About Grand Sumo
About Grand Sumo
What is Grand Sumo?
Grand Sumo (ōzumō) is Japan's national sport — professional sumo wrestling organized by the Nippon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association). Six official tournaments, called basho, are held each year in cities across Japan. Rikishi compete in ranked divisions, and their performance determines promotions and demotions on the banzuke ranking list issued before each tournament.
The Basho
Each basho lasts 15 days of wrestling. About two weeks before the first day, the banzuke is published showing every rikishi's rank for that tournament. During the basho, rikishi wrestle one bout per day in the top divisions (more in lower divisions). Win-loss-absent records are tracked throughout. On the final day, division champions are crowned and special prizes are awarded in the top division.
The Six Annual Tournaments
| Basho | Month | City |
|---|---|---|
| Hatsu Basho | January | Tokyo |
| Haru Basho | March | Osaka |
| Natsu Basho | May | Tokyo |
| Nagoya Basho | July | Nagoya |
| Aki Basho | September | Tokyo |
| Kyushu Basho | November | Fukuoka |
Divisions
Rikishi are grouped into six divisions, from the elite Makuuchi down to Jonokuchi for newcomers.
- Makuuchi — The top division with 42 rikishi. Yūshō championships and sanshō prizes are awarded here.
- Juryō — The second division and the first salaried rank. Juryō rikishi receive a stipend and wear keshō-mawashi.
- Makushita — The third division. A perfect 7-0 record can earn promotion to Juryō.
- Sandanme — The fourth division, typically with around 200 rikishi across east and west groups.
- Jonidan — The fifth division for rikishi climbing through the ranks.
- Jonokuchi — The entry-level division for rikishi making their professional debut.
Ranks and the Banzuke
The banzuke lists every active rikishi from Yokozuna (grand champion) down through each division. Within each rank, rikishi are split into East (higashi) and West (nishi) sides — east-side rikishi are considered slightly superior at the same rank. Ranks move up or down after each basho based on win-loss records. The banzuke is published about two weeks before each tournament begins.
Championships and Prizes
- Yūshō — The tournament championship, awarded to the rikishi with the most wins in their division. In Makuuchi, ties are settled in playoff bouts on the final day.
- Jun-yūshō — Runner-up when two rikishi finish tied for the championship without a playoff.
- Sanshō — Three special prizes in Makuuchi: Fighting Spirit (kantō-shō), Outstanding Performance (shōgun-shō), and Technique (ginō-shō). Usually awarded to rikishi with at least 8 wins.
- Kinboshi — A "gold star" awarded to a Maegashira-ranked rikishi who defeats a Yokozuna or Ōzeki during the tournament.