List of sumo record holders

The Rikishi Monument for Over 50 Consecutive Wins at Tomioka Hachiman Shrine. As of November 2014, the monument carries the names of Tanikaze (63 consecutive wins), Umegatani (58), Tachiyama (56), Futabayama (69), Chiyonofuji (53) and Hakuhō (63).

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. The tables are up to date as of the end of the March 2024 tournament.

Most top division championships

Most career championships

Official championships since 1909+
Name Total Years
1 Hakuhō 45 2006–2021
2 Taihō 32 1960–1971
3 Chiyonofuji 31 1981–1990
4 Asashōryū 25 2002–2010
5 Kitanoumi 24 1974–1984
6 Takanohana II 22 1992–2001
7 Wajima 14 1972–1980
8 Futabayama 12 1936–1943
Musashimaru 12 1994–2002
10 Akebono 11 1992–2000

+ Raiden is said to have had the best record in 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.


Most undefeated championships

Zenshō-yūshō since 1949+
Name Total Years
1 Hakuhō 16 2007–2021
2 Futabayama 8 1936–1943
Taihō 8 1963–1969
4 Tachiyama 7 1910–1915
Kitanoumi 7 1977–1984
Chiyonofuji 7 1983–1989
7 Tochigiyama 6 1917–1925
8 Asashōryū 5 2004–2006
9 Haguroyama 4 1944–1952
Tsunenohana 4 1921–1928
Takanohana II 4 1994–1996

+ Tournaments have been consistently fifteen days long since May 1949. Before that date there were a number of different lengths, including ten, eleven, twelve, and thirteen days. The records of Tachiyama, Tochigiyama and Tsunenohana also include some draws, holds and rest days.


Most consecutive championships

Consecutive championships
Name Total Years
1 Hakuhō 7+ 2010–2011
Asashōryū 7† 2004–2005
3 Hakuhō 6 2014-2015
Taihō 6 1966–1967
Taihō 6 1962-1963
5 Futabayama 5‡ 1936–1938
Kitanoumi 5 1978
Chiyonofuji 5 1986–1987

+ Four of these titles were in perfect tournaments (zenshō-yūshō) and were part of Hakuhō's second-place streak of 63 consecutive wins.
† Includes a sweep of all six tournaments in 2005. Asashōryū remains the only wrestler to have won all tournaments in a six-tournament calendar year (post-1949).
‡ All of Futabayama's victories in this streak were in perfect tournaments and were part of Futabayama's record setting 69 consecutive wins.
÷ Raiden is said to have had the best record in nine consecutive tournaments between 1806 and 1810


Most championship playoffs

Most playoffs
Name Total Won Lost
1 Hakuhō 10 6 4
Takanohana II 10 5 5
3 Kitanoumi 8 3 5
4 Akebono 7 4 3
Musashimaru 7 1 6
6 Chiyonofuji 6 6 0
Asashōryū 6 5 1
Taihō 6 4 2
9 Hokutoumi 5 3 2
Takakeishō 5 2 3
Terunofuji 5 2 3

Most wins

Most career wins

Name Wins Years Highest rank
1 Hakuhō 1187 2001–2021 Yokozuna
2 Kaiō 1047 1988–2011 Ōzeki
3 Chiyonofuji 1045 1970–1991 Yokozuna
4 Ōshio 964 1962–1988 Komusubi
5 Kitanoumi 951 1967–1984 Yokozuna
6 Kyokutenhō 927 1992–2015 Sekiwake
7 Wakanosato 914 1992–2015 Sekiwake
8 Aminishiki 907 1997–2019 Sekiwake
9 Taihō 872 1956–1971 Yokozuna
10 Terao 860 1979–2002 Sekiwake

Most top division wins

Name Wins Years Highest rank
1 Hakuhō 1093 2004–2021 Yokozuna
2 Kaiō 879 1993–2011 Ōzeki
3 Chiyonofuji 807 1975–1991 Yokozuna
4 Kitanoumi 804 1972–1984 Yokozuna
5 Taihō 746 1960–1971 Yokozuna
6 Kotoshōgiku 718 2005–2020 Ōzeki
7 Kisenosato 714 2004–2019 Yokozuna
8 Harumafuji 712 2004–2017 Yokozuna
9 Musashimaru 706 1991–2003 Yokozuna
10 Takanohana II 701 1990–2003 Yokozuna


Most wins in a calendar year (90 bouts)

Name Wins Year
1 Hakuhō 86 2009
Hakuhō 86 2010
3 Asashōryū 84 2005
4 Kitanoumi 82 1978
Hakuhō 82 2013
6 Taihō 81 1963
Hakuhō 81 2014
8 Kitanoumi 80 1977
Chiyonofuji 80 1985
Takanohana II 80 1994
Takanohana II 80 1995

Most consecutive wins

Name Wins[a] Start End Duration Defeated by
1 Futabayama 69 7 January 1936 3 January 1939 2 years, 11 months and 27 days Akinoumi
2 Tanikaze 63 1 October 1778 6 February 1782 3 years, 4 months and 5 days Onogawa
Hakuhō 63 23 January 2010 15 November 2010 9 months and 19 days Kisenosato
4 Umegatani I 58 1 April 1876 8 January 1881 4 years, 9 months and 7 days Wakashima
5 Tachiyama 56 9 January 1912 7 May 1916 4 years, 3 months and 28 days Tochigiyama
6 Chiyonofuji 53 7 May 1988 27 November 1988 6 months and 20 days Ōnokuni
7 Taihō 45 2 September 1968 2 March 1969 6 months Toda


Most consecutive wins from entry into sumo

Name Wins[b] Start End Duration Defeated by Highest rank
1 Jōkōryū 27 11 July 2011 20 January 2012 6 months and 9 days Senshō Komusubi
2 Itai 26 12 November 1978 16 May 1979 6 months and 4 days Ōnishiki Komusubi
Tochiazuma II 26 15 January 1995 12 September 1995 7 months and 28 days Dewaarashi Ōzeki
4 Ōshōryū 24 8 July 2019 18 January 2020 6 months and 10 days Kotodaigō Makushita 7
5 Tokitenkū 22 8 September 2002 11 March 2003 6 months and 3 days Furuichi Komusubi
6 Kototenzan 21 12 January 1986 20 July 1986 6 months and 8 days retired Makushita 43
Enhō 21 15 May 2017 13 November 2017 5 months and 29 days Jōkōryū Maegashira 4
Hokuseihō 21 19 July 2020 15 March 2021 7 months and 24 days Tokisakae Maegashira 6
Fujiseiun 21 10 May 2021 15 November 2021 6 months and 5 days Kamito Juryo 7
10 Akiseyama 20 10 March 2008 25 July 2008 4 months and 15 days Surugatsukasa Maegashira 12
Tsurugishō 20 9 March 2014 25 July 2014 4 months and 16 days Hienriki Maegashira 7
Aonishiki 20 12 November 2023 22 March 2024 4 months and 10 days Nagamura Sandanme 18

Best top division win ratios

All time

The list includes yokozuna and ōzeki (the highest rank before the yokozuna rank was introduced), but excludes so-called kanban or "guest ōzeki" (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 254–10 1790–1811 96.2%
2 Umegatani I 116–6 1874–1885 95.1%
3 Tanikaze 258–14 1769–1794 94.9%
4 Jinmaku 87–5 1858–1867 94.6%
5 Onogawa 144–13 1781–1797 91.7%

Modern era

In 1927, the Tokyo Sumo Association merged with the Osaka Sumo Association to form the Japan Sumo Association, and most of the sumo systems were changed, so any pre-1927 records are disregarded. The list excludes active wrestlers.[c]

Name Win–loss Years rate
1 Hakuhō 1093–199 2001–2021 84.6%
2 Taihō 746–144 1960–1971 83.8%
3 Futabayama 276–68 1932–1945 80.2%
4 Asashōryū 596–153 2001–2010 79.6%
5 Haguroyama 321–94 1937–1953 77.3%
6 Kitanoumi 804–247 1972–1985 76.5%

Most bouts

Losses by default are excluded.

Most career bouts

Name Total Years Highest rank
1 Ōshio 1891 1962–1988 Komusubi
2 Kyokutenhō 1870 1992–2015 Sekiwake
3 Aminishiki 1805 1997–2019 Sekiwake
4 Terao 1795 1979–2002 Sekiwake
5 Kaiō 1731 1988–2011 Ōzeki
6 Wakanosato 1691 1992–2015 Sekiwake
7 Takamiyama 1654 1964–1984 Sekiwake
8 Aobajō 1630 1964–1986 Sekiwake
9 Fujizakura 1613 1963–1985 Sekiwake
10 Tamawashi 1598 2004- Sekiwake

Most top division bouts

Name Total Years Highest rank
1 Kyokutenhō 1470 1998–2015 Sekiwake
2 Kaiō 1444 1993–2011 Ōzeki
3 Takamiyama 1430 1968–1984 Sekiwake
4 Aminishiki 1399 2000–2018 Sekiwake
5 Terao 1378 1985–2001 Sekiwake
6 Kotoshōgiku 1332 2005–2020 Ōzeki
7 Tamawashi 1302 2004– Sekiwake
8 Akinoshima 1283 1988–2003 Sekiwake
9 Hakuhō 1282 2004–2021 Yokozuna
10 Kotonowaka 1260 1990–2005 Sekiwake

Most consecutive bouts

Most consecutive career bouts

Name Total Years Highest rank
1 Aobajō* 1630 1964–1986 Sekiwake
2 Tamawashi* 1598[d] 2004– Sekiwake
3 Fujizakura 1543 1963–1984 Sekiwake
4 Takatōriki* 1456 1983–2002 Sekiwake
5 Takamiyama 1425 1964–1981 Sekiwake
6 Dairyūgawa* 1367 1961–1979 Maegashira 1
7 Terao 1359 1979–1997 Sekiwake
8 Toyonoumi* 1316 1981–1999 Maegashira 1
9 Hidanohana* 1297 1969–1989 Maegashira 1
10 Ōzutsu 1267 1978–1992 Sekiwake

* No bouts missed in career/career to date

Most consecutive top division bouts

Name Total Years Highest rank
1 Takamiyama 1231 1968–1981 Sekiwake
2 Ōzutsu 1170 1979–1992 Sekiwake
3 Kurohimeyama 1065 1969–1981 Sekiwake
4 Terao 1063 1985–1997 Sekiwake
5 Hasegawa 1024 1965–1976 Sekiwake
6 Takarafuji 990 2013–2024 Sekiwake
7 Takatōriki 975 1990–2001 Sekiwake
8 Tamawashi 957[d] 2013– Sekiwake
9 Ōhikari 945 1950–1963 Komusubi
10 Aonosato 885 1959–1968 Sekiwake
Kaneshiro 885 1974–1984 Sekiwake

Most tournaments

The March 2011 and May 2020 tournaments were cancelled and are not included in these totals.

Most tournaments ranked in the top division

Name Total First Last Highest rank
1 Kaiō 107 July 1993 July 2011 Ōzeki
2 Hakuhō 103 May 2004 September 2021 Yokozuna
3 Kyokutenhō 99 January 1998 July 2015 Sekiwake
4 Takamiyama 97 January 1968 January 1984 Sekiwake
Aminishiki 97 July 2000 May 2018 Sekiwake
6 Terao 93 March 1985 May 2001 Sekiwake
7 Akinoshima 91 March 1988 May 2003 Sekiwake
Kotoshōgiku 91 January 2005 November 2020 Ōzeki
9 Kotonowaka 90 November 1990 November 2005 Sekiwake
10 Wakanosato 87 May 1998 July 2014 Sekiwake
Tamawashi 87 September 2008 Sekiwake

Most tournaments ranked at yokozuna

Name Total First Last
1 Hakuhō 84 July 2007 September 2021
2 Kitanoumi 63 July 1974 January 1985
3 Chiyonofuji 59 September 1981 May 1991
4 Taihō 58 November 1961 May 1971
5 Takanohana II 49 January 1995 January 2003
6 Akebono 48 March 1993 January 2001
7 Kashiwado 47 November 1961 July 1969
Wajima 47 July 1973 March 1981
9 Asashōryū 42 March 2003 January 2010
10 Kakuryū 41 May 2014 March 2021

Most tournaments ranked at ōzeki

Name Total First Last Ended by
1 Chiyotaikai 65 March 1999 November 2009 Demotion
Kaiō 65 September 2000 July 2011 Retirement
3 Takanohana I 50 November 1972 January 1981 Retirement
4 Kotoōshū 47 January 2006 November 2013 Demotion
5 Hokuten'yū 44 July 1983 September 1990 Retirement
6 Konishiki 39 July 1987 November 1993 Demotion
7 Takanonami 37 March 1994 May 2000 Demotion
8 Asashio 36 May 1983 March 1989 Retirement
9 Yutakayama 34 March 1963 September 1968 Retirement
10 Gōeidō 33 September 2014 January 2020 Retirement


Most tournaments ranked in junior san'yaku (komusubi and sekiwake ranks)

Name Total First Last Highest rank
1 Kotonishiki 34 September 1990 September 1999 Sekiwake
2 Kaiō 32 May 1994 July 2000 Ōzeki
3 Musōyama 31 March 1994 September 2000 Ōzeki
4 Hasegawa 30 November 1965 September 1974 Sekiwake
Kotomitsuki 30 January 2001 July 2007 Ōzeki
6 Mitakeumi 29 November 2016 January 2022 Ōzeki
7 Akinoshima 27 November 1988 September 2000 Sekiwake
Takamiyama 27 November 1969 September 1982 Sekiwake
9 Takatōriki 26 May 1991 May 2000 Sekiwake
Wakanosato 26 November 2000 September 2005 Sekiwake

Most career tournaments

As of March 2024 tournament. Tournaments in banzuke-gai (out of banzuke) status are not included

Name Total First Last Highest rank
1 Hanakaze 214 March 1986 January 2022 Sandanme 18
2 Hokutoryū 186 March 1986 March 2017 Sandanme 53
3 Tenichi 185 March 1993 current Makushita 10
Terunosato 185 March 1993 current Sandanme 23
5 Sawaisamu 180 July 1992 current Jonidan 53
6 Itakozakura 179 March 1994 current Jonidan 19
7 Tochitenko 175 March 1982 May 2011 Jūryō 4
8 Dewanosato 174 May 1986 May 2015 Jūryō 14
9 Shōketsu 173 March 1995 current Makushita 4
Koshinoryū 173 March 1995 current Makushita 34

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 and sandanme tsukedashi entrants who made their debut in the third makushita division and the fourth sandanme division.

Fastest progress to top division

Name Tournaments Pro Debut Top division debut Highest rank
1 Jōkōryū 9 May 2011 November 2012 Komusubi
Takerufuji 9 September 2022 March 2024 Maegashira 17
3 Ōsunaarashi 10 March 2012 November 2013 Maegashira 1
Hokutōfuji 10 March 2015 November 2016 Komusubi
5 Kotoōshū 11 November 2002 September 2004 Ōzeki
Aran 11 January 2007 November 2008 Sekiwake
Shōdai 11 March 2014 January 2016 Ozeki
Tomokaze 11 May 2017 March 2019 Maegashira 3
9 Itai 12 September 1978 September 1980 Komusubi
Konishiki 12 July 1982 July 1984 Ōzeki
Tochiazuma II 12 November 1994 November 1996 Ōzeki
Asashōryū 12 January 1999 January 2001 Yokozuna
Tokitenkū 12 July 2002 July 2004 Komusubi
Yoshikaze 12 January 2004 January 2006 Sekiwake
Baruto 12 May 2004 May 2006 Ōzeki
Sakaizawa 12 March 2006 March 2008 Maegashira 15
Yamamotoyama 12 January 2007 January 2009 Maegashira 9
Ura 12 March 2015 March 2017 Komusubi
Atamifuji 12 November 2020 November 2022 Maegashira 1

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 12
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
Kitaharima 85 March 2002 July 2016 Maegashira 15

Most special prizes

Special prizes or sanshō were first awarded in 1947. They can only be given to wrestlers ranked at sekiwake or below. For the current list of active special prize winners, see here.

Name Total Outstanding
Performance 		Fighting
Spirit 		Technique Years Highest rank
1 Akinoshima 19 7 8 4 1988–1999 Sekiwake
2 Kotonishiki 18 7 3 8 1990–1998 Sekiwake
3 Kaiō 15 10 5 0 1994–2000 Ōzeki
4 Tsurugamine 14 2 2 10 1956–1966 Sekiwake
Asashio 14 10 3 1 1979–1983 Ōzeki
Takatōriki 14 3 10 1 1990–2000 Sekiwake
7 Musōyama 13 5 4 4 1994–2000 Ōzeki
Tosanoumi 13 7 5 1 1995–2003 Sekiwake
Kotomitsuki 13 2 4 7 2000–2007 Ōzeki
10 Tochiazuma II 12 3 2 7 1996–2001 Ōzeki
Aminishiki 12 4 2 6 2000–2017 Sekiwake
Takayasu 12 4 6 2 2013–2022 Ōzeki

Most gold stars

Gold stars or kinboshi are awarded to maegashira ranked wrestlers who defeat a yokozuna. For a list of current kinboshi earners, see here.

Name Total Years Highest rank
1 Akinoshima 16 1988–1999 Sekiwake
2 Takamiyama 12 1968–1978 Sekiwake
Tochinonada 12 1998–2008 Sekiwake
4 Tosanoumi 11 1995–2003 Sekiwake
5 Kitanonada 10 1954–1961 Sekiwake
Annenyama 10 1955–1961 Sekiwake
Tsurugamine 10 1955–1961 Sekiwake
Dewanishiki 10 1949–1963 Sekiwake
Ōzutsu 10 1979–1986 Sekiwake
10 Mitsuneyama 9 1944–1957 Ōzeki
Tamanoumi 9 1953–1958 Sekiwake
Hasegawa 9 1965–1974 Sekiwake
Fujizakura 9 1973–1981 Sekiwake
Takatōriki 9 1990–1998 Sekiwake
Ichinojō 9 2014–2022 Sekiwake

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The winning streaks of Tanikaze, Umegatani, and Tachiyama were interrupted by draws and rest days. The others listed were all wins only.
  2. ^ Playoff matches, whether victories or defeats, are not included. Jōkōryū lost a playoff match in September 2011, and Fujiseiun in July 2021. Itai won one in January 1979. Bouts in maezumo are unofficial and also not included.
  3. ^ Losses by default are excluded, but wins by default are included; as is standard in sumo records.
  4. ^ a b Tamawashi was forced to withdraw from Day 13 of the July 2022 tournament under COVID-19 protocols. The Japan Sumo Association have said his streak should be recognized as continuing.[1]

References

  • Japan Sumo Association
  • Sumo Reference
  • The Sumo Colosseum
  • Grand Sumo, Lora Sharnoff, Weatherhill, 1993. ISBN 0-8348-0283-X