This is a list of past wrestlers (either retired or deceased) in the sport of professional sumo. They are listed in order of the year and tournament month that they made their professional debuts. The information listed below was gleaned from the wrestlers' individual articles; refer to their links for more details.
| Ring name | Entered | Retired | Highest rank | Stable | Career and other notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akashi Shiganosuke | 1624? | 1643? | Yokozuna | N.A. | yokozuna status conferred centuries later, historical existence disputed |
| Ayagawa Gorōji | 1715? | 1745? | Yokozuna | N.A. | yokozuna status historically conferred, actual yokozuna license never proven |
| Maruyama Gondazaemon | 1735? | 1749-11 | Yokozuna | Nanatsumori | yokozuna status historically conferred, died while an active wrestler |
| Miyagino Nishikinosuke | 1766-10 | 1796-3 | Sekiwake | Sanoyama | oldest top division wrestler at the age of 52, first Miyagino stablemaster |
| Tanikaze Kajinosuke | 1769-4 | 1794-11 | Yokozuna | Isenoumi | streak of 63 wins held for 150 years, died while active |
| Onogawa Kisaburō | 1779-10 | 1798-10 | Yokozuna | Tamagaki | first yokozuna to perform dohyo-iri along with Tanikaze |
| Raiden Tameemon | 1790-11 | 1811-2 | Ōzeki | Urakaze (Isenoumi) |
considered one of the best wrestlers ever, but never promoted to Yokozuna, possibly for political reasons |
| Kashiwado Risuke | 1806-10 | 1825-1 | Ōzeki | Isenoumi | rejected a yokozuna license to avoid conflict between prominent families |
| Tamagaki Gakunosuke | 1806-10 | 1824-8 | Ōzeki | Tamagaki | like Kashiwado, a yokozuna strength wrestler who had to reject a license |
| Ōnomatsu Midorinosuke | 1815-3 | 1835-11 | Yokozuna | Takekuma | was often criticized for number of false starts |
| Inazuma | 1821-2 | 1839-11 | Yokozuna | Sadogatake | received yokozuna licenses from Gojo family and Yoshida family |
| Tsurugizan Taniemon | 1827-3 | 1852-2 | Ōzeki | Onomatsu | offered a yokozuna license but rejected it |
| Hidenoyama Raigorō | 1828-3 | 1850-3 | Yokozuna | Hidenoyama | shortest yokozuna ever, wrestlers outside his stable once staged a strike against his authority |
| Shiranui Dakuemon | 1830-11 | 1844-1 | Yokozuna | Urakaze | coach of Shiranui Kōemon |
| Unryū Kyūkichi | 1847-11 | 1865-2 | Yokozuna | Oitekaze | unryū dohyō-iri style named for him |
| Jinmaku | 1850-11 | 1867-11 | Yokozuna | Hidenoyama | erected monument to former yokozuna, first time first 3 yokozuna recognized |
| Shiranui Kōemon | 1850-11 | 1869-11 | Yokozuna | Sakaigawa | considered the actual innovator of the unryū dohyō-iri style |
| Kimenzan Tanigorō | 1852-2 | 1870-11 | Yokozuna | Takekuma | at 43 oldest wrestler ever to be promoted to yokozuna |
| Sakaigawa Namiemon | 1857-11 | 1881-1 | Yokozuna | Sakaigawa | a number of dubious yokozuna titles were awarded in his period, diluting the integrity of the title, his title is the only one from his time still recognized |
| Umegatani I | 1871-3 | 1885-5 | Yokozuna | Ikazuchi | died at 83, longest lived yokozuna after retirement, helped build first Ryōgoku Kokugikan |
| Nishinoumi Kajirō I | 1882-1 | 1896-1 | Yokozuna | Takasago | first wrestler actually listed on banzuke at the rank of yokozuna |
| Konishiki Yasokichi I | 1883-5 | 1901-1 | Yokozuna | Takasago | although competitive, never won a championship as yokozuna |
| Ōzutsu Man'emon | 1885-1 | 1908-1 | Yokozuna | Oguruma | strength greatly declined after fighting in Russo-Japanese War |
| Onigatani Saiji | 1886-1 | 1907-1 | Komusubi | Ikazuchi | retired from active sumo at age of 51 |
| Wakashima | 1891-5 | 1907-1 | Yokozuna | Tomozuna Nakamura |
first official yokozuna from Osaka sumo, retired young due to a cycling accident |
| Hitachiyama | 1892-6 | 1914-5 | Yokozuna | Dewanoumi | last wrestler to win over .900 of his bouts in top division, considered to be the most honorable yokozuna ever by many, did much to increase the popularity of sumo |
| Umegatani II | 1892-6 | 1915-5 | Yokozuna | Ikazuchi | youngest ever yokozuna at that time |
| Araiwa Kamenosuke | 1894-1 | 1909-1 | Ōzeki | Oguruma | had a winning average of over .800 |
| Takamiyama Torinosuke | 1895-6 | 1913-5 | Sekiwake | Takasago | won first officially recognized sumo top division championship |
| Tamatsubaki Kentaro | 1897-1 | 1916-1 | Sekiwake | Ikazuchi | at 158 cm, the shortest wrestler in history |
| Ōnishiki Daigorō | 1898-11 | 1922-1 | Yokozuna | Asahiyama | active in Osaka sumo |
| Ōkido Moriemon | 1899-9 | 1914-1 | Yokozuna | Minato | only yokozuna who spent his whole career in Osaka sumo |
| Nishinoumi Kajirō II | 1900-1 | 1918-5 | Yokozuna | Izutsu | oldest wrestler to be promoted to yokozuna in the 20th century, committed suicide later in life |
| Tachiyama | 1900-5 | 1918-1 | Yokozuna | Tomozuna | never had a losing tournament in 18 year career, only lost 3 bouts as a yokozuna |
| Ōtori Tanigorō | 1903-5 | 1920-5 | Yokozuna | Miyagino | has a monument built for him in Inzai, Chiba |
| Ryōgoku Yūjirō | 1909-6 | 1924-1 | Sekiwake | Dewanoumi | only wrestler to win the top division on his first attempt since the 1909 yusho system was established |
| Ōnishiki Uichirō | 1910-1 | 1923-1 | Yokozuna | Dewanoumi | reached Yokozuna after only 5 top division tournaments which is an all time record, trained under Hitachiyama |
| Nishinoumi Kajirō III | 1910-1 | 1928-10 | Yokozuna | Izutsu | promoted to yokozuna without winning any championships, which caused controversy |
| Tsunenohana | 1910-1 | 1930-10 | Yokozuna | Dewanoumi | attempted suicide as a sumo elder after being blamed for JSA troubles |
| Miyagiyama | 1910-6 | 1931-1 | Yokozuna | Takadagawa | achieved fame in Osaka, helped save integrity of much maligned Osaka sumo by achieving success in Tokyo after Osaka sumo was disbanded |
| Tochigiyama | 1911-2 | 1925-5 | Yokozuna | Dewanoumi | lost only 3 bouts in rise to top division, ended the 56 victory streak of Tachiyama |
| Shimizugawa | 1917-1 | 1937-5 | Ōzeki | Hatachiyama | won three top division championships, but never promoted to yokozuna |
| Hitachiiwa Eitarō | 1917-5 | 1931-3 | Ōzeki | Dewanoumi | his only tournament championship caused great controversy |
| Tamanishiki | 1919-1 | 1938-12 | Yokozuna | Nishonoseki | one of very few top division wrestlers who did not walk out in a strike, later brought great success to Nishonoseki stable as head |
| Minanogawa Tōzō | 1924-1 | 1942-1 | Yokozuna | Takasago Sadogatake |
popular with public but won no championships at yokozuna rank |
| Musashiyama Takeshi | 1926-1 | 1939-5 | Yokozuna | Dewanoumi | promotion considered controversial by some, had only one kachi-koshi at yokozuna rank |
| Futabayama | 1927-3 | 1945-11 | Yokozuna | Tatsunami | won 69 consecutive bouts, the longest run in the history of sumo, after retirement admitted was blind in one eye |
| Maedayama | 1929-1 | 1949-10 | Yokozuna | Takasago | former head of Takasago stable |
| Akinoumi Setsuo | 1932-2 | 1946-11 | Yokozuna | Dewanoumi | ended the 69 bout win streak of Futabayama |
| Nayoroiwa Shizuo | 1932-5 | 1954-10 | Ozeki | Tatsunami | stablemate of Futabayama, fought until age forty, established Kasugayama stable after retirement |
| Haguroyama | 1934-1 | 1953-9 | Yokozuna | Tatsunami | longest serving yokozuna in history at 12 years, 3 months |
| Terukuni | 1935-1 | 1953-1 | Yokozuna | Isegahama | youngest yokozuna ever until Taihō |
| Masuiyama Daishiro I | 1935-1 | 1950-1 | Ozeki | Dewanoumi | father of ozeki Masuiyama Daishiro II, coach of Kitanoumi |
| Azumafuji Kin'ichi | 1936-1 | 1954-9 | Yokozuna | Takasago | first yokozuna to turn to pro-wrestling after retiring |
| Mitsuneyama | 1937-5 | 1960-1 | Ōzeki | Takashima | later head coach of Takashima stable |
| Tamanoumi Daitaro | 1937-5 | 1961-1 | Sekiwake | Nishonoseki | first wrestler to wear a brightly colored mawashi, flouting JSA rules and won first championship with 15-0 record while wearing it, had 9 kinboshi in career |
| Toyonishiki | 1938-1 | 1945-11 | Maegashira 17 | Dewanoumi | first Japanese-American to reach the top division |
| Yoshibayama | 1938-5 | 1958-1 | Yokozuna | Takashima | though successful, he overall ability was hindered by injuries from World War II before he entered sumo |
| Tochinishiki | 1939-1 | 1960-5 | Yokozuna | Kasugano | known for small size and his tenacity, once fought back from seven straight losses to win his kachi-koshi |
| Rikidōzan | 1940-5 | 1950-9 | Sekiwake | Nishonoseki | after retiring, moved on to become "the father of pro-wrestling in Japan" |
| Kagamisato | 1941-1 | 1958-1 | Yokozuna | Tokitsukaze | died at age 80, one of the longest lived former yokozuna |
| Matsunobori | 1941-1 | 1961-11 | Ōzeki | Oyama | head of small Oyama stable after retirement |
| Chiyonoyama | 1942-1 | 1959-1 | Yokozuna | Dewanoumi | founded Kokonoe stable |
| Ouchiyama | 1944-1 | 1959-3 | Ōzeki | Tokitsukaze | one of the tallest wrestlers ever at 202 cm |
| Kotogahama | 1945-11 | 1962-11 | Ōzeki | Nishonoseki | five times a top division tournament runner-up, turned down opportunity to run Sadogatake stable |
| Wakanohana | 1946-11 | 1962-5 | Yokozuna | Nishonoseki Shibatayama Hanakago |
former head of JSA, one of lightest yokozuna, older brother of Takanohana Kenshi |
| Tsurugamine | 1947-6 | 1967-7 | Sekiwake | Izutsu | holds record for most technique prizes at 10, had ten kinboshi |
| Asashio III | 1948-10 | 1962-1 | Yokozuna | Takasago | former head of Takasago stable |
| Wakahaguro | 1949-10 | 1965-3 | Ōzeki | Tatsunami | died of stroke after retiring at age 34 |
| Annenyama | 1950-1 | 1965-3 | Sekiwake | Tatsunami | former head of Tatsunami stable, earned 10 kinboshi |
| Tochihikari | 1952-5 | 1966-1 | Ōzeki | Kasugano | member of Kasugano stable, an ōzeki for 22 tournaments |
| Fujinishiki | 1953-3 | 1968-11 | Komusubi | Takasago | former head of Takasago stable, coached Konishiki, Mitoizumi to top division |
| Kitabayama | 1954-5 | 1966-5 | Ōzeki | Tokitsukaze | held ōzeki rank for 30 tournaments |
| Kashiwado | 1954-9 | 1969-7 | Yokozuna | Isenoumi | former director of JSA, overshadowed by rival Taiho |
| Myobudani | 1954-3 | 1969-11 | Sekiwake | Miyagino | took part in two top division championship playoffs |
| Wakamisugi | 1955-3 | 1967-5 | Sekiwake | Hanakago | won a top division championship from the maegashira ranks |
| Tochinoumi | 1955-9 | 1966-11 | Yokozuna | Kasugano | former head of Kasugano stable, one of lightest yokozuna ever |
| Sadanoyama | 1956-1 | 1968-3 | Yokozuna | Dewanoumi | former head of JSA |
| Kiyokuni | 1956-9 | 1974-1 | Ōzeki | Isegahama | former head of Isegahama stable |
| Taiho | 1956-9 | 1971-5 | Yokozuna | Nishonoseki | won all time record 32 championships, at the time was youngest yokozuna ever at 21 |
| Kitanofuji | 1957-1 | 1974-7 | Yokozuna | Dewanoumi Kokonoe |
former head of Kokonoe stable, coached Chiyonofuji and Hokutoumi to yokozuna |
| Ryūko | 1957-1 | 1975-5 | Komusubi | Hanakago | after retiring, found success as a TV actor |
| Wakanami | 1957-3 | 1972-3 | Komusubi | Tatsunami | only 103 kg at peak weight |
| Daikirin | 1958-5 | 1974-11 | Ōzeki | Nishonoseki | sumo elder until June 2006 |
| Kotozakura | 1959-1 | 1974-7 | Yokozuna | Sadogatake | was head of Sadogatake stable during a very successful period |
| Tamanoumi Masahiro | 1959-3 | 1971-9 | Yokozuna | Kataonami | died during surgery while an active yokozuna |
| Hasegawa | 1960-3 | 1976-5 | Sekiwake | Sadogatake | unusually, kept his family name as his ring name, former director of the Nagoya tournament for the JSA |
| Tochiazuma Tomoyori | 1960-11 | 1977-1 | Sekiwake | Kasugano | won ten special prizes, father of Ōzeki Tochiazuma |
| Maenoyama | 1961-3 | 1974-3 | Ōzeki | Takasago | Korean descent, broke his stable off from Ichimon to become independent |
| Yutakayama | 1961-3 | 1968-9 | Ōzeki | Tokitsukaze | runner-up for top division championship 8 times, former head of Tokitsukaze stable and JSA |
| Fujinokawa | 1961-5 | 1972-11 | Sekiwake | Isenoumi | now head of Isenoumi stable and a director of the JSA |
| Oshio | 1962-1 | 1988-1 | Komusubi | Tokitsukaze | all time record for most bouts ever fought |
| Asahikuni | 1963-7 | 1979-9 | Ōzeki | Tatsunami | won 6 technique prizes, broke off to form own stable, Ōshima stable |
| Mienoumi | 1963-7 | 1980-11 | Yokozuna | Dewanoumi | took all time record 97 tournaments to reach yokozuna |
| Futatsuryū | 1963-9 | 1982-11 | Komusubi | Tokitsukaze | former Tokitsukaze stable head, stripped of position and arrested over hazing death scandal |
| Tenryu | 1963-12 | 1976-9 | Maegashira 1 | Nishonoseki | after a dispute with the JSA, went on to be a pro wrestler |
| Fujizakura | 1963-3 | 1985-3 | Sekiwake | Takasago | former holder of the record for most consecutive professional bouts, now head of Nakamura stable |
| Takamiyama | 1964-3 | 1984-5 | Sekiwake | Takasago | first foreigner to win top division championship, holds many longevity records, held the kinboshi record until Akinoshima |
| Kongō | 1964-5 | 1976-9 | Sekiwake | Nishonoseki | now head of Nishonoseki stable |
| Aobajo | 1964-3 | 1986-7 | Sekiwake | Oshiogawa | holds record for most consecutive career bouts |
| Daiju | 1965-3 | 1977-5 | Ōzeki | Takashima | briefly held Ōzeki rank, now head of Asahiyama stable |
| Takanohana I | 1965-5 | 1981-1 | Ōzeki | Futagoyama | held Ōzeki rank for then record 50 tournaments, father of Yokozuna Takanohana II and Wakanohana III |
| Kaiki | 1965-9 | 1987-3 | Sekiwake | Tomozuna | Now head of Tomozuna stable and on board of JSA |
| Kaiketsu | 1966-9 | 1979-1 | Ōzeki | Hanakago | two-time Ozeki, now head of JSA |
| Kitanoumi | 1967-1 | 1985-1 | Yokozuna | Mihogaseki | youngest yokozuna ever, won 24 tournament titles, now head of Kitanoumi stable |
| Masuiyama Daishiro II | 1967-1 | 1981-3 | Ōzeki | Mihogaseki | at 31, oldest wrestler promoted to Ōzeki until Kotomitsuki in modern era |
| Washuyama | 1967-3 | 1985-11 | Sekiwake | Dewanoumi | small wrestler, popular with tournament crowds, now head of Dewanoumi stable |
| Kirinji | 1967-5 | 1988-9 | Sekiwake | Nishonoseki | fought 84 top division tournaments, won a kinboshi at age 35 |
| Tamanofuji | 1967-5 | 1981-11 | Sekiwake | Kataonami | became head of Kataonami stable |
| Takanosato | 1968-7 | 1986-1 | Yokozuna | Futagoyama | late bloomer who became Yokozuna at nearly 31 years, now head of Naruto stable |
| Wakanohana II | 1968-7 | 1983-1 | Yokozuna | Futagoyama | now head of Magaki stable |
| Kurama | 1968-9 | 1989-9 | Sekiwake | Tokitsukaze | had 21 year career, died young of leukemia |
| Wajima | 1970-1 | 1981-3 | Yokozuna | Hanakago | only former collegiate sumo wrestler promoted to yokozuna, or to keep his family name as his ring name, later became a pro wrestler |
| Yutakayama | 1970-3 | 1981-5 | Komusubi | Tokitsukaze | former college champion, now head of Minato stable |
| Chiyonofuji | 1970-9 | 1991-5 | Yokozuna | Kokonoe | tournament wins second only to Taihō, won more championships than any other yokozuna in his thirties, continued to triumph though older and lighter than most opponents, holds record for most top division bouts won, and most bouts won overall |
| Ozutsu | 1971-5 | 1992-5 | Sekiwake | Taiho | fought second most consecutive bouts in top division history, earned ten kinboshi |
| Kotokaze | 1971-7 | 1985-11 | Ōzeki | Sadogatake | set up own somewhat successful stable, Oguruma, often a commentator on sumo for NHK |
| Arase | 1972-1 | 1981-9 | Sekiwake | Hanakago | former college champion, became TV personality after retirement |
| Chikubayama | 1973-3 | 1989-1 | Maegashira 13 | Miyagino | now Hakuhō's coach at Miyagino stable |
| Koboyama | 1973-3 | 1990-11 | Sekiwake | Takashima, Kumagatani | after retirement re-established his old stable |
| Tagaryu | 1974-3 | 1991-5 | Sekiwake | Kagamiyama | once won a top division championship while a low ranked maegashira facing demotion, has exactly one championship in the top four of six divisions |
| Kirishima | 1975-3 | 1996-3 | Ōzeki | Izutsu | took 91 tournaments for promotion to ōzeki, an all time record |
| Onoumi | 1975-3 | 1977-7 | Maegashira 4 | Hanakago | retired to become a pro wrestler |
| Daijuyama | 1975-3 | 1991-5 | Sekiwake | Futagoyama | won three Fighting Spirit prizes, now head coach of the Hanakago stable |
| Wakashimazu | 1975-3 | 1987-7 | Ōzeki | Futagoyama | started sumo after high school, which is unusually late; nicknamed "Black Panther" by fans for his good looks and lean figure |
| Hokutenyu | 1976-3 | 1990-9 | Ōzeki | Mihogaseki | one of the longest serving ōzeki, had storied rivalry with Chiyonfuji; his stable was folded into Kitanoumi stable upon his death |
| Takamisugi | 1976-3 | 1995-11 | Komusubi | Futagoyama | Had record 71 tournaments in top division without winning a special prize |
| Sakahoko | 1978-1 | 1992-9 | Sekiwake | Izutsu | served in top division at the same time as his brother Terao, a very rare occurrence; record for longest serving sekiwake |
| Asashio IV | 1978-3 | 1989-3 | Ōzeki | Takasago | director of JSA until February 2008 |
| Mitoizumi | 1978-3 | 2000-9 | Sekiwake | Takasago | fan favorite known for throwing a huge handful of salt in pre-bout ritual, retired at the late age of 38 |
| Onokuni | 1978-3 | 1991-7 | Yokozuna | Hanakago Hanaregoma |
often plagued by injury, also suffered from sleep apnea, published an autobiography in 2008 |
| Itai | 1978-9 | 1991-9 | Komusubi | Onaruto | after retirement, made allegations of match-fixing |
| Misugisato | 1979-1 | 1998-7 | Komusubi | Futagoyama | promoted to komusubi without ever facing any sanyaku wrestlers |
| Futahaguro | 1979-3 | 1987-12 | Yokozuna | Tatsunami | only yokozuna to have never won a top division championship |
| Hokutoumi | 1979-3 | 1992-5 | Yokozuna | Kokonoe | once one of four yokozuna, after his retirement the rank was vacant for 8 months until Akebono |
| Kotogaume | 1979-3 | 1997-3 | Sekiwake | Sadogatake | last to defeat Chiyonofuji before his 53 win streak |
| Masurao | 1979-3 | 1990-7 | Sekiwake | Oshiogawa | had a record 5 Jūryō championships |
| Takanofuji | 1979-3 | 1992-5 | Komusubi | Kokonoe | stablemate of Chiyonofuji and Hokutoumi, now a professional wrestler |
| Terao | 1979-7 | 2002-11 | Sekiwake | Izutsu | has a long sumo pedigree, holds a number of longevity records |
| Kotofuji | 1980-3 | 1995-9 | Sekiwake | Sadogatake | won a tournament championship from the maegashira ranks |
| Kyokudozan | 1980-5 | 1996-11 | Komusubi | Ōshima | known for light weight, later became a politician |
| Asahifuji | 1981-1 | 1992-1 | Yokozuna | Ōshima | his Ajigawa stable has produced the successful sekiwake Harumafuji and Aminishiki. |
| Tochitsukasa | 1981-3 | 1992-5 | Sekiwake | Kasugano | now head of Irumagawa stable |
| Wakashoyo | 1981-5 | 1997-11 | Sekiwake | Futagoyama | now a mixed martial artist |
| Akinoshima | 1982-3 | 2003-5 | Sekiwake | Futagoyama | all time kinboshi record holder, 25% more than closest rival |
| Konishiki | 1982-7 | 1997-11 | Ōzeki | Takasago | at 265 kilos, the heaviest wrestler ever, first foreign ōzeki, now a widely popular celebrity |
| Takatoriki | 1983-3 | 2002-9 | Sekiwake | Futagoyama | record for most fighting spirit prizes, most kinboshi against one opponent, Akebono; won his only top division championship while just above the demotion line |
| Ichinoya | 1983-11 | 2007-11 | Sandanme 6 | Takasago | studied physics at university, retired at 46 |
| Kotonishiki | 1984-3 | 2000-9 | Sekiwake | Sadogatake | only wrestler ever to win two championships at maegashira |
| Kotonowaka | 1984-5 | 2005-11 | Sekiwake | Sadogatake | known for his countering techniques, and especially long bouts |
| Nankairyu | 1984-9 | 1988-11 | Maegashira 2 | Takasago | 3rd foreign wrestler to reach the top division, career short and troubled |
| Kenko | 1984-11 | 1998-3 | Komusubi | Takadagawa | career ended early by extremely rare form of leukemia |
| Ryogoku | 1985-3 | 1993-1 | Komusubi | Dewanoumi | currently head of one of the strongest stables, Sakaigawa |
| Tochinowaka | 1985-3 | 1999-7 | Sekiwake | Kasugano | current head of Kasugano stable |
| Kototenzan | 1985-11 | 1986-7 | Makushita 43 | Sadogatake | Canadian-born, found success early, but retired due to inability to adjust to sumo/Japanese life; later became pro wrestler |
| Tomoefuji | 1986-5 | 1998-9 | Komusubi | Kokonoe | former performer of the yumitori-shiki ceremony, fell to lowest rank held by former sanyaku wrestler |
| Asahiyutaka | 1987-3 | 1999-1 | Komusubi | Ōshima | now head coach of Tatsunami stable |
| Kitazakura | 1987-3 | 2010-3 | Maegashira 9 | Kitanoumi | brother of Toyozakura, took 86 tournaments to reach top division, popular with sumo audiences |
| Kotoryu | 1987-3 | 2005-5 | Maegashira 1 | Sadogatake | one of many top wrestlers at Sadogatake stable in the 1990s |
| Oginishiki | 1987-3 | 2004-1 | Komusubi | Dewanoumi | his father and brother were also sumo wrestlers |
| Takanonami | 1987-3 | 2004-5 | Ōzeki | Futagoyama | had longest single wrestler rivalry in history with Musashimaru, often appears on television due to accessible personality |
| Takamishu | 1987-3 | 1989-7 | Makushita 2 | Azumazeki | Early star from Azumazeki stable before being overshadowed by stablemate Akebono |
| Hoshitango | 1987-5 | 2004-1 | Jūryō 3 | Michinoku | first Jew in sumo, now a professional wrestler |
| Kushimaumi | 1988-1 | 1998-11 | Maegashira 1 | Dewanoumi | highly successful amateur, now head of Tagonoura stable |
| Akebono | 1988-3 | 2001-1 | Yokozuna | Azumazeki | first foreign yokozuna, later became a pro wrestler |
| Kaiō | 1988-3 | 2011-7 | Ōzeki | Tomozuna | five-time yusho winner, holds records for most tournaments and most wins in top division |
| Takanohana II | 1988-3 | 2003-1 | Yokozuna | Futagoyama | long sumo pedigree, set many youth related records, won 22 tournaments |
| Wakanohana III | 1988-3 | 2000-3 | Yokozuna | Futagoyama | brother of Takanohana II, never won a tournament as yokozuna, now operates a chain of chankonabe restaurants |
| Wakanoyama | 1988-3 | 2005-9 | Komusubi | Musashigawa | after demotion out of top division, fought his way back up after a record long 28 tournaments |
| Rikio | 1988-3 | 1997-9 | Maegashira 4 | Naruto | now a pro wrestler |
| Sentōryū | 1988-7 | 2003-11 | Maegashira 12 | Tomozuna | from St. Louis Missouri, only top division wrestler ever from mainland USA |
| Kōbō | 1989-3 | 2008-1 | Maegashira 9 | Miyagino | top wrestler at Miyagino stable before the emergence of Hakuho |
| Toyozakura | 1989-3 | 2011-5 | Maegashira 5 | Michinoku | brother of Kitazakura, forced to retire in match-fixing scandal |
| Hidenokuni | 1989-9 | 1990-5 | Jonidan 89 | Azumazeki | first and only wrestler from the UK, short career |
| Daishōyama | 1989-9 | 1995 | Maegashira 2 | Tatsunami | former amateur champion, retired due to hip injury, currently head coach of Oitekaze stable |
| Musashimaru | 1989-9 | 2003-11 | Yokozuna | Musashigawa | born in Samoa and raised in Hawaii; second foreign yokozuna; injury free until near end of career |
| Gojōrō | 1989-11 | 2005-11 | Maegashira 3 | Magaki | only rikishi to be disqualified twice in one tournament, had many injury problems |
| Daishoho | 1990-1 | 1999-7 | Komusubi | Tatsunami | career ended early due to pancreatic cancer |
| Mainoumi | 1990-5 | 1999-11 | Komusubi | Dewanoumi | very popular for small size and variety of techniques, now a popular TV personality and sumo announcer |
| Yamato | 1990-11 | 1998-9 | Maegashira 12 | Magaki | after short career in sumo, started his own restaurant in Roppongi, Tokyo |
| Toki | 1991-1 | 2006-5 | Komusubi | Takasago | known for distinctive sideburns, and later a bright orange mawashi, involved in an auto accident scandal |
| Chiyotenzan | 1991-3 | 2008-1 | Komusubi | Kokonoe | after quick rise to komusubi, eventually fell to the second lowest rank ever held by a former sanyaku wrestler |
| Kasuganishiki | 1991-3 | 2011-1 | Maegashira 5 | Kasugano | spent 8 years in unsalaried ranks, injury plagued |
| Hamanoshima | 1992-1 | 2004-5 | Komusubi | Mihogaseki | now head of Onoe stable |
| Higonoumi | 1992-1 | 2002-11 | Maegashira 1 | Mihogaseki | held maegashira rank for a then-record 53 consecutive tournaments, opened up Kise stable after retirement |
| Asanowaka | 1992-3 | 2005-5 | Maegashira 1 | Wakamatsu Takasago |
the wrestler with the most wins in top division who never made sanyaku, popular with crowds for his ringside antics |
| Kyokushuzan | 1992-3 | 2006-11 | Komusubi | Ōshima | first of a group of Mongolian wrestlers to make the top division, had an all-time record 58 consecutive tournaments in the maegashira ranks |
| Kyokutenzan | 1992-3 | 2007-11 | Makushita 13 | Ōshima | achieved only minor success, suspected of being involved in match-fixing |
| Shunketsu | 1992-3 | 2008-3 | Maegashira 12 | Hanaregoma | lightweight wrestler, had several different ring names |
| Takanowaka | 1992-3 | 2007-9 | Sekiwake | Naruto | father was a pro baseball player |
| Tomonohana | 1992-3 | 2001-11 | Komusubi | Tatsunami | joined pro sumo at nearly 28 years of age |
| Daimanazuru | 1992-5 | 2010-1 | Maegashira 16 | Asahiyama | spent 11 years in unsalaried ranks, one of few wrestlers from Nara prefecture |
| Chiyotaikai | 1992-11 | 2010-1 | Ōzeki | Kokonoe | longest serving ōzeki in modern era, known for characteristic forward thrusting technique |
| Jūmonji | 1992-11 | 2011-5 | Maegashira 6 | Michinoku | after a brief name change reverted to using own rare surname as his ring name, forced to retire in match-fixing scandal |
| Musoyama | 1993-1 | 2004-11 | Ōzeki | Musashigawa | former college champion and member of dominant Musashigawa stable, injury-prone |
| Tochisakae | 1993-1 | 2008-1 | Maegashira 1 | Kasugano | also had many injury problems, now a coach at Kasugano stable |
| Hokutōriki | 1993-3 | 2011-5 | Sekiwake | Hakkaku | three-time tournament runner-up, ended Asashoryu's winning streak in 2004 |
| Kotokasuga | 1993-3 | 2011-5 | Maegashira 7 | Sadogatake | took 15 years to reach top division, third slowest ever, forced to retire in match-fixing scandal |
| Oga | 1993-3 | 2007-5 | Jūryō 6 | Takasago | long serving bow-twirler at end of every tournament day |
| Wakatoba | 1993-3 | 2007-9 | Maegashira 11 | Oguruma | coached by former Daikirin, now has his elder name, Oshiogawa |
| Ōtsukasa | 1993-3 | 2009-3 | Maegashira 4 | Irumagawa | promoted to the top division on 11 different occasions |
| Asōfuji | 1994-1 | 2011-5 | Maegashira 13 | Isegahama | very adept at throw techniques, brother of Aminishiki |
| Tamakasuga | 1994-1 | 2008-9 | Sekiwake | Kataonami | had the longest ever gap between sanshō awards at 55 tournaments, has an asteroid named after him |
| Tosanoumi | 1994-3 | 2011-1 | Sekiwake | Isenoumi | impressive special prize and gold star record, fought until age 38 |
| Ushiomaru | 1994-3 | 2009-5 | Maegashira 10 | Azumazeki | retired to take over as head coach of Azumazeki stable from former Takamiyama |
| Tochiazuma | 1994-11 | 2007-5 | Ōzeki | Tamanoi | won 12 special prizes, seven for technique, first wrestler since Kiyokuni to win top division in ōzeki debut |
| Tochinohana | 1995-3 | 2008-1 | Komusubi | Kasugano | Won two special prizes in his debut top division tournament |
| Kaihō | 1996-1 | 2010-7 | Komusubi | Hakkaku | also an amateur champion, one of the lightest sekitori |
| Tokitsuumi | 1996-3 | 2007-10 | Maegashira 3 | Tokitsukaze | former amateur, long time maegashira, retired to take over Tokitsukaze stable after former head removed over hazing death scandal |
| Dejima | 1996-3 | 2009-7 | Ōzeki | Musashigawa | ōzeki from 1999 to 2001, once had the most feared tachi-ai in sumo but suffered injury problems in later career |
| Buyuzan | 1997-3 | 2007-11 | Maegashira 1 | Musashigawa | former amateur champion, another top division wrestler from Musashigawa stable |
| Tamarikidō | 1997-3 | 2010-1 | Maegashira 8 | Kataonami | lowest ranking former top division wrestler ever to regain sekitori status |
| Hayateumi | 1998-3 | 2006-1 | Sekiwake | Oitekaze | former amateur champion, very promising career hampered and eventually ended by injury |
| Kaido | 1998-3 | 2006-9 | Jūryō 4 | Tomozuna | another former amateur but failed to make top division, stablemate of ozeki Kaio |
| Tamanoshima | 1998-3 | 2011-11 | Sekiwake | Kataonami | was the only Fukushima prefecture native sekitori for a number of years |
| Kasugaō | 1998-11 | 2011-5 | Maegashira 3 | Kasugayama | only wrestler officially from Korean peninsula, forced to retired in match-fixing scandal |
| Asashōryū | 1999-1 | 2010-1 | Yokozuna | Takasago | sole yokozuna from 2004-07, 3rd most top division championships in history, life in and out of ring filled with controversy |
| Chiyohakuho | 1993-3 | 2011-5 | Maegashira 6 | Kumamoto | originally interested in judo, debuted the same tournament his former stablemate Chiyotaikai made Ōzeki, retired over match-fixing |
| Hananosato | 1999-3 | 2010-5 | Makushita 8 | Takasago | former tsukebito of Asashoryu, once reached the cusp of sekitori but at 114 kg seemed to lack the requisite weight |
| Kotomitsuki | 1999-3 | 2010-7 | Ōzeki | Sadogatake | holds record for most tournaments at sekiwake, oldest wrestler promoted to ōzeki in modern era, forced to retire due to illegal gambling |
| Wakakirin | 1999-3 | 2009-2 | Maegashira 9 | Oguruma | Protege of former ozeki Daikirin, dismissed for cannabis use |
| Hakuba | 2000-1 | 2011-5 | Komusubi | Michinoku | 50 tournament rise to top division is 2nd longest after Sentoryu amongst foreign-born wrestlers, forced to retire in match-fixing scandal |
| Shimotori | 2000-5 | 2011-5 | Komusubi | Tokitsukaze | used own rare family name as his shikona, forced to retire in match-fixing scandal |
| Iwakiyama | 2000-7 | 2010-9 | Komusubi | Sakaigawa | former high school sumo coach, retired due to cerebral infarction complications |
| Kōryū | 2000-11 | 2011-5 | Maegashira 11 | Hanakago | first top division wrestler produced by Hanakago stable since it was re-established in 1992, forced to retire in match-fixing scandal |
| Aotsurugi | 2001-3 | 2009-5 | Sandanme 1 | Tagonoura | Originally from Tonga, acquired Japanese citizenship, missed a year through injury |
| Mōkonami | 2001-3 | 2011-5 | Maegashira 6 | Tatsunami | first from Tatsunami stable to be ranked in makuuchi since 1999, forced to retire in match-fixing scandal |
| Daishochi | 2001-7 | 2005-9 | Makushita 15 | Shibatayama | Mongolian now better known as amateur sumo champion |
| Katayama | 2002-3 | 2009-1 | Maegashira 13 | Onomatsu | did amateur sumo at university, used his given family name as his ring name. |
| Hakurozan | 2002-5 | 2008-9 | Maegashira 2 | Kitanoumi | along with older brother Rohō, became first foreign siblings to wrestle in top division at the same time, later dismissed due to cannabis use |
| Roho | 2002-5 | 2008-9 | Komusubi | Ōtake | known for feisty nature, along with younger brother Hakurozan, was dismissed due to cannabis use |
| Futen'ō | 2003-1 | 2011-5 | Komusubi | Dewanoumi | collegiate sumo champ, sumo lover from very early age |
| Masatsukasa | 2003-1 | 2011-5 | Maegashira 8 | Irumagawa | on promotion to sekitori ranks revealed to public he had a wife and son back home in Aomori prefecture, forced to retire in match-fixing scandal |
| Tokusegawa | 2003-7 | 2011-5 | Maegashira 4 | Kiriyama | first wrestler from his stable to make top division, forced to retire in match-fixing scandal |
| Sōkokurai | 2003-9 | 2011-5 | Maegashira 13 | Arashio | only Chinese wrestler to make top division, and one of only two Chinese sekitori |
| Wakanohō | 2005-3 | 2008-8 | Maegashira 1 | Magaki | a fast-rising star, one of the most successful Russian wrestlers, first active wrestler to be dismissed by the Sumo Association (after arrest for cannabis possession) |
| Kiyoseumi | 2007-1 | 2011-5 | Maegashira 13 | Kitanoumi | pro sumo debut at Makushita #10 was the highest Makushita tsukedashi ever, forced to retire in bout-fixing scandal |
| Yamamotoyama | 2007-1 | 2011-5 | Maegashira 9 | Onoe | heaviest sumo recruit ever at time of recruitment, forced to retire in match-fixing scandal |
| Tokitaizan | 2007-5 | 2007-7 | Jonokuchi 39 | Tokitsukaze | young wrestler who died from hazing incident which led to the eventual arrest of his stablemaster and 3 other wrestlers for manslaughter |