List of yokozuna

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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, 42 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" at ōzeki level are the minimum requirement for promotion to yokozuna in modern sumo.

The longest serving yokozuna ever was Hakuhō, who was promoted in 2007 and retired in 2021.[1]

The number of top division championships won by each yokozuna is also listed. Those listed for yokozuna active before the summer tournament of 1909 are historically conferred from the win–loss records of the time as no system of championships existed up to this time.

List[edit]

? Information is uncertain
† Wrestler died as yokozuna
¤ Elder left their position early and quit the Sumo Association
No. Name Top division
championships		 Stable[a] Home town[b] Promoted[c] Retired Ring-entering
style		 Elder name[d]
Rōmaji Japanese
1 Akashi Shiganosuke 明石 志賀之助 — — Tokugawa shogunate Utsunomiya, Tochigi ? ? 1649 ? † — None
2 Ayagawa Gorōji 綾川 五郎次 — — Tokugawa shogunate Tochigi ? ? 1765 ? † — None
3 Maruyama Gondazaemon 丸山 権太左衛門 — Nanatsumori Tokugawa shogunate Tome, Miyagi 1749 1749 † — None
4 Tanikaze Kajinosuke 谷風 梶之助 21 Isenoumi Tokugawa shogunate Sendai, Miyagi 1789 1795 † — None
5 Onogawa Kisaburō 小野川 喜三郎 7 Onogawa Tokugawa shogunate Ōtsu, Shiga 1789 1797 — Onogawa
6 Ōnomatsu Midorinosuke 阿武松 緑之助 5 Shikoroyama Tokugawa shogunate Noto, Ishikawa 1828 1835 — Onomatsu
7 Inazuma Raigorō 稲妻 雷五郎 10 Sadogatake Tokugawa shogunate Inashiki, Ibaraki 1830 1839 — None
8 Shiranui Dakuemon 不知火 諾右衛門 1 Urakaze Tokugawa shogunate Uto, Kumamoto 1840 1844 — Minato
9 Hidenoyama Raigorō 秀の山 雷五郎 6 Hidenoyama Tokugawa shogunate Kesennuma, Miyagi 1847 1850 — Hidenoyama
10 Unryū Kyūkichi 雲龍 久吉 7 Jinmaku Tokugawa shogunate Yanagawa, Fukuoka 1861 1865 Shiranui Oitekaze
11 Shiranui Kōemon 不知火 光右衛門 3 Sakaigawa Tokugawa shogunate Ōzu, Kumamoto 1863 1869 Unryū Minato
12 Jinmaku Kyūgorō 陣幕 久五郎 5 Hidenoyama Tokugawa shogunate Matsue, Shimane 1867 1867 — None
13 Kimenzan Tanigorō 鬼面山 谷五郎 7 Takekuma Empire of Japan Yōrō, Gifu 1869 1870 Shiranui None
14 Sakaigawa Namiemon 境川 浪右衛門 5 Sakaigawa Empire of Japan Ichikawa, Chiba 1877 1881 — Sakaigawa
15 Umegatani Tōtarō I 梅ケ谷 藤太郎 9 Tamagaki Empire of Japan Asakura, Fukuoka 1884 1885 — Ikazuchi
16 Nishinoumi Kajirō I 西ノ海 嘉治郎 (初代) 2 Takasago Empire of Japan Satsumasendai, Kagoshima 1890 1896 — Izutsu
17 Konishiki Yasokichi I 小錦 八十吉 7 Takasago Empire of Japan Yokoshibahikari, Chiba 1896 1901 — Hatachiyama
18 Ōzutsu Man'emon 大砲 万右衛門 2 Oguruma Empire of Japan Shiroishi, Miyagi 1901 1908 — Matsuchiyama
19 Hitachiyama Taniemon 常陸山 谷右衛門 8 Dewanoumi Empire of Japan Mito, Ibaraki 1903 1914 — Dewanoumi
20 Umegatani Tōtarō II 梅ヶ谷 藤太郎 (二代) 3 Ikazuchi Empire of Japan Toyama 1903 1915 Unryū Ikazuchi
21 Wakashima Gonshirō 若島 権四郎 4 Nakamura Empire of Japan Ichikawa, Chiba 1905 1907 — Wakashima ¤
22 Tachiyama Mineemon 太刀山 峰右衛門 11 Tomozuna Empire of Japan Toyama 1911 1918 Shiranui Azumazeki ¤
23 Ōkido Moriemon 大木戸 森右衛門 10 Minato Empire of Japan Kobe, Hyōgo 1912 1914 — Minato
24 Ōtori Tanigorō 鳳 谷五郎 2 Miyagino Empire of Japan Inzai, Chiba 1915 1920 Unryū Miyagino
25 Nishinoumi Kajirō II 西ノ海 嘉治郎 (二代) 1 Izutsu Empire of Japan Nishinoomote, Kagoshima 1916 1918 Unryū Izutsu
26 Ōnishiki Uichirō 大錦 卯一郎 5 Dewanoumi Empire of Japan Osaka 1917 1923 Unryū None
27 Tochigiyama Moriya 栃木山 守也 9 Dewanoumi Empire of Japan Tochigi 1918 1925 Unryū Kasugano
28 Ōnishiki Daigorō 大錦 大五郎 6 Asahiyama Empire of Japan Yatomi, Aichi 1918 1922 Unryū None
29 Miyagiyama Fukumatsu 宮城山 福松 6 Takadagawa Empire of Japan Ichinoseki, Iwate 1922 1931 Unryū Shibatayama
30 Nishinoumi Kajirō III 西ノ海 嘉治郎 (三代) 1 Izutsu Empire of Japan Kirishima, Kagoshima 1923 1928 Unryū Asakayama
31 Tsunenohana Kan'ichi 常ノ花 寛市 10 Dewanoumi Empire of Japan Okayama 1924 1930 Unryū Dewanoumi
32 Tamanishiki San'emon 玉錦 三右衛門 9 Nishonoseki Empire of Japan Kōchi 1932 1938 † Unryū None
33 Musashiyama Takeshi 武蔵山 武 1 Dewanoumi Empire of Japan Yokohama, Kanagawa 1935 1939 Unryū Dekiyama ¤
34 Minanogawa Tōzō 男女ノ川 登三 2 Sadogatake Empire of Japan Tsukuba, Ibaraki 1936 1942 Unryū Minanogawa ¤
35 Futabayama Sadaji 双葉山 定次 12 Tatsunami Empire of Japan Usa, Ōita 1937 1945 Unryū Tokitsukaze
36 Haguroyama Masaji 羽黒山 政司 7 Tatsunami Empire of Japan Niigata 1941 1953 Shiranui Tatsunami
37 Akinoumi Setsuo 安藝ノ海 節男 1 Dewanoumi Empire of Japan Hiroshima 1942 1946 Unryū Fujishima ¤
38 Terukuni Manzō 照國 万蔵 2 Isegahama Empire of Japan Yuzawa, Akita 1942 1953 Unryū Isegahama
39 Maedayama Eigorō 前田山 英五郎 1 Takasago Japan Yawatahama, Ehime 1947 1949 Unryū Takasago
40 Azumafuji Kin'ichi 東富士 欽壱 6 Takasago Japan Taitō, Tokyo 1948 1954 Unryū Nishikido ¤
41 Chiyonoyama Masanobu 千代の山 雅信 6 Dewanoumi Japan Fukushima, Hokkaido 1951 1959 Unryū Kokonoe
42 Kagamisato Kiyoji 鏡里 喜代治 4 Tokitsukaze Japan Sannohe, Aomori 1953 1958 Unryū Tatsutagawa
43 Yoshibayama Junnosuke 吉葉山 潤之輔 1 Takashima Japan Ishikari, Hokkaido 1954 1958 Shiranui Miyagino
44 Tochinishiki Kiyotaka 栃錦 清隆 10 Kasugano Japan Edogawa, Tokyo 1954 1960 Unryū Kasugano
45 Wakanohana Kanji I 若乃花 幹士 (初代) 10 Hanakago Japan Hirosaki, Aomori 1958 1962 Unryū Futagoyama
46 Asashio Tarō III 朝潮 太郎 5 Takasago Japan Tokunoshima, Kagoshima 1959 1962 Unryū Takasago
47 Kashiwado Tsuyoshi 柏戸 剛 5 Isenoumi Japan Tsuruoka, Yamagata 1961 1969 Unryū Kagamiyama
48 Taihō Kōki 大鵬 幸喜 32 Nishonoseki Japan Teshikaga, Hokkaido 1961 1971 Unryū Taihō
49 Tochinoumi Teruyoshi 栃ノ海 晃嘉 3 Kasugano Japan Inakadate, Aomori 1964 1966 Unryū Kasugano
50 Sadanoyama Shinmatsu 佐田の山 晋松 6 Dewanoumi Japan Shin-Kamigotō, Nagasaki 1965 1968 Unryū Nakadachi
51 Tamanoumi Masahiro 玉の海 正洋 6 Kataonami Japan Gamagōri, Aichi 1970 1971 † Shiranui None
52 Kitanofuji Katsuaki 北の富士 勝昭 10 Kokonoe Japan Asahikawa, Hokkaido 1970 1974 Unryū Jinmaku
53 Kotozakura Masakatsu 琴櫻 傑将 5 Sadogatake Japan Kurayoshi, Tottori 1973 1974 Shiranui Sadogatake
54 Wajima Hiroshi 輪島 大士 14 Hanakago Japan Nanao, Ishikawa 1973 1981 Unryū Hanakago ¤
55 Kitanoumi Toshimitsu 北の湖 敏満 24 Mihogaseki Japan Sōbetsu, Hokkaido 1974 1985 Unryū Kitanoumi
56 Wakanohana Kanji II 若乃花 幹士 (二代) 4 Futagoyama Japan Ōwani, Aomori 1978 1983 Unryū Magaki
57 Mienoumi Tsuyoshi 三重ノ海 剛司 3 Dewanoumi Japan Matsusaka, Mie 1979 1980 Unryū Musashigawa
58 Chiyonofuji Mitsugu 千代の富士 貢 31 Kokonoe Japan Fukushima, Hokkaido 1981 1991 Unryū Kokonoe
59 Takanosato Toshihide 隆の里 俊英 4 Futagoyama Japan Aomori 1983 1986 Shiranui Naruto
60 Futahaguro Kōji 双羽黒 光司 0 Tatsunami Japan Tsu, Mie 1986 1988 Shiranui None
61 Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi 北勝海 信芳 8 Kokonoe Japan Hiroo, Hokkaido 1987 1992 Unryū Hakkaku
62 Ōnokuni Yasushi 大乃国 康 2 Hanaregoma Japan Memuro, Hokkaido 1987 1991 Unryū Shibatayama
63 Asahifuji Seiya 旭富士 正也 4 Ōshima Japan Tsugaru, Aomori 1990 1992 Shiranui Isegahama
64 Akebono Tarō 曙 太郎 11 Azumazeki United States Oahu, Hawaii, United States 1993 2001 Unryū Akebono ¤
65 Takanohana Kōji 貴乃花 光司 22 Futagoyama Japan Nakano, Tokyo 1994 2003 Unryū Takanohana ¤
66 Wakanohana Masaru 若乃花 勝 5 Futagoyama Japan Nakano, Tokyo 1998 2000 Shiranui Fujishima ¤
67 Musashimaru Kōyō 武蔵丸 光洋 12 Musashigawa United States Oahu, Hawaii, United States 1999 2003 Unryū Musashigawa
68 Asashōryū Akinori 朝青龍 明徳 25 Takasago Mongolia Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 2003 2010 Unryū None
69 Hakuhō Shō 白鵬 翔 45 Miyagino Mongolia Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 2007 2021 Shiranui Miyagino
70 Harumafuji Kōhei 日馬富士 公平 9 Isegahama Mongolia Govi-Altai, Mongolia 2012 2017 Shiranui None
71 Kakuryū Rikisaburō 鶴竜 力三郎 6 Izutsu Mongolia Sükhbaatar, Mongolia 2014 2021 Unryū Otowayama
72 Kisenosato Yutaka 稀勢の里 寛 2 Tagonoura Japan Ushiku, Ibaraki 2017 2019 Unryū Nishonoseki
73 Terunofuji Haruo 照ノ富士 春雄 9 Isegahama Mongolia Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 2021 active Shiranui —

Timeline[edit]

Terunofuji HaruoKisenosato YutakaKakuryū RikisaburōHarumafuji KōheiHakuhō ShōAsashōryū AkinoriMusashimaru KōyōWakanohana MasaruTakanohana KōjiAkebono TarōAsahifuji SeiyaŌnokuni YasushiHokutoumi NobuyoshiKōji KitaoTakanosato ToshihideChiyonofuji MitsuguMienoumi TsuyoshiWakanohana Kanji IIKitanoumi ToshimitsuWajima HiroshiKotozakura MasakatsuKitanofuji KatsuakiTamanoumi MasahiroSadanoyama ShinmatsuTochinoumi TeruyoshiTaihō KōkiKashiwado TsuyoshiAsashio Tarō IIIWakanohana Kanji ITochinishiki KiyotakaYoshibayama JunnosukeKagamisato KiyojiChiyonoyama MasanobuAzumafuji Kin'ichiMaedayama EigorōTerukuni ManzōAkinoumi SetsuoHaguroyama MasajiFutabayama SadajiMinanogawa TōzōMusashiyama TakeshiTamanishiki San'emonTsunenohana Kan'ichiNishinoumi Kajirō IIIMiyagiyama FukumatsuŌnishiki DaigorōTochigiyama MoriyaŌnishiki UichirōNishinoumi Kajirō IIŌtori TanigorōŌkido MoriemonTachiyama MineemonWakashima GonshirōUmegatani Tōtarō IIHitachiyama TaniemonŌzutsu Man'emonKonishiki Yasokichi INishinoumi Kajirō IUmegatani Tōtarō ISakaigawa NamiemonKimenzan TanigorōJinmaku KyūgorōShiranui KōemonUnryū KyūkichiHidenoyama RaigorōShiranui DakuemonInazuma RaigorōŌnomatsu MidorinosukeOnogawa KisaburōTanikaze Kajinosuke

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ at the time of promotion
  2. ^ Modernized, as listed by the Japan Sumo Association
  3. ^ Yokozuna was not listed as a rank on the banzuke until 1890, so all promotion dates from the 4th yokozuna Tanikaze until the 16th Nishinoumi Kajirō I are in fact the date they were given a yokozuna licence by House of Yoshida Tsukasa, who controlled Tokyo based sumo. The first yokozuna, Akashi Shiganosuke, was awarded the title posthumously, and little is known about the careers of Ayagawa Gorōji and Maruyama Gondazaemon. The 21st yokozuna Wakashima, the 23rd Okido, the 28th Ōnishiki Daigorō and the 29th Miyagiyama competed in the rival Osaka based sumo organisation and were initially given licences by the House of Gojo. The date given is their official acceptance by the Tokyo House.
  4. ^ This column shows the name used as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association after retirement. Only the final elder name is listed; other names may have been used. For example, Sadanoyama was known as Dewanoumi for much of his time as an elder, and Kitanofuji as Kokonoe.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Hakuho: Sumo wrestling's greatest champion retires". Retrieved 2021-09-27.

External links[edit]

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