List of sumo record holders

This is a list of records in 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.

Most top division championships

This table does not include unofficial championships before the current "yusho" system was established in 1909. [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.] {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!Name!Total!Years
-
1
Taiho
32
1960-71
-
2
Chiyonofuji
31
1981-90
-
3
Kitanoumi
24
1974-84
-
4=
Asashoryu
22
2002-
-
4=
Takanohana
22
1992-2001
-
6
Wajima
14
1972-81
-
7=
Futabayama
12
1936-43
-
7=
Musashimaru
12
1994-2002
-
9
Akebono
11
1992-2000
-
10=
Tsunenohana
10
1921-30
-
10=
Tochinishiki
10
1952-60
-
10=
Wakanohana I
10
1956-60
-
10=
Kitanofuji
10
1966-73

Most career wins

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!Name!Wins!Years!Highest rank
-
1
Chiyonofuji
1045
1970-91
Yokozuna
-
2
Oshio
964
1962-88
Komusubi
-
3
Kitanoumi
951
1967-84
Yokozuna
-
4
Kaio
925
1988-
Ozeki
-
5
Taiho
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

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!Name!Wins!Years!Highest rank
-
1
Chiyonofuji
807
1975-91
Yokozuna
-
2
Kitanoumi
804
1972-84
Yokozuna
-
3
Kaio
757
1993-
Ozeki
-
4
Taiho
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
Ozeki
-
9
Akinoshima
647
1988-2003
Sekiwake
-
9
Takanonami
647
1991-2004
Ozeki

Most consecutive wins

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!Name!Wins [the winning streaks of Tanikaze, Umegatani, and Tachiyama were interrupted by draws and rest days. Only Futabayama and Chiyonofuji's runs are truly consecutive.] !Start!End!Defeated by
-
1
Futabayama
69
7th day January 1936
3rd day January 1939
Akinoumi
-
2
Tanikaze
63
1st day October 1778
6th day February 1782
Onogawa
-
3
Umegatani I
58
1st day April 1876
8th day January 1881
Wakashima
-
4
Tachiyama
56
9th day January 1912
7th day May 1916
Tochigiyama
-
5
Chiyonofuji
53
7th day May 1988
15th day November 1988
Onokuni
-

Best top division win ratios

All time

The list includes Yokozuna and Ozeki (the highest rank before the yokozuna rank was introduced), but excludes Guest Ozeki and sumo wrestlers who had the lack of records.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!Name!Win-Loss!Years!rate
-
1
Raiden Tameemon
254-10
1790-1811
.962
-
2
Umegatani Tōtarō I
116-6
1874-1885
.951
-
3
Tanikaze Kajinosuke
258-14
1769-1794
.949
-
4
Jinmaku Kyūgorō
87-5
1858-1867
.946
-
5
Onogawa Kisaburō
144-13
1781-1797
.917
-

Modern era

In 1927, Tokyo sumo merged Osaka sumo and many sumo systems were changed. The list excludes active wrestlers. As of September 2008, Asashoryu's is .793 and Hakuho's is .771.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!Name!Win-Loss!Years!rate
-
1
Taiho Koki
746-144
1960-1971
.838
-
2
Futabayama Sadaji
276-68
1932-1945
.802
-
3
Haguroyama Masaji
321-94
1937-1953
.773
-
4
Kitanoumi Toshimitsu
804-247
1972-1985
.765
-
5
Takanohana Koji
701-217
1990-2003
.764
-

Most career bouts

Losses by default are excluded.{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!Name!Total!Years!Highest rank
-
1
Oshio
1891
1962-88
Komusubi
-
2
Terao
1795
1979-2002
Sekiwake
-
3
Takamiyama
1654
1964-84
Sekiwake
-
4
Aobajo
1630
1964-86
Sekiwake
-
5
Fujikazura
1613
1963-85
Sekiwake
-
6
Akinoshima
1575
1982-2003
Sekiwake
-
7
Mitoizumi
1564
1978-2000
Sekiwake
-
8
Kirinji
1562
1967-88
Sekiwake
-
9
Ozutsu
1561
1971-92
Sekiwake
-
10
Kurama
1552
1968-89
Sekiwake

Most top division bouts

Losses by default are excluded.{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!Name!Total!Years!Highest rank
-
1
Takamiyama
1430
1968-84
Sekiwake
-
2
Terao
1378
1985-2001
Sekiwake
-
3
Akinoshima
1283
1988-2003
Sekiwake
-
4
Kotonowaka
1260
1990-2005
Sekiwake
-
5
Kaio
1226
1993-
Ozeki
-
6
Kirinji
1221
1974-88
Sekiwake
-
7
Ozutsu
1170
1979-1992
Sekiwake
-
8
Tsurugamine
1128
1953-67
Sekiwake
-
9
Tosanoumi
1123
1995-
Sekiwake
-
10
Takanonami
1118
1991-2004
Ozeki

Most special prizes

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

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!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
Kaio
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
-
9
Tochiazuma
12
3
2
7
1996-2001
Ozeki
-
10=
Takamiyama
11
6
5
0
1968-81
Sekiwake
-
10=
Daiju
11
4
1
6
1970-73
Ozeki
-
10=
Kirinji
11
4
4
3
1975-88
Sekiwake
-
10=
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."

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!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

Fastest progress to top division

This table 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.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!Name!Tournaments!Pro Debut!Top division debut!Highest rank
-
1
Kotooshu
11
November 2002
September 2004
Ozeki
-
2=
Itai
12
September 1978
September 1980
Komusubi
-
2=
Konishiki
12
July 1982
July 1984
Ozeki
-
2=
Tochiazuma
12
November 1994
November 1996
Ozeki
-
2=
Asashoryu
12
January 1999
January 2001
Yokozuna
-
2=
Tokitenku
12
July 2002
July 2004
Komusubi
-
2=
Yoshikaze
12
January 2004
January 2006
Maegashira 9
-
2=
Baruto
12
May 2004
May 2006
Maegashira 1
-
2=
Sakaizawa
12
March 2006
March 2008
Maegashira 15
-
10=
Asahifuji
13
January 1981
March 1983
Yokozuna
-
10=
Takahanada
13
March 1988
May 1990
Yokozuna
-
10=
Musashimaru
13
September 1989
November 1991
Yokozuna
-
10=
Homasho
13
March 2004
May 2006
Maegashira 1
-
10=
Tochiozan
13
January 2005
March 2007
Maegashira 4
-
10=
Tochinoshin
13
March 2006
May 2008
Maegashira 14

lowest progress to top division

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!Name!Tournaments!Pro Debut!Top division debut!Highest rank
-
1
Hoshiiwato
115
May 1970
July 1989
Maegashira 14
-
2
Kotokasuga
91
March 1993
May 2008
Maegashira 16
-
3
Kototsubaki
89
March 1976
January 1991
Maegashira 3
-
4
Toyozakura
88
March 1989
November 2003
Maegashira 5
-
5
Takanomine
87
September 1974
March 1989
Maegashira 12
-
6
Kitazakura
86
March 1987
July 2001
Maegashira 9
-
7
Daimanazuru
85
May 1992
July 2006
Maegashira 16
-
8
Onohana
84
March 1974
March 1988
Maegashira 13
-
9
Shinko
82
September 1966
May 1980
Maegashira 8
-
10=
Chikubayama
81
March 1973
September 1986
Maegashira 13
-
10=
Ryuho
81
March 1993
September 2006
Maegashira 16

Most top division tournaments

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!Name!Total!First!Last
-
1
Takamiyama
97
January 1968
January 1984
-
2
Terao
93
March 1985
May 2001
-
3
Akinoshima
91
March 1988
May 2003
-
3=
Kaio
91
July 1993|
-
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
-
9
Mitoizumi
79
September 1984
March 1999
-
10=
Kitanoumi
78
January 1972
January 1985
-
10=
Ozutsu
78
March 1979
January 1992

Most tournaments at Yokozuna

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!Name!Total!First!Last
-
1
Kitanoumi
63
July 1974
January 1985
-
2
Chiyonofuji
59
September 1981
May 1991
-
3
Taiho
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
Asashoryu
33
March 2003|
-
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

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 120%"
-!!Name!Total!First!Last!Ended by
-
1
Chiyotaikai
58
March 1999||
-
2
Takanohana I
50
November 1972
January 1981
Retirement
-
3
Kaio
49
September 2000||
-
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
-
8
Yutakayama
34
March 1963
September 1968
Retirement
-
9=
Kotozakura
32
November 1967
January 1973
Promotion to Yokozuna
-
9=
Musashimaru
32
March 1994
May 1999
Promotion to Yokozuna
-

Notes

References

* [http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng Japan Sumo Association]
* [http://sumodb.sumogames.com Sumo Reference]
* [http://www.accesscom.com/~abe/sumo.html Masumikiri's Sumo Site]
* [http://www.chijanofuji.com The Sumo Colosseum]
*"Grand Sumo", Lora Sharnoff, Wetherhill, 1993. ISBN 0-8348-0283-x