Yokozuna profiles, tournament guides, how sumo works — everything a foreign fan needs, all in one place. Updated for the 2026 Haru Basho.
Sumo is Japan's national sport and one of the oldest athletic traditions in the world, with roots stretching back over 1,500 years to ancient Shinto rituals. Two wrestlers (rikishi) face off inside a 4.55-meter clay ring (dohyo), and the first to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of their feet, or step outside the ring, loses. Bouts typically last just a few seconds — but those seconds are packed with explosive power, razor-sharp technique, and decades of training.
Professional sumo holds six tournaments (basho) per year — three in Tokyo (January, May, September), and one each in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July), and Fukuoka (November). Each tournament lasts 15 days, and the wrestler with the best record wins the Emperor's Cup. The ranking system (banzuke) is ruthlessly meritocratic: win and you rise, lose and you fall. There are no contracts, no trades, no salary caps — just results.
At the top sits the Yokozuna — the grand champion. Only 74 wrestlers in all of history have held this rank. Below that: Ozeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi, Maegashira, and then the lower divisions where hundreds of young wrestlers fight their way up. SumoSumoSumo covers it all — from the Yokozuna to the newest recruits at Futagoyama Stable.
The 2026 sumo season has already delivered dramatic storylines. Onosato, promoted to Yokozuna at just 24 years old, is redefining what it means to dominate the sport. His rival Hoshoryu — nephew of the legendary Asashoryu — brings a completely different style: acrobatic throws, calculated aggression, and a flair for the dramatic. Their head-to-head battles are must-watch television.
Meanwhile, the lower divisions are producing future stars. At Futagoyama Stable, Rohga has broken into the Makuuchi (top division) ranks and is the pride of the stable. Mita — a former World Junior champion — is recovering from injury and eyeing a return to the top. And 16-year-old Shunta, youngest of the three Soma brothers all training at the same stable, represents the next generation of sumo talent.
Whether you're a seasoned sumo fan or watching your first bout, this is one of the most exciting eras in the sport's history. Explore our guides below to get started.
Japan's newest Yokozuna. Rising through the ranks at unprecedented speed — the story behind sumo's hottest new champion.
Read profile →Nephew of the legendary Asashoryu. Acrobatic throws and fearless ring strategy make him one of the most exciting wrestlers alive.
Read profile →Dropped to the lowest division with broken knees, then climbed back to Yokozuna. One of the greatest comeback stories in sports history.
Read profile →45 tournament titles. The undisputed greatest sumo wrestler of all time — his records may never be broken.
Read profile →The only wrestler in history to win all 6 tournaments in a single year. Brilliant, controversial, unforgettable.
Read profile →Japan waited 19 years for a Japanese-born Yokozuna. Kisenosato ended that drought — then fought on through injury until the very end.
Read profile →The fastest Yokozuna of his era. 9 championships with lightning speed and technique — and one of sumo's most controversial retirements.
Read profile →The quiet master. 6 titles won with calm intelligence and a signature utchari (reverse throw) that rivals still talk about.
Read profile →31 championships. 53-bout win streak. The most iconic physique in sumo history. Japan's undisputed hero of the 1980s.
Read profile →Rules, ranks, tournaments, the ring, gyoji, stables — a complete primer for first-time sumo fans.
Read guide →All 6 divisions from Yokozuna to Jonokuchi. How promotion and demotion work, and how to read the banzuke.
Read guide →From ancient Shinto ritual to Japan's national sport — 1,500 years of sumo history in one article.
Read guide →Kimarite — the official winning moves of sumo. From the common yorikiri to the ultra-rare koshinage.
Read guide →Chankonabe, 8,000-calorie days, the daily schedule — the real sumo diet explained in detail.
Read guide →ABEMA streams every single sumo bout live — but it's geo-blocked outside Japan. A VPN fixes that in seconds.
Best VPN for Sumo → Get NordVPN ↗ABEMA Premium streams all Makuuchi bouts live. NHK World and YouTube options also covered. Free & paid explained.
Full Streaming Guide → Try ABEMA Premium ↗6 tournaments per year in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka. How to buy tickets as a foreigner, best seats explained.
Ticket Buying Guide →Live banzuke rankings, bout results, ranking charts and AI predictions for all 18 wrestlers at Futagoyama Stable (二子山部屋) — including Rohga, Nobehara and Namatame.