List of sumo tournament top division champions explained

This is a list of wrestlers who have won the top division (makuuchi) championship in professional sumo since 1909, when the current championship system was established. These official tournaments are held exclusively in Japan.

1958 to present

The first table below lists the champions since the six-tournament system was instituted in 1958.[1] The championship is determined by the wrestler with the highest win–loss score after fifteen bouts, held at a rate of one per day over the duration of the 15-day tournament. In the event of a tie a play-off is held between the wrestlers concerned.[2]

Names in bold mark an undefeated victory (a zenshō-yūshō). Names in italics mark a victory by a maegashira. Figures in brackets mark the number of championships earned up to that tournament for wrestlers who won the championship more than once.

January March MayJuly September November
year
in sumo
TokyoOsakaTokyoNagoyaTokyoKyushu
2024Terunofuji (9)Takerufuji ŌnosatoTerunofuji (10)
2023Takakeishō (3)Kiribayama
  • (1)
Terunofuji (8) Takakeishō (4) Kirishima II (2)
2022Mitakeumi (3)WakatakakageTerunofuji (7) Ichinojō Tamawashi (2) Abi
2021DaieishōTerunofuji (3)Terunofuji (4) Hakuhō (45) Terunofuji (5) Terunofuji (6)
2020TokushōryūHakuhō (44) Terunofuji (2) Takakeishō (2)
2019Tamawashi (1) Hakuhō (42) AsanoyamaKakuryū (6) Mitakeumi (2) Hakuhō (43)
2018TochinoshinKakuryū (4) Kakuryū (5) Mitakeumi (1) Hakuhō (41) Takakeishō (1)
2017Kisenosato (1) Kisenosato (2) Hakuhō (38) Hakuhō (39) Harumafuji (9) Hakuhō (40)
2016KotoshōgikuHakuhō (36) Hakuhō (37) Harumafuji (8) GōeidōKakuryū (3)
2015Hakuhō (33) Hakuhō (34) Terunofuji (1)Hakuhō (35) Kakuryū (2) Harumafuji (7)
2014Hakuhō (28) Kakuryū (1) Hakuhō (29) Hakuhō (30) Hakuhō (31) Hakuhō (32)
2013Harumafuji (5) Hakuhō (24) Hakuhō (25) Hakuhō (26) Hakuhō (27) Harumafuji (6)
2012BarutoHakuhō (22) KyokutenhōHarumafuji (3) Harumafuji (4) Hakuhō (23)
2011Hakuhō (18) Hakuhō (19) Harumafuji (2) Hakuhō (20) Hakuhō (21)
2010Asashōryū (25) Hakuhō (13) Hakuhō (14) Hakuhō (15) Hakuhō (16) Hakuhō (17)
2009Asashōryū (23) Hakuhō (10) Harumafuji (1) Hakuhō (11) Asashōryū (24) Hakuhō (12)
2008Hakuhō (6) Asashōryū (22) KotoōshūHakuhō (7) Hakuhō (8) Hakuhō (9)
2007Asashōryū (20) Hakuhō (2) Hakuhō (3) Asashōryū (21) Hakuhō (4) Hakuhō (5)
2006Tochiazuma II (3) Asashōryū (16) Hakuhō (1) Asashōryū (17) Asashōryū (18) Asashōryū (19)
2005Asashōryū (10) Asashōryū (11) Asashōryū (12) Asashōryū (13) Asashōryū (14) Asashōryū (15)
2004Asashōryū (5) Asashōryū (6) Asashōryū (7) Asashōryū (8) Kaiō (5) Asashōryū (9)
2003Asashōryū (2) Chiyotaikai (3) Asashōryū (3) Kaiō (4) Asashōryū (4) Tochiazuma II (2)
2002Tochiazuma II (1) Musashimaru (10) Musashimaru (11) Chiyotaikai (2) Musashimaru (12) Asashōryū (1)
2001Takanohana II (21) Kaiō (2) Takanohana II (22) Kaiō (3) KotomitsukiMusashimaru (9)
2000MusōyamaTakatōrikiKaiō (1) Akebono (10) Musashimaru (8) Akebono (11)
1999Chiyotaikai (1) Musashimaru (4) Musashimaru (5) DejimaMusashimaru (6) Musashimaru (7)
1998Musashimaru (3) Wakanohana III (4) Wakanohana III (5) Takanohana II (19) Takanohana II (20) Kotonishiki (2)
1997Wakanohana III (3) Takanohana II (16) Akebono (9) Takanohana II (17) Takanohana II (18) Takanonami (2)
1996Takanonami (1) Takanohana II (12) Takanohana II (13) Takanohana II (14) Takanohana II (15) Musashimaru (2)
1995Takanohana II (8) Akebono (8) Takanohana II (9) Takanohana II (10) Takanohana II (11) Wakanohana III (2)
1994Takanohana II (4) Akebono (7) Takanohana II (5) Musashimaru (1) Takanohana II (6) Takanohana II (7)
1993Akebono (3) Wakahanada* (1) Takanohana II (3) Akebono (4) Akebono (5) Akebono (6)
1992Takahanada
  • (1)
Konishiki (3) Akebono (1) MitoizumiTakahanada
  • (2)
Akebono (2)
1991Kirishima IHokutoumi (8) Asahifuji (4) KotofujiKotonishiki (1) Konishiki (2)
1990Chiyonofuji (30) Hokutoumi (6) Asahifuji (2) Asahifuji (3) Hokutoumi (7) Chiyonofuji (31)
1989Hokutoumi (4) Chiyonofuji (27) Hokutoumi (5) Chiyonofuji (28) Chiyonofuji (29) Konishiki (1)
1988Asahifuji (1) Ōnokuni (2) Chiyonofuji (23) Chiyonofuji (24) Chiyonofuji (25) Chiyonofuji (26)
1987Chiyonofuji (20) Hokutoumi (2) Ōnokuni (1) Chiyonofuji (21) Hokutoumi (3) Chiyonofuji (22)
1986Chiyonofuji (15) Hoshi
  • (1)
Chiyonofuji (16) Chiyonofuji (17) Chiyonofuji (18) Chiyonofuji (19)
1985Chiyonofuji (11) Asashio IVChiyonofuji (12) Hokuten'yū (2) Chiyonofuji (13) Chiyonofuji (14)
1984Takanosato (4) Wakashimazu (1) Kitanoumi (24) Wakashimazu (2) TagaryūChiyonofuji (10)
1983Kotokaze (2) Chiyonofuji (8) Hokuten'yū (1) Takanosato (2) Takanosato (3) Chiyonofuji (9)
1982Kitanoumi (23) Chiyonofuji (4) Chiyonofuji (5) Chiyonofuji (6) Takanosato (1) Chiyonofuji (7)
1981Chiyonofuji (1) Kitanoumi (21) Kitanoumi (22) Chiyonofuji (2) Kotokaze (1) Chiyonofuji (3)
1980Mienoumi (3) Kitanoumi (18) Kitanoumi (19) Kitanoumi (20) Wakanohana II (4) Wajima (14)
1979Kitanoumi (15) Kitanoumi (16) Wakanohana II (3) Wajima (13) Kitanoumi (17) Mienoumi (2)
1978Kitanoumi (10) Kitanoumi (11) Kitanoumi (12) Kitanoumi (13) Kitanoumi (14) Wakanohana II (2)
1977Wajima (10) Kitanoumi (8) Wakamisugi II* (1) Wajima (11) Kitanoumi (9) Wajima (12)
1976Kitanoumi (5) Wajima (8) Kitanoumi (6) Wajima (9) Kaiketsu (2) Kitanoumi (7)
1975Kitanoumi (3) Takanohana I (1) Kitanoumi (4) Kongō (1) Takanohana I (2) Mienoumi (1)
1974Kitanoumi (1) Wajima (5) Kitanoumi (2) Wajima (6) Wajima (7) Kaiketsu (1)
1973Kotozakura (4) Kitanofuji (10) Wajima (2) Kotozakura (5) Wajima (3) Wajima (4)
1972Tochiazuma IHasegawaWajima (1) Takamiyama IIKitanofuji (9) Kotozakura (3)
1971Taihō (32) Tamanoumi II (5) Kitanofuji (6) Tamanoumi II (6) Kitanofuji (7) Kitanofuji (8)
1970Kitanofuji (3) Taihō (31) Kitanofuji (4) Kitanofuji (5) Tamanoumi II (3) Tamanoumi II (4)
1969Taihō (29) Kotozakura (2) Taihō (30) KiyokuniTamanoshima* (2) Kitanofuji (2)
1968Sadanoyama (6) WakanamiTamanoshima* (1) Kotozakura (1) Taihō (27) Taihō (28)
1967Taihō (24) Kitanofuji (1) Taihō (25) Kashiwado (5) Taihō (26) Sadanoyama (5)
1966Kashiwado (4) Taihō (19) Taihō (20) Taihō (21) Taihō (22) Taihō (23)
1965Sadanoyama (3) Taihō (16) Sadanoyama (4) Taihō (17) Kashiwado (3) Taihō (18)
1964Taihō (12) Taihō (13) Tochinoumi (3) FujinishikiTaihō (14) Taihō (15)
1963Taihō (9) Taihō (10) Taihō (11) KitabayamaKashiwado (2) Tochinoumi (2)
1962Taihō (5) Sadanoyama (2) Tochinoumi (1) Taihō (6) Taihō (7) Taihō (8)
1961Kashiwado (1) Asashio III (5) Sadanoyama (1) Taihō (2) Taihō (3) Taihō (4)
1960Tochinishiki (10) Wakanohana I (8) Wakamisugi IWakanohana I (9) Wakanohana I (10) Taihō (1)
1959Wakanohana I (5) Tochinishiki (8) Wakanohana I (6) Tochinishiki (9) Wakanohana I (7) Wakahaguro
1958Wakanohana I (2) Asashio III (3) Tochinishiki (7) Wakanohana I (3) Wakanohana I (4) Asashio III (4)


1909 to 1957

The following tables list the champions before the introduction of the current tournament system. The system was less regularized between years, with a different number of tournaments held at different times and in different venues, and often with a changing number of bouts fought in each tournament.

New Year Spring SummerAutumn
TokyoOsakaTokyoTokyo
1956 Kagamisato (3) Asashio III (1) Wakanohana I (1) Kagamisato (4)
1955 Chiyonoyama (4) Chiyonoyama (5) Tochinishiki (5) Kagamisato (2)
1954 Yoshibayama Tochinishiki (3) Tochinishiki (4)
1953 Kagamisato (1) Tochinishiki (2) Tokitsuyama Azumafuji (6)
Spring SummerAutumn
TokyoTokyoTokyo
1952 Haguroyama (7) Azumafuji (5) Tochinishiki (1)
1951 Terukuni (2) Chiyonoyama (3) Azumafuji (4)
1950 Chiyonoyama (2) Azumafuji (3) Terukuni (1)
1949 Azumafuji (2) Masuiyama (2) Chiyonoyama (1)
1948 no tournamentAzumafuji (1) Masuiyama (1)
1947 no tournamentHaguroyama (5) Haguroyama (6)
1946 no tournamentno tournament Haguroyama (4)
1945 no tournament Bishūyama Haguroyama (3)
1944 Haguroyama (2) Maedayama
1943 Futabayama (11) Futabayama (12) no tournament
1942 Futabayama (9) Futabayama (10) no tournament
1941 Futabayama (8) Haguroyama (1) no tournament
1940 Futabayama (7) no tournament
1939 Dewaminato (1) Futabayama (6) no tournament
1938 Futabayama (4) Futabayama (5) no tournament
1937 Futabayama (2) Futabayama (3) no tournament
1936 Tamanishiki (9) Futabayama (1) no tournament
1935 Tamanishiki (7) Tamanishiki (8) no tournament
1934 Minanogawa (2) Shimizugawa (3) no tournament
1933 Asashio
    • (1)
Tamanishiki (6) no tournament
Spring March SummerOctober
TokyovariedTokyovaried
1932 Shimizugawa (1) Tamanishiki (5) Shimizugawa (2)
1931 Tamanishiki (3) Tamanishiki (4) Ayazakura
1930 Toyokuni (2) Tsunenohana (10) Yamanishiki Tamanishiki (2)
1929 Tamanishiki (1) Toyokuni (1) Tsunenohana (8) Tsunenohana
  • (9)
1928 Tsunenohana (7) Miyagiyama (2)
1927 Miyagiyama (1) Tsunenohana (4) Tsunenohana (5) Tsunenohana (6)
[3]
SpringSummer
1926 Tsunenohana (3) Orochiyama
1925 Tochigiyama (9) Nishinoumi III (1)
1924 Tochigiyama (7) Tochigiyama (8)
1923 Tochigiyama (6) Tsunenohana (2)
1922 Tsurugahama Ōnishiki (5)
1921 Ōnishiki (4) Tsunenohana (1)
1920 Ōnishiki (2) Ōnishiki (3)
1919 Tochigiyama (4) Tochigiyama (5)
1918 Tochigiyama (2) Tochigiyama (3)
1917 Ōnishiki (1) Tochigiyama (1)
1916 Nishinoumi II (1) Tachiyama (9)
1915 Ōtori (2) Tachiyama (8)
1914 Tachiyama (7) Ryōgoku
1913 Ōtori (1) Tachiyama (6)
1912 Tachiyama (4) Tachiyama (5)
1911 Tachiyama (2) Tachiyama (3)
1910 Hitachiyama (1) Tachiyama (1)
1909 see below* Takamiyama I
[4]

Most career championships

Official (since 1909)[5]
Champions with >10 wins
Total Years
1 Hakuhō 45 2006–21
232 1960–71
331 1981–90
425 2002–10
524 1974–84
622 1992–2001
714 1972–80
812 1936–43
12 1994–2002
1011 1992–2000
Champions with 8–10 wins
Total Years
1110 1921–30
10 1952–60
10 1956–60
10 1966–73
Terunofuji^ 10 2015–24
169*[6] 1904–16
9 1917–25
9 1929–36
9 2009–17
20 8 1986–91
Unofficial (before 1909)
Top champions before 1909
Total Years Highest rank
1 28 1790–1810 Ōzeki
221 1772–93 Yokozuna
316 1812–22 Ōzeki
410 1824–37 Yokozuna
59*[7] 1899–1910 Yokozuna
9 1874–84 Yokozuna
^Wrestler is currently active.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of successive champions(1956-1965) . Nihon Sumo Kyokai . 2007-06-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070517104837/http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/kiroku_daicho/yusho_rikishi/yusho_1956_1965.html . 2007-05-17.
  2. Web site: Rules of Sumo: Tournament. Nihon Sumo Kyokai. 2007-06-05. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070601161839/http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_joho_kyoku/shiru/kiso_chishiki/beginners_guide/rules.html#tournament. 2007-06-01.
  3. Web site: The Sumo Record Book . Nihon Sumo Kyokai . 2007-06-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070524224149/http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/kiroku_daicho/index.html . 2007-05-24 .
  4. Web site: Sumo Reference Database. Sumo Reference Database . 2011-07-20.
  5. Web site: Sumo Records .
  6. [Tachiyama]
  7. [Tachiyama]