of the ''yokozuna'' rank between November 2019 and November 2020. In that timeframe, Hakuhō sufficiently performed three times (''[[yūshō]]'' in November 2019 and March 2020, plus a 10-win performance in July 2020) while Kakuryū sufficiently performed just once (runner-up in March 2020 with 12 wins). Both of them sat out of the September 2020 and November 2020 tournaments due to injury.<br/>The warning to Hakuhō and Kakuryū was upheld in March 2021.<ref name=kyodo290321>{{cite web |title=Sumo: Hakuho remains subject to warning over injury absences |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/03/77a9bf004ea0-sumo-hakuho-remains-subject-to-warning-over-injury-absences.html |work=Kyodo News |date=29 March 2021 |access-date=29 March 2021}}</ref> Kakuryū sat out for two additional tournaments since the warning was first issued, eventually retiring during the March 2021 ''basho''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sumo: Yokozuna Kakuryu retires after missing 5th straight tourney |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/03/443456bd50d5-breaking-news-sumo-association-approves-retirement-of-yokozuna-kakuryu.html |work=Kyodo News |date=24 March 2021 |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref> After sitting out of the January 2021 tournament due to [[COVID-19]], Hakuhō won two matches in March before withdrawing when doctors told him that he would require [[Patella|kneecap]] surgery.<ref name=kyodo290321/> Hakuhō returned to win the July 2021 tournament with a [[Glossary of sumo terms#zenshō|perfect 15–0 record]] before retiring.

===''Yokozuna'' ceremonies and traditions===
[[File:Yokozuna-dohyou-iri-(Asasyouryuu).jpg|thumb|68th ''yokozuna'' Asashoryū's Unryū-style ''Yokozuna Dohyō-iri'']]
[[File:Yokozuna-dohyou-iri (Hakuhou).jpg|thumb|69th ''yokozuna'' Hakuhō's Shiranui-style ''Yokozuna Dohyō-iri'']]
The formal establishment of the rank from Tanikaze's time appears to have in part come from a desire to let the very best have a separate ring entry ceremony (''dohyō-iri'') from the remaining top division wrestlers. The ''dohyō-iri'' is a ceremonial presentation of all the top-division wrestlers that is held before the competitive bouts of the day. The normal ceremony for top-division wrestlers is to be introduced and form a circle around the wrestling ring (''dohyō'') wearing specially decorated heavy silk "aprons", called ''[[keshō-mawashi]]''. A brief symbolic "dance" is carried out before filing off to change into their fighting ''[[mawashi]]'' and prepare for their bouts.

A ''yokozuna'', however, is introduced after the lower-ranked wrestlers and is flanked by two other top-division wrestler "assistants". The "dewsweeper" or ''[[tsuyuharai]]'' precedes the ''yokozuna'', while the "sword bearer" or ''[[tachimochi]]'' follows him into the arena. The sword is a Japanese [[katana]] and symbolises the [[samurai]] status of the ''yokozuna''. The ''tachimochi'' will always be the more highly ranked of the assisting wrestlers. As indicated above, during the ceremony the ''yokozuna'' will wear his ''tsuna'' around his waist.<ref name="fantsuna"/> The ceremonial aprons of all three form a matching set.

Once in the ring, the ''yokozuna'' takes centre stage and performs a much more complex ritual dance. The dance can take one of two forms, one of which the ''yokozuna'' usually chooses when he is first promoted. In addition to the slightly different routine, the choice of the ''yokozuna'''s ritual can also be determined by the knot used to tie the rope around his waist: the "Unryū" style has only one loop at the back, while the "Shiranui" style has two. The styles are named after 10th ''yokozuna'' [[Unryū Kyūkichi]] and 11th ''yokozuna'' [[Shiranui Kōemon]] of the [[Edo period]], although there is no historical proof that they actually carried out the dances that have been attributed to them. Indeed, some scholars{{Who|date=July 2015}} believe that earlier historians have confused the ring-entering rituals of these two ''yokozuna''.

When a former ''yokozuna'' reaches the age of 60, he usually performs a special ring-entering ceremony known as ''[[kanreki dohyō-iri]]'', wearing a red ''tsuna'', in celebration of his longevity. This ceremony first took place with the former ''yokozuna'' [[Tachiyama]] in 1937.

===Active ''yokozuna''===
* [[Hōshōryū Tomokatsu|Hōshōryū]], the 74th {{translit|ja|yokozuna}}, from [[Mongolia]], promoted January 2025
* [[Ōnosato Daiki|Ōnosato]], the 75th {{translit|ja|yokozuna}}, from [[Japan]], promoted May 2025<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=sumokyokai|number=1927515364797349919|title=本日5月28日、七月場所の番付編成会議と臨時理事会を開き、大の里の横綱昇進が決定しました。|author=Japan Sumo Association|date=28 May 2025|access-date=28 May 2025|language=ja}}</ref>

==''Ōzeki''==
{{see also|List of ōzeki|label 1=List of ''ōzeki''|List of sumo record holders#Most tournaments|label 2=Appearances at ''ōzeki'' records}}
The ''ōzeki'' {{Nihongo||大関|}}, or champion rank, is immediately below ''yokozuna'' in the ranking system. Until the ''yokozuna'' rank was introduced, ''ōzeki'' was the highest rank attainable. Technically, there must always be a minimum of two ''ōzeki'' on the ''banzuke'', one on the east side and one on the west. If there are fewer than two regular ''ōzeki'' in practice, then one or more ''yokozuna'' will be designated "''yokozuna-ōzeki''". This was seen for five tournaments from May 1981 to January 1982, when three ''yokozuna'' ([[Wakanohana Kanji II|Wakanohana]], [[Chiyonofuji]] and [[Kitanoumi]]) fulfilled this role at various times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003519992|title=SUMO ABC (45) / While there need not be any yokozuna, 2 ozeki must always exist – in theory|last=Miki|first=Shuji|date=23 February 2017|publisher=The Japan News/The Yomiuri Shimbun|access-date=2 June 2017}}</ref> The designation would not be used again until the March 2020 ''banzuke'', when only [[Takakeishō Mitsunobu|Takakeishō]] held the ''ōzeki'' rank and [[Kakuryū Rikisaburō|Kakuryū]] was designated ''yokozuna-ōzeki''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASN2S4PTSN2QUTQP019.html|title=38年ぶりに「横綱大関」復活 9組目の「親子幕内」も|trans-title="Yokozuna-Ōzeki" revived for the first time in 38 years|language=ja|date=24 February 2020 |website=Asahi Shimbun|access-date=26 February 2020}}</ref> In the first three tournaments of 2023, Takakeishō again was the only ''ōzeki'' and the ''yokozuna-ōzeki'' designation was given to [[Terunofuji Haruo|Terunofuji]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202212250001457.html|title=【初場所新番付】大関は２人名を連ねるのが慣例のため照ノ富士兼務し「横綱大関」に|date=26 December 2022|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202304300001746.html|title=【夏場所新番付】霧馬山の大関とりなるか、若貴以来30年ぶりの兄弟関脇も誕生／三役以上編|date=1 May 2023|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref> The promotion of [[Ōnosato Daiki|Ōnosato]] to {{translit|ja|yokozuna}} in May 2025 left [[Kotozakura Masakatsu II|Kotozakura]] as the lone {{translit|ja|ōzeki}}, and so Ōnosato was given the special designation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/06/30/kiji/20250630s00005000191000c.html?page=1|title=大関1人で新横綱の大の里が「横綱大関」に 新横綱では千代の富士以来44年ぶり|date=30 June 2025|publisher=Sports Nippon|access-date=4 July 2025|language=ja}}</ref>

There is no strict limit to the number of ''ōzeki''.  [[2012 in sumo|In 2012]], the ''banzuke'' listed a record-high six ''ōzeki'' for the May, July, and September tournaments.

===Promotion to {{translit|ja|ōzeki}} ===

The promotion of a wrestler to {{translit|ja|ōzeki}} is a multi-tournament process. A wrestler will be considered for promotion if he has achieved a total of at least 33 wins over the three most recent [[Honbasho|tournaments]] at the rank of either {{translit|ja|komusubi}} or {{translit|ja|sekiwake}},<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14919594|title=SUMO/ Kiribayama secures ozeki promotion to join Takakeisho|last=Uchida|first=Kai|date=29 May 2023|publisher=Asahi Shimbun|access-date=22 July 2025}}</ref> including ten or more wins as a {{translit|ja|sekiwake}} in the last completed tournament. Promotion is discretionary and there are no hard-and-fast rules, though a three-tournament record of 33 wins is considered a near-guarantee. Other factors toward promotion will include tangibles such as [[yusho|winning a tournament]] or defeating {{translit|ja|yokozuna}}, as well as the wrestler's overall consistency, prowess, and quality of sumo—for example, a record of [[hansoku|illegal maneuvers]] or reliance on certain [[henka|dodging techniques]] would count against the dignity expected of an {{translit|ja|ōzeki}} .

Promotions are recommended by the Judging Division to the board of directors of the [[Japan Sumo Association]]. If it is a first promotion to the rank, a member of the Board of Directors will formally visit the wrestler's [[heya (sumo)|stable]] to inform the new {{translit|ja|ōzeki}}  of his promotion. The {{translit|ja|ōzeki}}  will usually make a speech on this occasion, promising to do his best to uphold the dignity of the rank.

During the [[Edo period]], wrestlers often made their debuts as {{translit|ja|ōzeki}} based on size alone, though their real competitiveness had not been tested. The system was called "guest {{translit|ja|ōzeki}}" ({{nihongo|看板大関|kanban ōzeki}}). Most of these vanished from the {{translit|ja|banzuke}} soon after, but a few wrestlers, notably [[Tanikaze Kajinosuke]], remained as real wrestlers.

===Demotion from ''ōzeki''===

Like the other ''[[san'yaku]]'' ranks, but unlike a ''yokozuna'', an ''ōzeki'' may be [[Promotion and relegation|relegated]]. For an ''ōzeki'', relegation is a two-step procedure. First, the ''ōzeki'' must have a losing record in a tournament (7–8 or worse), known as a ''[[make-koshi]]''. At this point, the ''ōzeki'' is called [[glossary of sumo terms#kadoban|''kadoban'']]. If he makes a winning record (8–7 or better) in the next tournament (which is called ''[[kachi-koshi]]''), he is restored to regular ''ōzeki'' status. If, on the other hand, he suffers another losing record in the next tournament while ''kadoban'', he is relegated to ''[[sekiwake]]'' in the following tournament. (No matter how badly he does, he will not fall lower than ''sekiwake''.)

If he wins ten or more bouts in this tournament, he is restored to ''ōzeki'' for the following tournament. However, if he fails to win ten or more bouts, he is treated just like any other wrestler in any further attempts at being promoted back to ''ōzeki''. This system has been in place since the Nagoya Tournament of 1969. Since that time, six wrestlers have managed an immediate return to ''ōzeki'': [[Mienoumi]], [[Takanonami]], [[Musoyama|Musōyama]], [[Tochiazuma Daisuke|Tochiazuma]] (who managed it on two occasions), [[Tochinoshin Tsuyoshi|Tochinoshin]] and [[Takakeishō Mitsunobu|Takakeishō]].

[[Mitakeumi Hisashi|Mitakeumi]] is the only wrestler to be demoted from ''ōzeki'' after three consecutive losing records instead of two. He entered the July 2022 ''basho'' at ''kadoban'' status, but withdrew in the middle of the tournament after a stablemate tested positive for [[COVID-19]]. Under the Sumo Association's COVID protocols at the time, Mitakeumi's ''ōzeki'' rank and ''kadoban'' status were extended to the following tournament in September,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2022082900112|title=豊昇龍が新関脇 かど番御嶽海は据え置き―大相撲秋場所|date=29 August 2022|publisher=Jiji|language=ja|access-date=29 August 2022}}</ref> where he sustained another losing record and was subsequently demoted.

===Benefits of being an ''ōzeki''===

In addition to a salary increase, there are a number of perks associated with reaching ''ōzeki'' rank:
*He is guaranteed a higher rank in the Sumo Association when he first retires.
*He will be given a three-year temporary membership of the Sumo Association on his retirement if he does not yet own a share.
*He will receive a special merit payment on his retirement (the amount decided by his strength and longevity as an ''ōzeki'').
*He is given a parking space at the Sumo Association headquarters.
*He can vote in the election of the Sumo Association directors.
*Normally, he will receive additional support from his stable in terms of junior wrestlers to act as his manservants.
*He can wear purple fringed ceremonial aprons (''[[Mawashi#Kesh.C5.8D-mawashi|keshō-mawashi]]'').
*He may be called on to represent the wrestlers on formal occasions such as when VIPs visit a sumo tournament, or on formal visits to [[Shinto]] shrines.

===List of active ''ōzeki''===

*[[Kotozakura Masakatsu II|Kotozakura]], since March 2024

===List of active former ''ōzeki''===

*[[Takayasu Akira|Takayasu]], from July 2017 to December 2019
*[[Asanoyama Hiroki|Asanoyama]], from May 2020 to July 2021
*[[Shōdai Naoya|Shōdai]], from November 2020 to November 2022
*[[Mitakeumi Hisashi|Mitakeumi]], from March to September 2022
*[[Kirishima Tetsuo|Kirishima]], from July 2023 to May 2024

==''Sekiwake''==
{{see also|List of sekiwake|label 1=List of ''sekiwake''|List of sumo record holders#Most tournaments|label 2=Appearances at ''sekiwake'' and ''komusubi'' records}}
{{nihongo|'''''Sekiwake'''''|関脇|sekiwake}} is the third-highest rank in professional [[sumo]] wrestling, and is one of the ''[[san'yaku]]'' ranks. The term is believed to derive from guarding the ''[[Makuuchi#Ōzeki|ōzeki]]'' (大関 or 関) at his side (脇).

It represents the highest rank a wrestler can achieve by continuously making a ''[[kachi-koshi]]'' (a winning record in the tournament) in tournaments. Promotion to ''sekiwake'' depends on either a space being available, which is quite common, or having a record in the previous tournament that is very convincing.  Typically 11–4 or better as a ''[[komusubi]]'' is sufficient for promotion to ''sekiwake'' even with no normal space available; lower ranks need progressively more wins. There are special promotion criteria, typically a minimum of 33 wins over three tournaments, for advancement from ''sekiwake'' to ''ōzeki''; merely recording consecutive winning records while at the ''sekiwake'' rank is not enough to advance. In the 1980s, [[Sakahoko]] stayed at ''sekiwake'' for nine consecutive tournaments without even getting close to ''ōzeki'' consideration, and [[Gōeidō Gōtarō|Goeidō]] was stuck at the rank for fourteen consecutive tournaments, a modern-day record, between May 2012 and July 2014, before being promoted to ''ōzeki'' in September 2014.

Unlike the higher ranks of ''ōzeki'' and [[Yokozuna (sumo)|''yokozuna'']], a wrestler will nearly always lose the rank immediately after having a ''[[make-koshi]]'' tournament (a losing record during a tournament). Very occasionally, however, a lucky ''sekiwake'' might keep his rank even with a 7–8 record if there are no obvious candidates to replace him, as when the ''komusubi'' and the upper ''maegashira'' have also had losing records. This has happened five times since the six-tournaments-a-year era began in 1958, most recently with Gōeidō in July 2013. In each case, the wrestler was merely moved from the ''sekiwake'' East rank to the less prestigious West side.

For many purposes, ''sekiwake'' and the ''komusubi'' rank are treated together as the junior ''san'yaku'' ranks, as opposed to ''ōzeki'' and ''yokozuna''.  For example, records of number of tournaments ranked in junior ''san'yaku'' are often referred to in sumo publications.

For wrestlers reaching this rank, the benefits are similar to that for a ''komusubi''. The salary is higher than for a ''[[maegashira]]'' and also the wrestler is usually called to appear to flank the chairman of the [[Japan Sumo Association|Sumo Association]] during the speeches he makes on opening and closing days of the 15-day tournaments that are held six times a year. He may also be called on to represent the wrestlers on behalf of the Sumo Association at other events, especially if the number of ''ōzeki'' and ''yokozuna'' is low. If this is the highest rank a wrestler reaches, even if it is only for one tournament, he will always be referred to as "former sekiwake (ring name)" after his retirement, an indicator of a successful sumo career, even if not achieving the exceptional standards of the two highest ranks.

At any time, there must be a minimum of two wrestlers ranked at ''sekiwake''. If circumstances require, this can rise typically to three or four. The minimum of two requirement means that a certain amount of luck can lead to wrestlers achieving this rank on occasion, if the performance of other wrestlers leaves no obvious candidates to fill the rank. This luck factor is less common than it is for ''komusubi'' promotions.

===List of active ''sekiwake''===

* [[Aonishiki Arata|Aonishiki]], since November 2025 (previous rank: {{Transliteration|ja|komusubi}})
* [[Ōhō Kōnosuke|Ōhō]], since November 2025 (previous rank: {{translit|ja|maegashira}} 2)

===Wrestlers with most ''sekiwake'' appearances in history===
''Names in bold indicate a still active wrestler.''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! !![[Shikona|Name]] !!Total !!First !!Last !!Highest rank
|-
!1
| [[Tamagaki Gakunosuke III|Tamagaki]] ||25 ||October 1797 ||November 1811 ||''Ōzeki''
|-
!2
| [[Kotomitsuki]] ||22 ||January 2001 ||July 2007 ||''Ōzeki''
|-
!rowspan=3|3
| [[Hasegawa Katsutoshi|Hasegawa]] ||21 ||January 1969 ||January 1974 ||''Sekiwake''
|-
| [[Kaiō Hiroyuki|Kaiō]] ||21||January 1995 ||July 2000 ||''Ōzeki''
|-
| [[Kotonishiki]] ||21||November 1990 ||January 1997 ||''Sekiwake''
|-
!6
| [[Musōyama]] ||20 ||March 1994 ||March 2000 ||''Ōzeki''
|-
!7
|'''[[Mitakeumi]]''' ||19 ||November 2016 ||November 2022 ||''Ōzeki''
|-
!rowspan=2|8
| [[Tochiazuma Daisuke|Tochiazuma]] ||17 ||September 1997 ||November 2001 ||''Ōzeki''
|-
|[[Wakanosato]] ||17 ||January 2001 ||September 2005  ||''Sekiwake''
|-
!rowspan=3|9
| [[Nayoroiwa]] ||15 ||May 1938 ||March 1953 ||''Ōzeki''
|-
| [[Takatōriki]] ||15 ||July 1991 ||November 1998 ||''Sekiwake''
|-
| [[Gōeidō Gōtarō|Gōeidō]] ||15 ||May 2009 ||July 2014 ||''Ōzeki''
|}

==''Komusubi''==
{{see also|List of komusubi|label 1=List of ''komusubi''|List of sumo record holders#Most tournaments|label 2=Appearances at ''sekiwake'' and ''komusubi'' records}}
{{nihongo|'''''Komusubi'''''|小結|komusubi}} literally means "the little knot", the knot referring to the match-up between two wrestlers. It is the fourth highest rank in [[sumo]] wrestling and is the lowest of the titleholder ranks, or ''[[san'yaku]]''.

At ''komusubi'', achieving ''[[kachi-koshi|winning tournament]]'' (8–7 or better) is not sufficient to guarantee promotion to a higher rank. Promotion to the next highest rank, ''sekiwake'', depends on either a space being available, which is quite common, or having at least 11 wins in the previous tournament if no normal ''sekiwake'' slot is available.  This general requirement can be seen by the promotion of [[Tochiōzan Yūichirō|Tochiōzan]] to a third ''sekiwake'' slot for March 2014 with 11 wins when the other two ''sekiwake'' had winning records, while [[Tochinoshin Tsuyoshi|Tochinoshin]] was not promoted with 10 wins for November 2015 in a similar situation.

For many purposes, this and the ''sekiwake'' rank are treated together as the junior ''san'yaku'' ranks, as opposed to ''ōzeki'' and ''yokozuna'', where extremely stringent promotion criteria exist. Records of number of tournaments ranked in junior ''san'yaku'' are often referred to in sumo publications because these two ranks are so difficult to retain.

For wrestlers reaching this rank, the benefits are a salary increase and also appearing to flank the chairman of the [[Japan Sumo Association|Sumo Association]] during the speeches he makes on opening and closing days of the official tournaments, held six times a year. He may also be called on to represent the wrestlers on behalf of the Sumo Association at other events, especially if the number of ''ōzeki'' and ''yokozuna'' are low. If this is the highest rank a wrestler reaches, even if it is only for one tournament, he will always be referred to as "former ''komusubi'' (ring name)" after his retirement, which is an indicator of a fairly successful sumo career.

At any time, there must be a minimum of two wrestlers ranked as ''komusubi''. If circumstances require this can rise to three or four, for example if both ''komusubi'' have winning records and an upper ''maegashira'' produces such a good score that he cannot reasonably be denied a promotion. However, this is relatively rare. The minimum of two requirement means that a certain amount of luck can lead to wrestlers achieving this rank on occasion, if the performance of other wrestlers leaves no obvious candidates to fill the rank.

''Komusubi'' is widely regarded as a difficult rank to maintain, as wrestlers at this rank are likely to face all the ''ōzeki'' and'' yokozuna'' in the first week of a tournament, with a ''yokozuna'' normally scheduled for the opening day. ''Komusubi'' face mainly ''maegashira'' in the second week, but often wrestlers new to the rank are so demoralised by this point that they lose these matches too. Few men making their ''komusubi'' debut return a ''[[kachi-koshi]]'' or winning record in the ensuing tournament.

Before [[World War II]], when there were fewer tournaments per year and more weight was placed on the performance at each tournament, there were several instances of ''komusubi'' immediately advancing to ''ōzeki'' after nearly winning a tournament, but there have been no instances of this since then.

=== List of active ''komusubi'' ===

* [[Takayasu Akira|Takayasu]], since May 2025 (previous rank: {{Transliteration|ja|maegashira}} 4)
* [[Takanoshō Nobuaki|Takanoshō]], since November 2025 (previous rank: {{Transliteration|ja|maegashira}} 7)

===Wrestlers with most ''komusubi'' appearances in history===
''Names in bold indicate a still active wrestler.''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! !![[Shikona|Name]] !!Total !!First !!Last !!Highest rank
|-
!1
| Miyagino ||23 ||October 1818  ||January 1834 ||''Sekiwake''
|-
!2
| [[Takamiyama]] ||19 ||November 1969  ||January 1979 ||''Sekiwake''
|-
!3
| [[Akinoshima]] ||15 ||November 1988  ||September 2000 ||''Sekiwake''
|-
!rowspan=2|4
| [[Dewanishiki Tadao|Dewanishiki]] ||14 ||May 1950  ||May 1962 ||''Sekiwake''
|-
|[[Tochiōzan Yūichirō|Tochiōzan]] ||14||May 2009||September 2017||''Sekiwake''
|-
!rowspan=4|6
| Amatsukaze ||13 ||March 1765  ||March 1778 ||''Sekiwake''
|-
| [[Kotonishiki]] ||13 ||September 1990  ||January 1999 ||''Sekiwake''
|-
| [[Tosanoumi]] ||13 ||January 1996 ||September 2003 ||''Sekiwake''
|-
| Wakabayama ||13 ||January 1925  ||May 1933 ||''Sekiwake''
|-
!rowspan=3|10
| [[Dewanohana Yoshitaka|Dewanohana]] ||12 ||November 1979  ||September 1987 ||''Sekiwake''
|-
| [[Kisenosato]] ||12 ||July 2006  ||September 2010 ||''Yokozuna''
|-
| Ōmatoi ||12 ||April 1869  ||January 1877 ||''Sekiwake''
|}

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

All the ''makuuchi'' wrestlers who are not ranked in ''[[san'yaku]]'' are ranked as ''maegashira'', numbered from one at the top downwards. In each rank there are two wrestlers, the higher ranked is designated as "east" and the lower as "west", so No. 1 east is treated as a higher rank than No. 1 west, and so on.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scgroup.com/sumo/faq/faq4.html |title=Professional rankings: The Banzuke |publisher=Scgroup.com |access-date=2013-10-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001032019/http://www.scgroup.com/sumo/faq/faq4.html |archive-date=1 October 2012 }}</ref>

The number of wrestlers in ''makuuchi'' is fixed (at 42 since 2004) but the number in ''san'yaku'' is not. Thus, the number of ''maegashira'' ranks can vary, but is typically between 15 and 17. (This gives a ''makuuchi'' division split of around 10 ''san'yaku'' and 32 ''maegashira'').

Movement within the ''maegashira'' ranks can be minor or extreme, depending on a wrestler's score in the previous 15-bout tournament. For example, a ''maegashira'' 2 who has an 8–7 record might only be promoted one level to ''maegashira'' 1 for the next tournament. Conversely, a ''maegashira'' 14 who wins the division championship could be promoted as high as ''[[komusubi]]''. Indeed, this happened in March 2000 when [[Takatoriki Tadashige|Takatōriki]] of the [[Takanohana stable|Futagoyama stable]] won the championship with a 13–2 record.

''Maegashira'' ranked five or below are likely to only fight amongst themselves (unless their winning record in the middle of a tournament prompts their scheduling with higher-ranked wrestlers) while those ranked ''maegashira'' four or above are likely to have several matches against ''[[san'yaku]]'' wrestlers, including ''ōzeki'' and ''yokozuna''. Wrestlers at ''maegashira'' 1 and 2 will usually face everybody in the ''san'yaku'' (with the exception that you cannot face someone from your own stable), and these are therefore considered very difficult ranks to maintain. If a lower-ranked ''maegashira'' has a score which puts them in contention for the title in the second week of the tournament, it is not uncommon for them to be matched against higher-ranked opponents later in the ''basho''; for instance, in January 2020, the lowest-ranked wrestler in the tournament, ''maegashira'' 17 [[Tokushōryū Makoto|Tokushōryū]], was in contention for the title having only faced opponents in the lower half of the ''banzuke'' and was matched against ''ōzeki''
[[Takakeishō Mitsunobu|Takakeisho]], the highest-ranked ''rikishi'' participating in the tournament, on the final day, clinching the ''basho'' with his victory.

When a ''maegashira'' defeats a [[yokozuna (sumo)|''yokozuna'']], it is called a gold star or ''[[kinboshi]]'' and he is rewarded monetarily for the victory for the remainder of his career. A bout where a wrestler earns a ''kinboshi'' defeat of a ''yokozuna'' generally causes great excitement at a sumo venue and it is common and expected for audience members to throw their seat cushions into the ring (and onto the wrestlers) after such a bout, though this is technically prohibited.

===Wrestlers with most ''maegashira'' appearances without a ''san'yaku'' title===
Names in bold indicate a still active wrestler.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Total || Wrestler || First || Last || Highest rank
|-
!60
| '''[[Sadanoumi Takashi|Sadanoumi]]''' || May 2014 || September 2025 || {{Transliteration|ja|Maegashira}} 1
|-
!53
| [[Higonoumi Naoya|Higonoumi]] || March 1993 || November 2001 || {{Transliteration|ja|Maegashira}} 1
|-
!rowspan=2|52
| [[Asanowaka Takehiko|Asanowaka]] || March 1994 || May 2004 || {{Transliteration|ja|Maegashira}} 1
|-
| [[Toyohibiki Ryūta|Toyohibiki]] || July 2007 || May 2017 || {{Transliteration|ja|Maegashira}} 2
|-
!51
| [[Kotoryū Hiroo|Kotoryū]] || July 1996 || March 2005 || {{Transliteration|ja|Maegashira}} 1
|-
!50
| [[Tokitsuumi Masahiro|Tokitsuumi]] || September 1998 || September 2007 || {{Transliteration|ja|Maegashira}} 3 
|-
!49
| [[Kitakachidoki Hayato|Kitakachidoki]] || January 1989 || May 1998 || {{Transliteration|ja|Maegashira}} 1
|-
!46
| [[Minatofuji Takayuki|Minatofuji]] || July 1993 || July 2001 || {{Transliteration|ja|Maegashira}} 2
|-
!44
| {{ill|Narutoumi Kazuyuki|lt=Narutoumi|ja|鳴門海一行}} || October 1949 || November 1960 || {{Transliteration|ja|Maegashira}} 1
|-
!rowspan=2|43
| [[Daiyū Tatsumi|Daiyū]] || May 1963 || September 1972 || {{Transliteration|ja|Maegashira}} 1
|-
| {{ill|Hirosegawa Sokichi|lt=Hirosegawa|ja|広瀬川惣吉}} || January 1943 || May 1958 || {{Transliteration|ja|Maegashira}} 3  
|}

==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]]

==References==
<!-- this 'empty' section displays references defined elsewhere -->
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sumo.or.jp Japan Sumo Association]

[[Category:Sumo terminology]]