List of sumo tournament top division champions#1958 to present

{{Short description|none}}

File:Sumo Emperor Cup.JPG

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.

1958 to present

The first table below lists the champions since the six-tournament system was instituted in 1958.{{cite web

|title = List of successive champions(1956-1965)

|publisher = Nihon Sumo Kyokai

|url = http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/kiroku_daicho/yusho_rikishi/yusho_1956_1965.html

|access-date = 2007-06-05

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070517104837/http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/kiroku_daicho/yusho_rikishi/yusho_1956_1965.html

|archive-date = 2007-05-17

}} 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.{{cite web| title=Rules of Sumo: Tournament| publisher=Nihon Sumo Kyokai| url=http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_joho_kyoku/shiru/kiso_chishiki/beginners_guide/rules.html#tournament| access-date=2007-06-05| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601161839/http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_joho_kyoku/shiru/kiso_chishiki/beginners_guide/rules.html#tournament| archive-date=2007-06-01}}

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.

class="wikitable"
style="background:#efefef;"

! !! January !! March !! May!! July !! September !! November

year
in sumo

!Tokyo

!Osaka

!Tokyo

!Nagoya

!Tokyo

!Kyushu

2025Hōshōryū (2)Ōnosato (3)Ōnosato (4)
2024Terunofuji (9)TakerufujiŌnosato (1)Terunofuji (10)Ōnosato (2)Kotozakura II
2023Takakeishō (3)Kiribayama* (1)Terunofuji (8)Hōshōryū (1)Takakeishō (4)Kirishima II (2)
2022Mitakeumi (3)WakatakakageTerunofuji (7)IchinojōTamawashi (2)Abi
2021DaieishōTerunofuji (3){{efn|name=COVID19}}Terunofuji (4)Hakuhō (45)Terunofuji (5)Terunofuji (6)
2020TokushōryūHakuhō (44){{n/a|Not held}}{{efn|Tournament cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.}}Terunofuji (2){{efn|name=COVID19|Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, the tournament was held in Tokyo to avoid unnecessary domestic travel.}}ShōdaiTakakeishō (2){{efn|name=COVID19}}
2019Tamawashi (1)Hakuhō (42)AsanoyamaKakuryū (6)Mitakeumi (2)Hakuhō (43)
2018TochinoshinKakuryū (4)Kakuryū (5)Mitakeumi (1)Hakuhō (41)Takakeishō (1)
2017Kisenosato (1)Kisenosato (2)Hakuhō (38)Hakuhō (39)Harumafuji (9)Hakuhō (40)
2016KotoshōgikuHakuhō (36)Hakuhō (37)Harumafuji (8)GōeidōKakuryū (3)
2015Hakuhō (33)Hakuhō (34)Terunofuji (1)Hakuhō (35)Kakuryū (2)Harumafuji (7)
2014Hakuhō (28)Kakuryū (1)Hakuhō (29)Hakuhō (30)Hakuhō (31)Hakuhō (32)
2013Harumafuji (5)Hakuhō (24)Hakuhō (25)Hakuhō (26)Hakuhō (27)Harumafuji (6)
2012BarutoHakuhō (22)KyokutenhōHarumafuji (3)Harumafuji (4)Hakuhō (23)
2011Hakuhō (18){{n/a|Not held{{efn|Tournament cancelled due to the match-fixing scandal}}}}Hakuhō (19)Harumafuji (2)Hakuhō (20)Hakuhō (21)
2010Asashōryū (25)Hakuhō (13)Hakuhō (14)Hakuhō (15)Hakuhō (16)Hakuhō (17)
2009Asashōryū (23)Hakuhō (10)Harumafuji (1)Hakuhō (11)Asashōryū (24)Hakuhō (12)
2008Hakuhō (6)Asashōryū (22)KotoōshūHakuhō (7)Hakuhō (8)Hakuhō (9)
2007Asashōryū (20)Hakuhō (2)Hakuhō (3)Asashōryū (21)Hakuhō (4)Hakuhō (5)
2006Tochiazuma II (3)Asashōryū (16)Hakuhō (1)Asashōryū (17)Asashōryū (18)Asashōryū (19)
2005Asashōryū (10)Asashōryū (11)Asashōryū (12)Asashōryū (13)Asashōryū (14)Asashōryū (15)
2004Asashōryū (5)Asashōryū (6)Asashōryū (7)Asashōryū (8)Kaiō (5)Asashōryū (9)
2003Asashōryū (2)Chiyotaikai (3)Asashōryū (3)Kaiō (4)Asashōryū (4)Tochiazuma II (2)
2002Tochiazuma II (1)Musashimaru (10)Musashimaru (11)Chiyotaikai (2)Musashimaru (12)Asashōryū (1)
2001Takanohana II (21)Kaiō (2)Takanohana II (22)Kaiō (3)KotomitsukiMusashimaru (9)
2000MusōyamaTakatōrikiKaiō (1)Akebono (10)Musashimaru (8)Akebono (11)
1999Chiyotaikai (1)Musashimaru (4)Musashimaru (5)DejimaMusashimaru (6)Musashimaru (7)
1998Musashimaru (3)Wakanohana III (4)Wakanohana III (5)Takanohana II (19)Takanohana II (20)Kotonishiki (2)
1997Wakanohana III (3)Takanohana II (16)Akebono (9)Takanohana II (17)Takanohana II (18)Takanonami (2)
1996Takanonami (1)Takanohana II (12)Takanohana II (13)Takanohana II (14)Takanohana II (15)Musashimaru (2)
1995Takanohana II (8)Akebono (8)Takanohana II (9)Takanohana II (10)Takanohana II (11)Wakanohana III (2)
1994Takanohana II (4)Akebono (7)Takanohana II (5)Musashimaru (1)Takanohana II (6)Takanohana II (7)
1993Akebono (3)Wakahanada* (1)Takanohana II (3)Akebono (4)Akebono (5)Akebono (6)
1992Takahanada* (1)Konishiki (3)Akebono (1)MitoizumiTakahanada* (2)Akebono (2)
1991Kirishima IHokutoumi (8)Asahifuji (4)KotofujiKotonishiki (1)Konishiki (2)
1990Chiyonofuji (30)Hokutoumi (6)Asahifuji (2)Asahifuji (3)Hokutoumi (7)Chiyonofuji (31)
1989Hokutoumi (4)Chiyonofuji (27)Hokutoumi (5)Chiyonofuji (28)Chiyonofuji (29)Konishiki (1)
1988Asahifuji (1)Ōnokuni (2)Chiyonofuji (23)Chiyonofuji (24)Chiyonofuji (25)Chiyonofuji (26)
1987Chiyonofuji (20)Hokutoumi (2)Ōnokuni (1)Chiyonofuji (21)Hokutoumi (3)Chiyonofuji (22)
1986Chiyonofuji (15)Hoshi* (1)Chiyonofuji (16)Chiyonofuji (17)Chiyonofuji (18)Chiyonofuji (19)
1985Chiyonofuji (11)Asashio IVChiyonofuji (12)Hokuten'yū (2)Chiyonofuji (13)Chiyonofuji (14)
1984Takanosato (4)Wakashimazu (1)Kitanoumi (24)Wakashimazu (2)TagaryūChiyonofuji (10)
1983Kotokaze (2)Chiyonofuji (8)Hokuten'yū (1)Takanosato (2)Takanosato (3)Chiyonofuji (9)
1982Kitanoumi (23)Chiyonofuji (4)Chiyonofuji (5)Chiyonofuji (6)Takanosato (1)Chiyonofuji (7)
1981Chiyonofuji (1)Kitanoumi (21)Kitanoumi (22)Chiyonofuji (2)Kotokaze (1)Chiyonofuji (3)
1980Mienoumi (3)Kitanoumi (18)Kitanoumi (19)Kitanoumi (20)Wakanohana II (4)Wajima (14)
1979Kitanoumi (15)Kitanoumi (16)Wakanohana II (3)Wajima (13)Kitanoumi (17)Mienoumi (2)
1978Kitanoumi (10)Kitanoumi (11)Kitanoumi (12)Kitanoumi (13)Kitanoumi (14)Wakanohana II (2)
1977Wajima (10)Kitanoumi (8)Wakamisugi II* (1)Wajima (11)Kitanoumi (9)Wajima (12)
1976Kitanoumi (5)Wajima (8)Kitanoumi (6)Wajima (9)Kaiketsu (2)Kitanoumi (7)
1975Kitanoumi (3)Takanohana I (1)Kitanoumi (4)Kongō (1)Takanohana I (2)Mienoumi (1)
1974Kitanoumi (1)Wajima (5)Kitanoumi (2)Wajima (6)Wajima (7)Kaiketsu (1)
1973Kotozakura (4)Kitanofuji (10)Wajima (2)Kotozakura (5)Wajima (3)Wajima (4)
1972Tochiazuma IHasegawaWajima (1)Takamiyama IIKitanofuji (9)Kotozakura (3)
1971Taihō (32)Tamanoumi II (5)Kitanofuji (6)Tamanoumi II (6)Kitanofuji (7)Kitanofuji (8)
1970Kitanofuji (3)Taihō (31)Kitanofuji (4)Kitanofuji (5)Tamanoumi II (3)Tamanoumi II (4)
1969Taihō (29)Kotozakura (2)Taihō (30)KiyokuniTamanoshima* (2)Kitanofuji (2)
1968Sadanoyama (6)WakanamiTamanoshima* (1)Kotozakura (1)Taihō (27)Taihō (28)
1967Taihō (24)Kitanofuji (1)Taihō (25)Kashiwado (5)Taihō (26)Sadanoyama (5)
1966Kashiwado (4)Taihō (19)Taihō (20)Taihō (21)Taihō (22)Taihō (23)
1965Sadanoyama (3)Taihō (16)Sadanoyama (4)Taihō (17)Kashiwado (3)Taihō (18)
1964Taihō (12)Taihō (13)Tochinoumi (3)FujinishikiTaihō (14)Taihō (15)
1963Taihō (9)Taihō (10)Taihō (11)KitabayamaKashiwado (2)Tochinoumi (2)
1962Taihō (5)Sadanoyama (2)Tochinoumi (1)Taihō (6)Taihō (7)Taihō (8)
1961Kashiwado (1)Asashio III (5)Sadanoyama (1)Taihō (2)Taihō (3)Taihō (4)
1960Tochinishiki (10)Wakanohana I (8)Wakamisugi IWakanohana I (9)Wakanohana I (10)Taihō (1)
1959Wakanohana I (5)Tochinishiki (8)Wakanohana I (6)Tochinishiki (9)Wakanohana I (7)Wakahaguro
1958Wakanohana I (2)Asashio III (3)Tochinishiki (7)Wakanohana I (3)Wakanohana I (4)Asashio III (4)

{{notelist}}

*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 the 2nd Kirishima.


1909 to 1957

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.

class="wikitable"
style="background:#efefef;"

! !! January !! March !! May!! September !! November

!Tokyo

!Osaka

!Tokyo

!Tokyo

!Kyushu

1957Chiyonoyama (6)Asashio III (2)AnnenyamaTochinishiki (6)Tamanoumi I (1)

class="wikitable"
style="background:#efefef;"

! !! New Year !!Spring !! Summer!!Autumn

!Tokyo

!Osaka

!Tokyo

!Tokyo

1956Kagamisato (3)Asashio III (1)Wakanohana I (1)Kagamisato (4)
1955Chiyonoyama (4)Chiyonoyama (5)Tochinishiki (5)Kagamisato (2)
1954YoshibayamaMitsuneyamaTochinishiki (3)Tochinishiki (4)
1953Kagamisato (1)Tochinishiki (2)TokitsuyamaAzumafuji (6)

class="wikitable"
style="background:#efefef;"

! !!Spring !! Summer!!Autumn

!Tokyo

!Tokyo

!Tokyo

1952Haguroyama (7)Azumafuji (5)Tochinishiki (1)
1951Terukuni (2)Chiyonoyama (3)Azumafuji (4)
1950Chiyonoyama (2)Azumafuji (3)Terukuni (1)
1949Azumafuji (2)Masuiyama (2)Chiyonoyama (1)
1948no tournamentAzumafuji (1)Masuiyama (1)
1947no tournamentHaguroyama (5)Haguroyama (6)
1946no tournamentno tournamentHaguroyama (4)
1945no tournamentBishūyamaHaguroyama (3)
1944SaganohanaHaguroyama (2)Maedayama
1943Futabayama (11)Futabayama (12)no tournament
1942Futabayama (9)Futabayama (10)no tournament
1941Futabayama (8)Haguroyama (1)no tournament
1940Futabayama (7)Akinoumino tournament
1939Dewaminato (1)Futabayama (6)no tournament
1938Futabayama (4)Futabayama (5)no tournament
1937Futabayama (2)Futabayama (3)no tournament
1936Tamanishiki (9)Futabayama (1)no tournament
1935Tamanishiki (7)Tamanishiki (8)no tournament
1934Minanogawa (2)Shimizugawa (3)no tournament
1933Asashio** (1)Tamanishiki (6)no tournament

class="wikitable"
style="background:#efefef;"

! !! Spring !!March !! Summer!!October

!Tokyo

!varied

!Tokyo

!varied

1932Shimizugawa (1)OkitsuumiTamanishiki (5)Shimizugawa (2)
1931Tamanishiki (3)Tamanishiki (4)MusashiyamaAyazakura
1930Toyokuni (2)Tsunenohana (10)YamanishikiTamanishiki (2)
1929Tamanishiki (1)Toyokuni (1)Tsunenohana (8)Tsunenohana* (9)
1928HitachiiwaNoshirogataTsunenohana (7)Miyagiyama (2)
1927Miyagiyama (1)Tsunenohana (4)Tsunenohana (5)Tsunenohana (6)

{{cite web | title=The Sumo Record Book | publisher=Nihon Sumo Kyokai | url=http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/kiroku_daicho/index.html | access-date=2007-06-05 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524224149/http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/kiroku_daicho/index.html | archive-date=2007-05-24 }}

*tournament held in September

class="wikitable"
style="background:#efefef;"

! !!Spring!!Summer

1926Tsunenohana (3)Orochiyama
1925Tochigiyama (9)Nishinoumi III (1)
1924Tochigiyama (7)Tochigiyama (8)
1923Tochigiyama (6)Tsunenohana (2)
1922TsurugahamaŌnishiki (5)
1921Ōnishiki (4)Tsunenohana (1)
1920Ōnishiki (2)Ōnishiki (3)
1919Tochigiyama (4)Tochigiyama (5)
1918Tochigiyama (2)Tochigiyama (3)
1917Ōnishiki (1)Tochigiyama (1)
1916Nishinoumi II (1)Tachiyama (9)
1915Ōtori (2)Tachiyama (8)
1914Tachiyama (7)Ryōgoku
1913Ōtori (1)Tachiyama (6)
1912Tachiyama (4)Tachiyama (5)
1911Tachiyama (2)Tachiyama (3)
1910Hitachiyama (1)Tachiyama (1)
1909see below*Takamiyama I

{{cite web | title = Sumo Reference Database

| publisher=Sumo Reference Database | url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Yusho.aspx| access-date=2011-07-20}}

*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

Most career championships

{{col-begin}}{{col-2}}

;Official (since 1909){{Cite web | url=http://www.chijanofuji.com/Records.html | title=Sumo Records }}

{{col-begin}}{{col-2}}

class="wikitable"

|+Champions with >10 wins

NameTotalYears
1

| Hakuhō ||45 ||2006–21

2

| Taihō ||32 ||1960–71

3

| Chiyonofuji ||31 ||1981–90

4

| Asashōryū ||25 ||2002–10

5

| Kitanoumi ||24 ||1974–84

6

| Takanohana II ||22 ||1992–2001

7

| Wajima ||14 ||1972–80

rowspan=2|8

| Futabayama ||12 ||1936–43

Musashimaru121994–2002
10

| Akebono ||11 ||1992–2000

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable"

|+Champions with 8–10 wins

NameTotalYears
rowspan=5|11

| Tsunenohana ||10 ||1921–30

Tochinishiki101952–60
Wakanohana I101956–60
Kitanofuji101966–73
Terunofuji102015–24
rowspan=4|16

| Tachiyama || 9*Tachiyama won two unofficial championships before 1909 and nine official, giving him a total of 11. || 1904–16

Tochigiyama91917–25
Tamanishiki91929–36
Harumafuji92009–17
rowspan=2|20

| Hokutoumi || 8 || 1986–91

{{col-end}}

{{col-2}}

;Unofficial (before 1909)

class="wikitable"

|+Top champions before 1909

NameTotalYearsHighest rank
1

| Raiden ||28 ||1790–1810 || Ōzeki

2

| Tanikaze ||21 ||1772–93 || Yokozuna

3

| Kashiwado ||16 ||1812–22 || Ōzeki

4

| Inazuma || 10 || 1824–37 || Yokozuna

rowspan=2|5

| Hitachiyama || 9*Tachiyama won an official championship in 1910.|| 1899–1910 || Yokozuna

Umegatani I91874–84Yokozuna

{{col-end}}^Wrestler is currently active.

See also

References