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.
The Emperor's Cup has been awarded to the winner of top division tournaments since 1925.
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.
*Hoshi would later become Hokutoumi. *Takahanada would later become the 2nd Takanohana. *Tamanoshima would later become the 3rd Tamanoumi. *Wakahanada would later become the 3rd Wakanohana. *Wakamisugi II would later become the 2nd Wakanohana. *Kiribayama would later become Kirishima.
1909 to 1957edit
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.
*A yūshō system giving the wrestler with the best tournament record a prize was introduced by the Mainichi newspaper in the second half of 1909, and this was officially integrated by the JSA in 1926. All tournaments predating the second tournament of 1909 did not recognize or award a championship. As a consequence of this, yokozuna Hitachiyama had seven pre-1909 mathematical "championship" equivalents that are uncounted here, and yokozuna Tachiyama had two. **Asashio would later become Minanogawa Tōzō
^Tachiyama won two unofficial championships before 1909 and nine official, giving him a total of 11.
^Tachiyama won an unofficial championship in 1910.
November 11, 2023
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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 The Emperor s Cup has been awarded to the winner of top division tournaments since 1925 Contents 1 1958 to present 2 1909 to 1957 3 Most career championships 4 See also 5 References1958 to present editThe 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 yushō 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 May July September Novemberyearin sumo Tokyo Osaka Tokyo Nagoya Tokyo Kyushu2023 Takakeishō 3 Kiribayama Terunofuji 8 Hōshōryu Takakeishō 4 2022 Mitakeumi 3 Wakatakakage Terunofuji 7 Ichinojō Tamawashi 2 Abi2021 Daieishō Terunofuji 3 a Terunofuji 4 Hakuhō 45 Terunofuji 5 Terunofuji 6 2020 Tokushōryu Hakuhō 44 Not held b Terunofuji 2 a Shōdai Takakeishō 2 a 2019 Tamawashi 1 Hakuhō 42 Asanoyama Kakuryu 6 Mitakeumi 2 Hakuhō 43 2018 Tochinoshin Kakuryu 4 Kakuryu 5 Mitakeumi 1 Hakuhō 41 Takakeishō 1 2017 Kisenosato 1 Kisenosato 2 Hakuhō 38 Hakuhō 39 Harumafuji 9 Hakuhō 40 2016 Kotoshōgiku Hakuhō 36 Hakuhō 37 Harumafuji 8 Gōeidō Kakuryu 3 2015 Hakuhō 33 Hakuhō 34 Terunofuji 1 Hakuhō 35 Kakuryu 2 Harumafuji 7 2014 Hakuhō 28 Kakuryu 1 Hakuhō 29 Hakuhō 30 Hakuhō 31 Hakuhō 32 2013 Harumafuji 5 Hakuhō 24 Hakuhō 25 Hakuhō 26 Hakuhō 27 Harumafuji 6 2012 Baruto Hakuhō 22 Kyokutenhō Harumafuji 3 Harumafuji 4 Hakuhō 23 2011 Hakuhō 18 Not held c Hakuhō 19 Harumafuji 2 Hakuhō 20 Hakuhō 21 2010 Asashōryu 25 Hakuhō 13 Hakuhō 14 Hakuhō 15 Hakuhō 16 Hakuhō 17 2009 Asashōryu 23 Hakuhō 10 Harumafuji 1 Hakuhō 11 Asashōryu 24 Hakuhō 12 2008 Hakuhō 6 Asashōryu 22 Kotoōshu Hakuhō 7 Hakuhō 8 Hakuhō 9 2007 Asashōryu 20 Hakuhō 2 Hakuhō 3 Asashōryu 21 Hakuhō 4 Hakuhō 5 2006 Tochiazuma II 3 Asashōryu 16 Hakuhō 1 Asashōryu 17 Asashōryu 18 Asashōryu 19 2005 Asashōryu 10 Asashōryu 11 Asashōryu 12 Asashōryu 13 Asashōryu 14 Asashōryu 15 2004 Asashōryu 5 Asashōryu 6 Asashōryu 7 Asashōryu 8 Kaiō 5 Asashōryu 9 2003 Asashōryu 2 Chiyotaikai 3 Asashōryu 3 Kaiō 4 Asashōryu 4 Tochiazuma II 2 2002 Tochiazuma II 1 Musashimaru 10 Musashimaru 11 Chiyotaikai 2 Musashimaru 12 Asashōryu 1 2001 Takanohana II 21 Kaiō 2 Takanohana II 22 Kaiō 3 Kotomitsuki Musashimaru 9 2000 Musōyama Takatōriki Kaiō 1 Akebono 10 Musashimaru 8 Akebono 11 1999 Chiyotaikai 1 Musashimaru 4 Musashimaru 5 Dejima Musashimaru 6 Musashimaru 7 1998 Musashimaru 3 Wakanohana III 4 Wakanohana III 5 Takanohana II 19 Takanohana II 20 Kotonishiki 2 1997 Wakanohana III 3 Takanohana II 16 Akebono 9 Takanohana II 17 Takanohana II 18 Takanonami 2 1996 Takanonami 1 Takanohana II 12 Takanohana II 13 Takanohana II 14 Takanohana II 15 Musashimaru 2 1995 Takanohana II 8 Akebono 8 Takanohana II 9 Takanohana II 10 Takanohana II 11 Wakanohana III 2 1994 Takanohana II 4 Akebono 7 Takanohana II 5 Musashimaru 1 Takanohana II 6 Takanohana II 7 1993 Akebono 3 Wakahanada 1 Takanohana II 3 Akebono 4 Akebono 5 Akebono 6 1992 Takahanada 1 Konishiki 3 Akebono 1 Mitoizumi Takahanada 2 Akebono 2 1991 Kirishima Hokutoumi 8 Asahifuji 4 Kotofuji Kotonishiki 1 Konishiki 2 1990 Chiyonofuji 30 Hokutoumi 6 Asahifuji 2 Asahifuji 3 Hokutoumi 7 Chiyonofuji 31 1989 Hokutoumi 4 Chiyonofuji 27 Hokutoumi 5 Chiyonofuji 28 Chiyonofuji 29 Konishiki 1 1988 Asahifuji 1 Ōnokuni 2 Chiyonofuji 23 Chiyonofuji 24 Chiyonofuji 25 Chiyonofuji 26 1987 Chiyonofuji 20 Hokutoumi 2 Ōnokuni 1 Chiyonofuji 21 Hokutoumi 3 Chiyonofuji 22 1986 Chiyonofuji 15 Hoshi 1 Chiyonofuji 16 Chiyonofuji 17 Chiyonofuji 18 Chiyonofuji 19 1985 Chiyonofuji 11 Asashio IV Chiyonofuji 12 Hokuten yu 2 Chiyonofuji 13 Chiyonofuji 14 1984 Takanosato 4 Wakashimazu 1 Kitanoumi 24 Wakashimazu 2 Tagaryu Chiyonofuji 10 1983 Kotokaze 2 Chiyonofuji 8 Hokuten yu 1 Takanosato 2 Takanosato 3 Chiyonofuji 9 1982 Kitanoumi 23 Chiyonofuji 4 Chiyonofuji 5 Chiyonofuji 6 Takanosato 1 Chiyonofuji 7 1981 Chiyonofuji 1 Kitanoumi 21 Kitanoumi 22 Chiyonofuji 2 Kotokaze 1 Chiyonofuji 3 1980 Mienoumi 3 Kitanoumi 18 Kitanoumi 19 Kitanoumi 20 Wakanohana II 4 Wajima 14 1979 Kitanoumi 15 Kitanoumi 16 Wakanohana II 3 Wajima 13 Kitanoumi 17 Mienoumi 2 1978 Kitanoumi 10 Kitanoumi 11 Kitanoumi 12 Kitanoumi 13 Kitanoumi 14 Wakanohana II 2 1977 Wajima 10 Kitanoumi 8 Wakamisugi II 1 Wajima 11 Kitanoumi 9 Wajima 12 1976 Kitanoumi 5 Wajima 8 Kitanoumi 6 Wajima 9 Kaiketsu 2 Kitanoumi 7 1975 Kitanoumi 3 Takanohana I 1 Kitanoumi 4 Kongō 1 Takanohana I 2 Mienoumi 1 1974 Kitanoumi 1 Wajima 5 Kitanoumi 2 Wajima 6 Wajima 7 Kaiketsu 1 1973 Kotozakura 4 Kitanofuji 10 Wajima 2 Kotozakura 5 Wajima 3 Wajima 4 1972 Tochiazuma I Hasegawa Wajima 1 Takamiyama II Kitanofuji 9 Kotozakura 3 1971 Taihō 32 Tamanoumi II 5 Kitanofuji 6 Tamanoumi II 6 Kitanofuji 7 Kitanofuji 8 1970 Kitanofuji 3 Taihō 31 Kitanofuji 4 Kitanofuji 5 Tamanoumi II 3 Tamanoumi II 4 1969 Taihō 29 Kotozakura 2 Taihō 30 Kiyokuni Tamanoshima 2 Kitanofuji 2 1968 Sadanoyama 6 Wakanami Tamanoshima 1 Kotozakura 1 Taihō 27 Taihō 28 1967 Taihō 24 Kitanofuji 1 Taihō 25 Kashiwado 5 Taihō 26 Sadanoyama 5 1966 Kashiwado 4 Taihō 19 Taihō 20 Taihō 21 Taihō 22 Taihō 23 1965 Sadanoyama 3 Taihō 16 Sadanoyama 4 Taihō 17 Kashiwado 3 Taihō 18 1964 Taihō 12 Taihō 13 Tochinoumi 3 Fujinishiki Taihō 14 Taihō 15 1963 Taihō 9 Taihō 10 Taihō 11 Kitabayama Kashiwado 2 Tochinoumi 2 1962 Taihō 5 Sadanoyama 2 Tochinoumi 1 Taihō 6 Taihō 7 Taihō 8 1961 Kashiwado 1 Asashio III 5 Sadanoyama 1 Taihō 2 Taihō 3 Taihō 4 1960 Tochinishiki 10 Wakanohana I 8 Wakamisugi I Wakanohana I 9 Wakanohana I 10 Taihō 1 1959 Wakanohana I 5 Tochinishiki 8 Wakanohana I 6 Tochinishiki 9 Wakanohana I 7 Wakahaguro1958 Wakanohana I 2 Asashio III 3 Tochinishiki 7 Wakanohana I 3 Wakanohana I 4 Asashio III 4 a b c Due to the COVID 19 pandemic in Japan the tournament was held in Tokyo to avoid unnecessary domestic travel Tournament cancelled due to the COVID 19 pandemic Tournament cancelled due to the match fixing scandal Hoshi would later become Hokutoumi Takahanada would later become the 2nd Takanohana Tamanoshima would later become the 3rd Tamanoumi Wakahanada would later become the 3rd Wakanohana Wakamisugi II would later become the 2nd Wakanohana Kiribayama would later become Kirishima 1909 to 1957 editThe 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 January March May September NovemberTokyo Osaka Tokyo Tokyo Kyushu1957 Chiyonoyama 6 Asashio III 2 Annenyama Tochinishiki 6 Tamanoumi I 1 New Year Spring Summer AutumnTokyo Osaka Tokyo Tokyo1956 Kagamisato 3 Asashio III 1 Wakanohana I 1 Kagamisato 4 1955 Chiyonoyama 4 Chiyonoyama 5 Tochinishiki 5 Kagamisato 2 1954 Yoshibayama Mitsuneyama Tochinishiki 3 Tochinishiki 4 1953 Kagamisato 1 Tochinishiki 2 Tokitsuyama Azumafuji 6 Spring Summer AutumnTokyo Tokyo Tokyo1952 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 tournament Azumafuji 1 Masuiyama 1 1947 no tournament Haguroyama 5 Haguroyama 6 1946 no tournament no tournament Haguroyama 4 1945 no tournament Bishuyama Haguroyama 3 1944 Saganohana Haguroyama 2 Maedayama1943 Futabayama 11 Futabayama 12 no tournament1942 Futabayama 9 Futabayama 10 no tournament1941 Futabayama 8 Haguroyama 1 no tournament1940 Futabayama 7 Akinoumi no tournament1939 Dewaminato 1 Futabayama 6 no tournament1938 Futabayama 4 Futabayama 5 no tournament1937 Futabayama 2 Futabayama 3 no tournament1936 Tamanishiki 9 Futabayama 1 no tournament1935 Tamanishiki 7 Tamanishiki 8 no tournament1934 Minanogawa 2 Shimizugawa 3 no tournament1933 Asashio 1 Tamanishiki 6 no tournamentSpring March Summer OctoberTokyo varied Tokyo varied1932 Shimizugawa 1 Okitsuumi Tamanishiki 5 Shimizugawa 2 1931 Tamanishiki 3 Tamanishiki 4 Musashiyama Ayazakura1930 Toyokuni 2 Tsunenohana 10 Yamanishiki Tamanishiki 2 1929 Tamanishiki 1 Toyokuni 1 Tsunenohana 8 Tsunenohana 9 1928 Hitachiiwa Noshirogata Tsunenohana 7 Miyagiyama 2 1927 Miyagiyama 1 Tsunenohana 4 Tsunenohana 5 Tsunenohana 6 3 tournament held in September Spring Summer1926 Tsunenohana 3 Orochiyama1925 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 Ryōgoku1913 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 A yushō system giving the wrestler with the best tournament record a prize was introduced by the Mainichi newspaper in the second half of 1909 and this was officially integrated by the JSA in 1926 All tournaments predating the second tournament of 1909 did not recognize or award a championship As a consequence of this yokozuna Hitachiyama had seven pre 1909 mathematical championship equivalents that are uncounted here and yokozuna Tachiyama had two Asashio would later become Minanogawa TōzōMost career championships editOfficial since 1909 5 Champions with gt 10 wins Name Total Years1 Hakuhō 45 2006 212 Taihō 32 1960 713 Chiyonofuji 31 1981 904 Asashōryu 25 2002 105 Kitanoumi 24 1974 846 Takanohana II 22 1992 20017 Wajima 14 1972 808 Futabayama 12 1936 43Musashimaru 12 1994 200210 Akebono 11 1992 2000 Champions with 8 10 wins Name Total Years11 Tsunenohana 10 1921 30Tochinishiki 10 1952 60Wakanohana I 10 1956 60Kitanofuji 10 1966 7315 Tachiyama 9 6 1904 16Tochigiyama 9 1917 25Tamanishiki 9 1929 36Harumafuji 9 2009 1719 Hokutoumi 8 1986 91Terunofuji 8 2015 23 Unofficial before 1909 Top champions before 1909 Name Total Years Highest rank1 Raiden 28 1790 1810 Ōzeki2 Tanikaze 21 1772 93 Yokozuna3 Kashiwado 16 1812 22 Ōzeki4 Inazuma 10 1824 37 Yokozuna5 Hitachiyama 9 7 1899 1910 YokozunaUmegatani I 9 1874 84 Yokozuna Wrestler is currently active See also editGlossary of sumo terms List of active sumo wrestlers List of past sumo wrestlers List of sumo tournament top division runners up List of sumo tournament second division champions List of sumo record holders List of sumo stables List of years in sumo List of yokozunaReferences edit List of successive champions 1956 1965 Nihon Sumo Kyokai Archived from the original on 2007 05 17 Retrieved 2007 06 05 Rules of Sumo Tournament Nihon Sumo Kyokai Archived from the original on 2007 06 01 Retrieved 2007 06 05 The Sumo Record Book Nihon Sumo Kyokai Archived from the original on 2007 05 24 Retrieved 2007 06 05 Sumo Reference Database Sumo Reference Database Retrieved 2011 07 20 Sumo Records Tachiyama won two unofficial championships before 1909 and nine official giving him a total of 11 Tachiyama won an unofficial championship in 1910 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of sumo tournament top division champions amp oldid 1176838379, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
