List of sumo record holders

This is a list of records held by wrestlers of professional sumo. Only performances in official tournaments or honbasho are included here. Since 1958 six honbasho have been held every year, giving wrestlers from the modern era more opportunities to accumulate championships and wins. Before this, tournaments were held less frequently; sometimes only once or twice per year.

Names in bold indicate a still active wrestler.

Contents

Most top division championships

This table does not include unofficial championships before the current yusho system was established in 1909.[1]

Name Total Years
1 Taihō 32 1960–71
2 Chiyonofuji 31 1981–90
3 Asashōryū 25 2002–10
4 Kitanoumi 24 1974–84
5 Takanohana 22 1992–2001
6 Hakuhō 21 2006–
7 Wajima 14 1972–81
8= Futabayama 12 1936–43
8= Musashimaru 12 1994–2002
10 Akebono 11 1992–2000
11= Tsunenohana 10 1921–30
11= Tochinishiki 10 1952–60
11= Wakanohana I 10 1956–60
11= Kitanofuji 10 1966–73

Most undefeated championships

This table lists wrestlers with the most championships achieved without a single loss, which is known as a zenshō yūshō. Tournaments have been consistently fifteen days long since May 1949. Before that date there were a number of different lengths, including ten, twelve and thirteen days. The records of Tachiyama, Tochigiyama and Tsunenohana also include some draws, holds and rest days.

Name Zenshō Yūshō Years
1= Futabayama 8 1936–43
1= Taihō 8 1963–69
1= Hakuhō 8 2007–
4= Tachiyama 7 1910–15
4= Kitanoumi 7 1977–84
4= Chiyonofuji 7 1983–89
7 Tochigiyama 6 1917–25
8 Asashōryū 5 2004–06
9= Haguroyama 4 1944–52
9= Tsunenohana 4 1921–28
9= Takanohana 4 1994–96

Most top division championship playoffs

Name Total Won Lost
1 Takanohana 10 5 5
2= Hakuhō 8 4 4
2= Kitanoumi 8 3 5
4= Akebono 7 4 3
4= Musashimaru 7 1 6
6= Chiyonofuji 6 6 0
6= Asashōryū 6 5 1
6= Taihō 6 4 2
9 Hokutoumi 5 3 2
10= Wajima 4 3 1
10= Takanonami 4 2 2
10= Sadanoyama 4 1 3
10= Wakanohana 4 1 3

Most wins

Most career wins

Name Wins Years Highest rank
1 Kaiō 1047 1988–2011 Ōzeki
2 Chiyonofuji 1045 1970–91 Yokozuna
3 Oshio 964 1962–88 Komusubi
4 Kitanoumi 951 1967–84 Yokozuna
5 Taihō 872 1956–71 Yokozuna
6 Terao 860 1979–2002 Sekiwake
7 Akinoshima 822 1982–2003 Sekiwake
8 Takamiyama 812 1964–84 Sekiwake
9 Mitoizumi 807 1978–2000 Sekiwake
10 Takanohana 794 1988–2003 Yokozuna

Most top division wins

Name Wins Years Highest rank
1 Kaiō 879 1993–2011 Ōzeki
2 Chiyonofuji 807 1975–91 Yokozuna
3 Kitanoumi 804 1972–84 Yokozuna
4 Taihō 746 1960–71 Yokozuna
5 Musashimaru 706 1991–2003 Yokozuna
6 Takanohana 701 1990–2003 Yokozuna
7 Takamiyama 683 1968–84 Sekiwake
8 Konishiki 649 1984–97 Ōzeki
9= Akinoshima 647 1988–2003 Sekiwake
9= Takanonami 647 1991–2004 Ōzeki

Most wins in a calendar year (90 bouts)

Name Wins Year
1= Hakuhō 86 2009
1= Hakuhō 86 2010
3 Asashōryū 84 2005
4 Kitanoumi 82 1978
5 Taihō 81 1963
6= Kitanoumi 80 1977
6= Chiyonofuji 80 1985
6= Takanohana 80 1994
6= Takanohana 80 1995

Most consecutive wins

Name Wins[2] Start End Duration Defeated by
1 Futabayama 69 7th day January 1936 3rd day January 1939 2 years 11 months 27 days Akinoumi
=2 Tanikaze 63 1st day October 1778 6th day February 1782 3 years 4 months 5 days Onogawa
=2 Hakuhō 63 14th day January 2010 2nd day November 2010 9 months 23 days Kisenosato
4 Umegatani I 58 1st day April 1876 8th day January 1881 4 years 9 months 7 days Wakashima
5 Tachiyama 56 9th day January 1912 7th day May 1916 4 years 3 months 29 days Tochigiyama
6 Chiyonofuji 53 7th day May 1988 15th day November 1988 6 months 8 days Onokuni
7 Taihō 45 2nd day September 1968 2nd day March 1969 6 months 0 days Toda

Best top division win ratios

All time

The list includes Yokozuna and Ozeki (the highest rank before the yokozuna rank was introduced), but excludes so-called kanban or "Guest Ozeki" (usually big men drawn from local crowds to promote a tournament who would never appear on the banzuke again) and wrestlers for which insufficient data is available.

Name Win-Loss Years rate
1 Raiden Tameemon 254–10 1790–1811 96.2%
2 Umegatani Tōtarō I 116–6 1874–1885 95.1%
3 Tanikaze Kajinosuke 258–14 1769–1794 94.9%
4 Jinmaku Kyūgorō 87–5 1858–1867 94.6%
5 Onogawa Kisaburō 144–13 1781–1797 91.7%

Modern era

In 1927, Tokyo sumo merged with Osaka sumo and most of the sumo systems were changed. The list excludes active wrestlers. As of May 21, 2011, Hakuhō's is 83.4%

Name Win-Loss Years rate
1 Taihō Kōki 746-144 1960-1971 83.8%
2 Futabayama Sadaji 276-68 1932-1945 80.2%
3 Asashōryū Akinori 596-153 2001-2010 79.6%
4 Haguroyama Masaji 321-94 1937-1953 77.3%
5 Kitanoumi Toshimitsu 804-247 1972-1985 76.5%

Most bouts

Losses by default are excluded.

Most career bouts

Name Total Years Highest rank
1 Ōshio 1891 1962-88 Komusubi
2 Terao 1795 1979-2002 Sekiwake
3 Kaiō 1731 1988-2011 Ōzeki
4 Takamiyama 1654 1964-84 Sekiwake
5 Aobajō 1630 1964-86 Sekiwake
6 Fujikazura 1613 1963-85 Sekiwake
7 Akinoshima 1575 1982-2003 Sekiwake
8 Mitoizumi 1564 1978-2000 Sekiwake
9 Kirinji 1562 1967-88 Sekiwake
10 Ōzutsu 1561 1971-92 Sekiwake

Most top division bouts

Name Total Years Highest rank
1 Kaiō 1444 1993-2011 Ōzeki
2 Takamiyama 1430 1968-84 Sekiwake
3 Terao 1378 1985-2001 Sekiwake
4 Akinoshima 1283 1988-2003 Sekiwake
5 Kotonowaka 1260 1990-2005 Sekiwake
6 Kirinji 1221 1974-88 Sekiwake
7 Tosanoumi 1183 1995-2010 Sekiwake
8 Tochinonada 1182 1997- Sekiwake
9 Ozutsu 1170 1979-92 Sekiwake
10 Tsurugamine 1128 1953-67 Sekiwake

Most consecutive bouts

Most consecutive career bouts

Name Total Years Highest rank
1 Aobajo 1630 1964-86 Sekiwake
2 Fujizakura 1543 1963-84 Sekiwake
3 Takatoriki 1456 1983-2002 Sekiwake
4 Takamiyama 1425 1964-81 Sekiwake
5 Dairyugawa 1367 1961-79 Maegashira 1
6 Terao 1359 1979-97 Sekiwake
7 Hidanohana 1297 1969-89 Maegashira 1
8 Ozutsu 1267 1978-92 Sekiwake
9 Otsukasa 1256 1993-2009 Maegashira 4

Most consecutive top division bouts

Name Total Years Highest rank
1 Takamiyama 1231 1968-81 Sekiwake
2 Ozutsu 1170 1979-92 Sekiwake
3 Kurohimeyama 1065 1969-81 Sekiwake
4 Terao 1063 1985-97 Sekiwake
5 Hasegawa 1024 1965-76 Sekiwake
6 Takatoriki 975 1990-2001 Sekiwake
7 Ohikari 945 1950-63 Komusubi
8 Kitanoumi 863 1972-81 Yokozuna

Most tournaments

Most tournaments in top division

Name Total First Last
1 Kaiō 107 July 1993 July 2011
2 Takamiyama 97 January 1968 January 1984
3 Terao 93 March 1985 May 2001
4 Akinoshima 91 March 1988 May 2003
4 Kotonowaka 90 November 1990 November 2005
6 Kirinji 84 September 1974 September 1988
7= Chiyonofuji 81 September 1975 May 1991
7= Konishiki 81 July 1984 November 1997
7= Tochinonada 81 May 1997
10 Tosanoumi 80 July 1995 September 2010

Most tournaments at Yokozuna

Name Total First Last
1 Kitanoumi 63 July 1974 January 1985
2 Chiyonofuji 59 September 1981 May 1991
3 Taihō 58 November 1961 May 1971
4 Takanohana II 49 January 1995 January 2003
5 Akebono 48 March 1993 January 2001
6= Kashiwado 47 November 1961 July 1969
6= Wajima 47 July 1973 March 1981
8 Asashōryū 42 March 2003 January 2010
9 Chiyonoyama 32 September 1951 January 1959
10= Haguroyama 30 January 1942 September 1953
10= Hokutoumi 30 July 1987 May 1992

Most tournaments at Ozeki

Name Total First Last Ended by
1= Chiyotaikai 65 March 1999 November 2009 Demotion
1= Kaiō 65 September 2000 July 2011 Retirement
3 Takanohana I 50 November 1972 January 1981 Retirement
4 Hokutenyu 44 July 1983 September 1990 Retirement
5 Konishiki 39 July 1987 November 1993 Demotion
6 Takanonami 37 March 1994 May 2000 Demotion
7= Asashio 36 May 1983 March 1989 Retirement
7= Kotooshu 35 January 2006
9 Yutakayama 34 March 1963 September 1968 Retirement
10= Kotozakura 32 November 1967 January 1973 Promotion
10= Musashimaru 32 March 1994 May 1999 Promotion

Most tournaments in junior sanyaku (komusubi and sekiwake ranks)

Name Total First Last
1 Kotonishiki 34 September 1990 September 1999
2 Kaiō 32 May 1994 July 2000
3 Musoyama 31 March 1994 September 2000
4= Hasegawa 30 November 1965 September 1974
4= Kotomitsuki 30 January 2001 July 2007
6= Akinoshima 27 November 1988 September 2000
6= Takamiyama 27 November 1969 September 1982
8= Takatoriki 26 May 1991 May 2000
8= Wakanosato 26 November 2000 September 2005
10= Daikirin 22 November 1966 September 1970
10= Tochiazuma 22 July 1997 January 2005
10= Kisenosato 22 July 2006

Progress to top division

The table for the fastest progress shows wrestlers with the fewest tournaments from their professional debut to their top division debut since the six tournaments a year system was introduced in 1958. It excludes makushita tsukedashi entrants who made their debut in the third makushita division.

Fastest progress to top division

Name Tournaments Pro Debut Top division debut Highest rank
1= Kotooshu 11 November 2002 September 2004 Ozeki
1= Aran 11 January 2007 November 2008 Sekiwake
3= Itai 12 September 1978 September 1980 Komusubi
3= Konishiki 12 July 1982 July 1984 Ozeki
3= Tochiazuma 12 November 1994 November 1996 Ozeki
3= Asashōryū 12 January 1999 January 2001 Yokozuna
3= Tokitenku 12 July 2002 July 2004 Komusubi
3= Yoshikaze 12 January 2004 January 2006 Maegashira 1
3= Baruto 12 May 2004 May 2006 Ozeki
3= Sakaizawa 12 March 2006 March 2008 Maegashira 15
3= Yamamotoyama 12 January 2007 January 2009 Maegashira 9
12= Asahifuji 13 January 1981 March 1983 Yokozuna
12= Takahanada 13 March 1988 May 1990 Yokozuna
12= Musashimaru 13 September 1989 November 1991 Yokozuna
12= Homasho 13 March 2004 May 2006 Komusubi
12= Tochiozan 13 January 2005 March 2007 Sekiwake
12= Tochinoshin 13 March 2006 May 2008 Komusubi

Slowest progress to top division

Name Tournaments Pro Debut Top division debut Highest rank
1 Hoshiiwato 115 May 1970 July 1989 Maegashira 14
2 Kyokunankai 105 March 1993 September 2010 Maegashira 16
3 Yoshiazuma 93 January 1996 September 2011 Maegashira 13
4 Kotokasuga 91 March 1993 May 2008 Maegashira 7
5 Kototsubaki 89 March 1976 January 1991 Maegashira 3
6 Toyozakura 88 March 1989 November 2003 Maegashira 5
7 Takanomine 87 September 1974 March 1989 Maegashira 12
8 Kitazakura 86 March 1987 July 2001 Maegashira 9
9 Daimanazuru 85 May 1992 July 2006 Maegashira 16
10 Onohana 84 March 1974 March 1988 Maegashira 13

Most special prizes

Special prizes or sanshō were first awarded in 1947. They can only be given to wrestlers ranked at sekiwake or below.

Name Total Outstanding
Performance		 Fighting
Spirit		 Technique Years Highest rank
1 Akinoshima 19 7 8 4 1988-99 Sekiwake
2 Kotonishiki 18 7 3 8 1990-98 Sekiwake
3 Kaiō 15 10 5 0 1994-2000 Ozeki
4= Tsurugamine 14 2 2 10 1956-66 Sekiwake
4= Asashio 14 10 3 1 1979-83 Ozeki
4= Takatoriki 14 3 10 1 1990-2000 Sekiwake
7= Musoyama 13 5 4 4 1994-2000 Ozeki
7= Tosanoumi 13 7 5 1 1995-2003 Sekiwake
7= Kotomitsuki 13 2 4 7 2000-07 Ozeki
10 Tochiazuma 12 3 2 7 1996-2001 Ozeki
11= Takamiyama 11 6 5 0 1968-81 Sekiwake
11= Daiju 11 4 1 6 1970-73 Ozeki
11= Kirinji 11 4 4 3 1975-88 Sekiwake
11= Hoshi 11 3 3 5 1983-86 Yokozuna

Most gold stars

Gold stars or kinboshi are awarded to maegashira ranked wrestlers who defeat a yokozuna.

Name Total Years Highest rank
1 Akinoshima 16 1988-99 Sekiwake
2= Takamiyama 12 1968-78 Sekiwake
2= Tochinonada 12 1998-2008 Sekiwake
4 Tosanoumi 11 1995-2003 Sekiwake
5= Kitanonada 10 1954-61 Sekiwake
5= Annenyama 10 1955-61 Sekiwake
5= Tsurugamine 10 1955-61 Sekiwake
5= Dewanishiki 10 1949-63 Sekiwake
5= Ozutsu 10 1979-86 Sekiwake
10= Mitsuneyama 9 1944-57 Ozeki
10= Tamanoumi 9 1953-58 Sekiwake
10= Hasegawa 9 1965-74 Sekiwake
10= Fujizakura 9 1973-81 Sekiwake
10= Takatoriki 9 1990-98 Sekiwake

Notes

  1. ^ Raiden is said to have won 28 tournaments between 1790 and 1810, Tanikaze 21 between 1772 and 1793, and Kashiwado 16 between 1812 and 1822. Tachiyama won two unofficial championships and nine official, giving him a total of 11.
  2. ^ the winning streaks of Tanikaze, Umegatani, and Tachiyama were interrupted by draws and rest days. The others listed were all wins only.

References