Sanshō (Sumo)

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Sansho or Sanshō (三賞) is a term used to describe one of the three special prizes awarded to top (Makuuchi) division sumo wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo honbasho or tournament.

All rikishi in the top division are eligible for the award of one of the prizes, except the top ranked Yokozuna and Ozeki who are expected to perform at the highest level during all tournaments.

In order to be considered for a special prize a rikishi must make a kachikoshi or majority of wins during the tournament. Otherwise the prizes are decided by a panel which includes press writers covering the tournament.

The three prizes are

• the Shukun-sho or shukunshō (殊勲賞) (Outstanding performance prize)
• the Gino-sho or ginōshō (技能賞) (Technique prize)
• the Kanto-sho or kantōshō (敢闘賞) (Fighting spirit prize)

Typically the Outstanding performance prize is awarded to a wrestler who defeats the Yokozuna, or tournament winner. The other prizes are more flexibly interpreted, but strong records with wins over Ozeki and Yokozuna normally result in the award of a prize.

While technique prize is probably most often awarded to wrestlers who use unusual winning techniques, it can also be awarded to wrestlers who in the view of the panel have used their style of sumo to great effect during the tournament. This prize is generally considered to be the most prestigious of the three.

The Fighting Spirit prize is most commonly awarded to a wrestler putting up a good double digit kachikoshi tournament record (10-5 or better).

It is a de facto standard that a newly promoted Makuuchi rikishi who manages a 10-5 or better record in his first tournament will be awarded a sansho, normally the Fighting Spirit Prize. Similarly a newly promoted Sanyaku rikishi achieving a 10-5 record can expect a prize for his efforts.

There is also no minimum or maximum limit to the number of sansho that are awarded at the end of the tournament. It is not uncommon for more than one rikishi to be awarded a sansho of the same title, and similarly there are occasions when one of the three sansho titles is not awarded at all. For example it is unlikely that the shukunsho will be awarded if the tournament is won 15-0 by a lone Yokozuna.

On occasion up to six sansho have been awarded in total, while on other occasions a total of only one has been presented. Truly exceptional performances can lead to the award of two, or rarely all three, prizes to one wrestler. For example Takanohana was awarded all three after his first tournament victory, as a Maegashira.