List of Yokozuna

This is a list of all sumo wrestlers who have reached the sport's highest rank of "Yokozuna". It was not recorded on the "banzuke" until 1890 and was not officially recognised as sumo's highest rank until 1909. Until then, "yokozuna" was merely a licence given to certain "ōzeki" to perform the "dohyō-iri" ceremony. It was not always the strongest "ōzeki" but those with the most influential patrons who were chosen.

The first list of "yokozuna" (with 17 names in total) was compiled by the 12th "Yokozuna" Jinmaku Kyūgorō in 1900 but was not regarded as official until 1926 when it was published by the newly formed Japan Sumo Association and updated to 31 names. Since that time, 38 more "yokozuna" have been promoted. The Sumo Association have overseen all promotions since Chiyonoyama's in 1951. Two consecutive tournament championships or an "equivalent performance" are the minimum requirement.

The longest serving "yokuzuna" was the 36th, Haguroyama Masaji from Nakanokuchi, Niigata. He was promoted in May 1941 and held the rank until his retirement in 1953, an all-time record of 12 years and three months.

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Notes

ee also

*List of past sumo wrestlers
*Raiden Tameemon - Raiden wasn't promoted "officially"

External links

*Yokozuna list at the Japanese Sumo Association [http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/kiroku_daicho/mei_yokozuna/rekidai.html (English)] [http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/kiroku_daicho/mei_yokozuna/rekidai.html (Japanese)]