List of past sumo wrestlers

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This is a list of past wrestlers (either retired or deceased) in the sport of professional sumo. They are listed in order by the era that they made their professional debuts. The information listed below was gleaned from the wrestlers' individual articles, refer to their links for more details.

1 1600s
2 1700s
3 1800s
4 1900-1909
5 1910s
6 1920s
7 1930s
8 1940s
9 1950s
10 1960s
11 1970s
12 1980s
13 1990s
14 See also

[edit] 1600s

Fighting name	Years active	Highest rank	Career and other notes
Akashi Shiganosuke	1624?-1643?	Yokozuna	yokozuna status conferred centuries later, historical existence disputed

[edit] 1700s

Fighting name	Years active	Highest rank	Career and other notes
Ayagawa Gorōji	1715?-1725?	Yokozuna	yokozuna status historically conferred, actual yokozuna license never proven
Maruyama Gondazaemon	1735?-1749	Yokozuna	yokozuna status historically conferred, died while an active wrestler
Miyagino Nishikinosuke	1766-1796	Sekiwake	oldest top division wrestler at the age of 52, first Miyagino stablemaster
Tanikaze	1769-1795	Yokozuna	streak of 63 wins held for 150 years, died while active
Onogawa Kisaburō	1779?-1798	Yokozuna	first yokozuna to perform dohyo-iri along with Tanikaze
Raiden	1790-1811	Ōzeki	considered one of the best wrestlers ever, but never promoted to Yokozuna, possibly for political reasons

[edit] 1800s

Fighting name	Years active	Highest rank	Career and other notes
Kashiwado Risuke	1806-1825	Ōzeki	rejected a yokozuna license to avoid conflict between prominent families
Ōnomatsu Midorinosuke	1815-1835	Yokozuna	fighting style was often criticized
Inazuma	1821-1839	Yokozuna	received yokozuna licenses by Gojo family and Yoshida family
Hidenoyama Raigorō	1828-1850	Yokozuna	shortest yokozuna ever, wrestlers outside his stable once staged a strike against his authority
Shiranui Dakuemon	1830-1844	Yokozuna	coach of Shiranui Kōemon
Unryū Kyūkichi	1847-1865	Yokozuna	unryū dohyō-iri style named for him
Jinmaku	1850-1867	Yokozuna	erected monument to former yokozuna, first time first 3 yokozuna recognized
Shiranui Kōemon	1850-1869	Yokozuna	considered the actual innovator of the unryū dohyō-iri style
Kimenzan Tanigorō	1852-1870	Yokozuna	at 43 oldest wrestler ever to be promoted to yokozuna
Sakaigawa Namiemon	1857-1881	Yokozuna	a number of dubious yokozuna titles were awarded in his period, diluting the integrity of the title, his title is the only one from his time still recognized
Umegatani I	1871-1885	Yokozuna	died at 83, longest lived yokozuna after retirement, helped build first Ryōgoku Kokugikan
Nishinoumi Kajirō I	1882-1896	Yokozuna	first wrestler actually listed on banzuke at the rank of yokozuna
Konishiki Yasokichi I	1883-1901	Yokozuna	although competitive, never won a championship as yokozuna
Ōzutsu Man'emon	1885-1908	Yokozuna	strength greatly declined after fighting in Russo-Japanese War
Onigatani Saiji	1886-1907	Komusubi	retired from active sumo at age of 51
Wakashima	1891-1907	Yokozuna	first official yokozuna from Osaka sumo, retired young due to a cycling accident
Hitachiyama	1892-1914	Yokozuna	last wrestler to win over .900 of his bouts in top division, considered to be the most honorable yokozuna ever by many, did much to increase the popularity of sumo
Umegatani II	1892-1915	Yokozuna	youngest ever yokozuna at that time
Takamiyama Torinosuke	1895-1913	Sekiwake	won first officially recognized sumo top division championship
Tamatsubaki Kentaro	1897-1916	Sekiwake	at 158 cm, the shortest wrestler in history
Ōnishiki Daigorō	1898-1922	Yokozuna

[edit] 1900-1909

Fighting name	Years active	Highest rank	Career and other notes
Ōkido Moriemon	1899-1914	Yokozuna	only yokozuna who spent his whole career in Osaka sumo
Nishinoumi Kajirō II	1900-1918	Yokozuna	oldest yokozuna in the 20th century, committed suicide later in life
Tachiyama	1900-1918	Yokozuna	never had a losing tournament in 18 year career, only lost 3 bouts as a yokozuna
Ōtori Tanigorō	1903-1920	Yokozuna	has a monument built for him in Inzai, Chiba
Ryōgoku Yūjirō	1909-1924	Sekiwake	only wrestler to win the top division on his first attempt since the 1909 yusho system was established

[edit] 1910s

Fighting name	Years active	Highest rank	Career and other notes
Ōnishiki Uichirō	1910-1923	Yokozuna	reached Yokozuna after only 5 top division tournaments which is an all time record, trained under Hitachiyama
Nishinoumi Kajirō III	1910-1928	Yokozuna	promoted to yokozuna without winning any championships, which caused controversy
Tsunenohana	1910-1930	Yokozuna	attempted suicide as a sumo elder after being blamed for JSA troubles
Miyagiyama	1910-1931	Yokozuna	achieved fame in Osaka, helped save integrity of much maligned Osaka sumo by achieving success in Tokyo after Osaka sumo was disbanded
Tochigiyama	1911-1925	Yokozuna	lost only 3 bouts in rise to top division, ended the 56 victory streak of Tachiyama
Shimizugawa	1917-1937	Ōzeki	won three top division championships, but never promoted to yokozuna
Tamanishiki	1919-1938	Yokozuna	one of very few top division wrestlers who did not walk out in a strike, later brought great success to Nishonoseki stable as head

[edit] 1920s

Fighting name	Years active	Highest rank	Career and other notes
Minanogawa Tōzō	1924-1942	Yokozuna
Musashiyama Takeshi	1926-1939	Yokozuna	promotion considered controversial by some
Futabayama	1927-1945	Yokozuna	won 69 consecutive bouts, the longest run in the history of sumo, after retirement admitted was blind in one eye
Maedayama	1929-1949	Yokozuna	former head of Takasago stable

[edit] 1930s

Fighting name	Years active	Highest rank	Career and other notes
Akinoumi Setsuo	1932-1946	Yokozuna	ended the 69 bout win streak of Futabayama
Haguroyama	1934-1953	Yokozuna	longest serving yokozuna in history at 12 years, 3 months
Terukuni	1935-1953	Yokozuna	youngest yokozuna ever until Taihō
Azumafuji Kin'ichi	1936-1954	Yokozuna	first yokozuna to turn to pro-wrestling after retiring
Tamanoumi Daitaro	1937-1961	Sekiwake	first wrestler to wear a brightly colored mawashi, flouting JSA rules and won first championship with 15-0 record while wearing it, had 9 gold stars in career
Toyonishiki	1938-1945	Maegashira 17	first Japanese-American to reach the top division
Yoshibayama	1938-1958	Yokozuna	though successful, he overall ability was hindered by injuries from World War II before he entered sumo
Tochinishiki	1939-1960	Yokozuna	know for small size and his tenacity, once fought back from seven straight losses to win his kachi-kōshi

[edit] 1940s

Fighting name	Years active	Highest rank	Career and other notes
Rikidōzan	1940-1950	Sekiwake	after retiring, moved on to become "the father of pro-wrestling in Japan"
Kagamisato	1941-1958	Yokozuna	died at age 80, one of the longest lived former yokozuna
Chiyonoyama	1942-1959	Yokozuna	founded Kokonoe stable
Wakanohana	1946-1962	Yokozuna	former head of JSA,one of lighest yokozuna, older brother of Takanohana Kenshi
Tsurugamine	1947-1967	Sekiwake	holds record for most technique prizes at 10, had ten gold stars
Asashio III	1948-1962	Yokozuna	former head of Takasago stable
Wakahaguro	1949-1965	Ōzeki	died of stroke after retiring at age 34

[edit] 1950s

Fighting name	Years active	Highest rank	Career and other notes
Annenyama	1950-1965	Sekiwake	former head of Tatsunami stable, earned 10 gold stars
Fujinishiki	1953-1968	Komusubi	former head of Takasago stable, coached Konishiki, Mitoizumi to top division
Kitabayama	1954-1966	Ōzeki
Kashiwado	1954-1969	Yokozuna	former director of JSA, overshadowed by rival Taiho
Wakamisugi	1955-1967	Sekiwake
Tochinoumi	1955-1966	Yokozuna	former head of Kasugano stable, one of lightest yokozuna ever
Sadanoyama	1956-1968	Yokozuna	former head of JSA
Kiyokuni	1956-1974	Ōzeki	former head of Isegahama stable
Taiho	1956-1971	Yokozuna	won all time record 32 championships, at the time was youngest yokozuna ever at 21
Kitanofuji	1957-1974	Yokozuna	former head of Kokonoe stable, coached Chiyonofuji and Hokutoumi to yokozuna
Ryūko	1957-1975	Komusubi	after retiring, found success as a TV actor
Wakanami	1957-1972	Komusubi	only 103 kg at peak weight
Daikirin	1958-1974	Ōzeki	sumo elder until June 2006
Kotozakura	1959-1974	Yokozuna	was head of Sadogatake stable during a very successful period
Tamanoumi Masahiro	1959-1971	Yokozuna	died during surgery while an active yokozuna

[edit] 1960s

Fighting name	Years active	Highest rank	Career and other notes
Hasegawa	1960-1976	Sekiwake	unusually, kept his family name as his fighting name, current director of the Nagoya tournament for the JSA
Tochiazuma Tomoyori	1960-1977	Sekiwake	won ten special prizes, father of Ōzeki Tochiazuma
Maenoyama	1961-1974	Ōzeki	Korean descent, broke his stable off from Ichimon to become independent
Yutakayama	1961-1968	Ōzeki	runner-up for top division championship 8 times, former head of Tokitsukaze stable and JSA
Oshio	1962-1988	Komusubi	all time record for most bouts ever fought
Asahikuni	1963-1979	Ōzeki	won 6 technique prizes, broke off to form own stable, Oshima stable
Mienoumi\|	1963-1980	Yokozuna	took all time record 97 tournaments to reach yokozuna
Futatsuryu Junichi	1963-1982	Komusubi	former Tokitsukaze stable head, stripped of position and arrested over hazing death scandal
Tenryu	1963-1976	Maegashira #1	after a dispute with the JSA, went on to be a pro-wrestler
Takamiyama	1964-1984	Sekiwake	first foreigner to win top division, holds many longevity records, held the gold star record until Akinoshima
Kongō	1964-1976	Sekiwake	now head of Nishonoseki stable
Daiju	1965-1977	Ōzeki	briefly held Ōzeki rank, now head of Asahiyama stable
Takanohana I	1965-1981	Ōzeki	held Ōzeki rank for then record 50 tournaments, father of Yokozuna Takanohana II and Wakanohana III
Kaiketsu	1966-1979	Ōzeki	two-time Ozeki, now head of Hanaregoma stable
Kitanoumi	1967-1985	Yokozuna	won 24 tournament titles, now head of JSA
Masuiyama	1967-1981	Ōzeki	at 31, oldest wrestler promoted to Ōzeki until Kotomitsuki in modern era
Washuyama	1967-1985	Sekiwake	small wrestler, popular with tournament crowds, now head of Dewanoumi stable
Takanosato	1968-1986	Yokozuna	late bloomer who became Yokozuna at nearly 31 years, now head of Naruto stable
Wakanohana II	1968-1983	Yokozuna	now head of Magaki stable

[edit] 1970s

Fighting name	Years active	Highest rank	Career and other notes
Wajima	1970-1981	Yokozuna	only former collegiate sumo wrestler promoted to yokozuna, or to keep his family name as his fighting name, later became a pro wrestler
Chiyonofuji	1970-1991	Yokozuna	tournament wins second only to Taihō, won more championships than any other yokozuna in his thirties, continued to triumph though older and lighter than most opponents, holds record for most top division bouts won, and most bouts won overall
Kotokaze	1971-1985	Ōzeki	set up own somewhat successful stable, Oguruma, often a commentator on sumo for NHK
Tagaryu	1974-1991	Sekiwake	once won a top division championship while a low ranked maegashira facing demotion, has exactly one championship in the top four of six divisions
Kirishima	1975-1996	Ōzeki	took 91 tournaments for promotion to ōzeki, an all time record
Onoumi	1975-1977	Maegashira #4	retired to become a pro wrestler
Wakashimazu	1975-1987	Ōzeki	started sumo after high school, which is unusually late; nicknamed "Black Panther" by fans for his good looks and lean figure
Hokutenyu	1976-1990	Ōzeki	one of the longest serving ōzeki, had storied rivalry with Chiyonfuji; his stable was folded into Kitanoumi stable upon his death
Sakahoko	1978-1992	Sekiwake	served in top division at the same time as his brother Terao, a very rare occurrence; record for longest serving sekiwake
Asashio IV	1978-1989	Ōzeki	director of JSA until February 2008
Mitoizumi	1978-2000	Sekiwake	fan favorite known for throwing a huge handful of salt in pre-bout ritual, retired at the late age of 38
Onokuni	1978-1991	Yokozuna	often plagued by injury, also suffered from sleep apnea, published an autobiography in 2008
Itai	1978-1991	Komusubi	after retirement, made allegations of match-fixing
Futahaguro	1979-1987	Yokozuna	only yokozuna to have never won a top division championship
Hokutoumi	1979-1992	Yokozuna	once one of four yokozuna, after his retirement the rank was vacant for 8 months until Akebono
Kotogaume	1979-1997	Sekiwake	last to defeat Chiyonofuji before his 53 win streak
Masurao	1979-1990	Sekiwake	had a record 5 Jūryō championships
Terao	1979-2002	Sekiwake	has a long sumo pedigree, holds a number of longevity records
Takanofuji	1979-1992	Komusubi	stablemate of Chiyonofuji and Hokutoumi, now a professional wrestler

[edit] 1980s

Fighting name	Years active	Highest rank	Career and other notes
Kotofuji	1980-1995	Sekiwake	won a tournament championship from the maegashira ranks
Kyokudozan	1980-1996	Komusubi	known for light weight, later became a politician
Asahifuji	1981-1992	Yokozuna	his Ajigawa stable has produced the successful sekiwake Ama and Aminishiki.
Akinoshima	1982-2003	Sekiwake	all time gold star record holder, 25% more than closest rival
Konishiki	1982-1997	Ōzeki	at 265 kilos, the heaviest wrestler ever, first foreign ōzeki, now a widely popular celebrity
Takatoriki	1983-2002	Sekiwake	record for most fighting spirit prizes, most gold stars against one opponent, Akebono; won his only top division championship while just above the demotion line
Ichinoya	1983-2007	Sandanme #6	studied physics at university, retired at 46
Kotonishiki	1984-2000	Sekiwake	only wrestler ever to win two championships at maegashira
Kotonowaka	1984-2005	Sekiwake	known for his countering techniques, and especially long bouts
Nankairyu	1984-1988	Maegashira #2	3rd foreign wrestler to reach the top division, career short and troubled
Kenko	1984-1998	Komusubi	career ended early by extremely rare form of leukemia
Ryogoku	1985-1993	Sekiwake	currently head of one of the strongest stables, Sakaigawa
Tochinowaka	1985-1999	Sekiwake	current head of Kasugano stable
Kototenzan	1985-1986	Makushita #43	found success early, but retired due to inability to adjust to sumo/Japanese life; later became pro wrestler
Kotoryu	1987-2005	Maegashira #1	one of many top wrestlers at Sadogatake stable in the 1990s
Takanonami	1987-2004	Ōzeki	had longest single wrestler rivalry in history with Musashimaru, often appears on television due to accessible personality
Takamishu	1987-1989	Makushita #2	Early star from Azumazeki stable before being overshadowed by stablemate Akebono
Hoshitango	1987-2004	Jūryō #3	first Jew in sumo, now a professional wrestler
Akebono	1988-2001	Yokozuna	first foreign yokozuna, later became a pro wrestler
Takanohana II	1988-2003	Yokozuna	long sumo pedigree, currently tied with Asashoryu at 22 tournament wins
Wakanohana III	1988-2000	Yokozuna	brother of Takanohana II, never won a tournament as yokozuna, now operates a chain of chankonabe restaurants
Wakanoyama	1988-2005	Komusubi	after demotion out of top division, fought his way back up after a record long 28 tournaments
Rikio	1988-1997	Maegashira #4	now a pro wrestler
Sentōryū	1988-2003	Maegashira #12	from St. Louis Missouri, only top division wrestler ever from mainland USA
Kōbō	1989-2007	Maegashira #9	top wrestler at Miyagino stable before the emergence of Hakuho
Hidenokuni Hajime	1989-1990	Jonidan #89	first and only wrestler from the UK, short career
Musashimaru	1989-2003	Yokozuna	born in Samoa and raised in Hawaii; second foreign yokozuna; injury free until near end of career

[edit] 1990s

Fighting name	Years active	Highest rank	Career and other notes
Daishoho	1990-1999	Komusubi	career ended early due to pancreatic cancer
Mainoumi	1990-1999	Komusubi	very popular for small size and variety of techniques, now a popular TV personality and sumo announcer
Yamato Gō	1990-1998	Maegashira #12	after short career in sumo, started his own restaurant in Roppongi, Tokyo
Toki	1991-2006	Komusubi	known for distinctive sideburns, and later a bright orange mawashi, involved in an auto accident scandal
Chiyotenzan	1991-2008	Komusubi	after quick rise to komusubi, eventually fell to the second lowest rank ever held by a former sanyaku wrestler
Asanowaka	1992-2005	Maegashira #1	the wrestler with the most wins in top division who never made sanyaku, popular with crowds for his ringside antics
Rikio	1992-1997	Maegashira #4	though successful in sumo, retired early to become a pro wrestler
Kyokushuzan	1992-2006	Komusubi	first of a group of Mongolian wrestlers to make the top division, had an all record 58 tournaments at Maegashira
Kyokutenzan	1992-2007	Makushita #13	achieved only minor success, suspected of being involved in match-fixing
Shunketsu	1992-2008	Maegashira #12
Takanowaka	1992-2007	Sekiwake	father was a pro baseball player
Musoyama	1993-2004	Ōzeki
Tochisakae	1993-2008	Maegashira #1
Oga	1993-2007	Jūryō #6	long serving bow-twirler at end of every tournament day
Wakatoba	1993-2007	Maegashira #11
Tochiazuma	1994-2007	Ōzeki	won 12 special prizes, seven for technique, first wrestler since Kiyokuni to win top division in ōzeki debut
Tochinohana	1995-2008	Komusubi
Tokitsuumi	1996-2007	Maegashira #3	long time Maegashira, retired to take over Tokitsukaze stable after former head removed over hazing death scandal
Buyuzan	1997-2007	Maegashira #1
Hayateumi	1998-2006	Sekiwake	very promising career hampered and eventually ended by injury
Kaido	1998-2006	Jūryō #4

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