What Is Sumo?
Sumo (相撲) is Japan's national sport — a form of competitive full-contact wrestling with roots stretching back over 1,500 years. Two wrestlers (rikishi) face off inside a circular ring (dohyo) roughly 4.55 metres in diameter. The rules are brutally simple: push your opponent out of the ring, or make any part of their body other than their feet touch the ground. First one to do either wins.
The Dohyo (土俵) — The Ring
The dohyo is a raised clay platform roughly 60cm high, topped with a thin layer of sand. The circular boundary is marked by a thick rope of rice straw (tawara) partially buried in the clay. It is rebuilt fresh for every tournament — the construction itself is a Shinto ritual performed by the referee-priests (gyoji).
- Diameter of the ring: 4.55 m
- Platform size: approx. 6.7 m × 6.7 m
- The four coloured tassels hanging above signal the four seasons (green = spring, red = summer, white = autumn, black = winter)
- Salt is thrown before every bout — a Shinto purification ritual
Pre-Match Rituals
Sumo is as much ritual as it is sport. Before a single blow is struck, wrestlers engage in an elaborate series of Shinto purification ceremonies that can last several minutes — and are considered just as important as the bout itself.
Chikara-mizu (力水) — Power Water
Before entering the ring, each wrestler rinses his mouth with "power water" and wipes his lips with a sheet of paper (chikara-gami). The water is traditionally offered by the winner of the previous bout on the same side. If the previous wrestler lost, a different wrestler still waiting to compete will provide it instead — you never accept water from a loser.
Shio-maki (塩撒き) — Salt Throwing
Wrestlers throw handfuls of salt into the ring to purify the dohyo — a practice rooted in Shinto belief. Only wrestlers in the top two divisions (makuuchi and juryo) throw salt; lower-division wrestlers skip this step. Approximately 45 kg of salt is used per tournament day. Yokozuna are known for throwing especially large, dramatic handfuls to excite the crowd.
Chiri-o-kiru (塵手水) — The Clap
Wrestlers clap their hands together and then turn their palms upward, showing they carry no weapons. This gesture is rooted in Shinto purification and signals openness and respect to the opponent and the gods of the dohyo.
Shikiri (仕切り) — The Staredown
The psychological buildup before the tachiai (initial charge). Wrestlers repeatedly return to their starting lines, crouch, stare each other down, stand up, throw more salt, stomp, and crouch again. This cycle continues until the time limit expires and the gyoji signals both wrestlers to charge.
- Makuuchi: 4-minute time limit
- Juryo: 3-minute time limit
- Lower divisions: 2-minute time limit
The buildup of tension during shikiri is considered an essential part of the spectacle. Experienced fans often say the real bout happens in the staredown — by the time the wrestlers charge, the psychological battle has already been won.
How to Win (and Lose)
You win by:
- Forcing your opponent to step outside the straw boundary ring
- Making any part of their body other than the soles of their feet touch the ground — a finger, a knee, even a topknot
You lose by:
- Stepping outside the ring (even a toe)
- Touching the ground with anything other than your feet
- Your mawashi (loincloth) becoming fully untied during the bout
- Using a prohibited technique (extremely rare)
The Tachiai (立合い) — The Charge
Every bout begins with the tachiai — the initial charge. Both wrestlers crouch and place both fists on the starting lines. When both are ready simultaneously, they explode forward. There is no referee's whistle — wrestlers must synchronise their own charge, which is an art in itself.
The tachiai is often the most decisive moment of the whole bout. A superior initial hit can end the match in under one second.
Matta (待った) — False Start
Both wrestlers must have both fists on the ground simultaneously for a valid start. If one jumps early before the other is set, the gyoji calls matta (false start) and they restart the sequence. Repeated matta can earn a wrestler a warning from the shimpan (judges), and habitual offenders may face criticism from the Sumo Association. Some wrestlers are known for using matta strategically to unsettle their opponents.
Prohibited Techniques (Kinjite 禁じ手)
While sumo allows an extraordinary range of physical contact — open-hand slaps to the face, powerful shoves, and full-body throws — there are 8 prohibited acts that result in automatic disqualification (hansoku). In practice, disqualification is extremely rare. The last notable DQ in the top division occurred in 2003.
- Punching with a closed fist (拳で殴ること) — Open-hand strikes (tsuppari) are legal, but a closed fist is forbidden
- Pulling hair (髷つかみ) — Grabbing the topknot (chonmage) or any part of the hair
- Poking eyes (目つぶし) — Any deliberate attack targeting the eyes
- Striking both ears simultaneously (両耳同時打ち) — Clapping the ears can cause serious injury
- Grabbing the front of the mawashi (前袋つかみ) — The groin area of the belt is strictly off-limits
- Choking (のど締め) — Note: the nodowa (throat push) using the palm is legal; only actual choking is banned
- Kicking the chest or abdomen (胸・腹を蹴ること) — Leg sweeps and trips are fine, but direct kicks are not
- Bending back fingers (指を折り返すこと) — Deliberately bending an opponent's fingers backwards
Biting is also considered a violation but is so rare it barely warrants formal classification. The Japan Sumo Association reserves the right to disqualify for any act it deems unsporting.
Common Winning Techniques (Kimarite 決まり手)
The Japan Sumo Association officially recognises 82 kimarite (winning techniques). In practice, about 10 techniques account for roughly 75% of all bouts. For a deep dive, see our full guide to sumo techniques.
| Technique | Japanese | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorikiri | 寄り切り | Force-out | Grip the mawashi and drive opponent out while maintaining body contact. The most common technique, accounting for roughly 30% of all bouts. |
| Oshidashi | 押し出し | Push-out | Push opponent out with open palms without gripping the belt. Accounts for about 15% of bouts. |
| Hatakikomi | 叩き込み | Pull-down | Step aside and slap opponent down as they charge forward. About 8% of bouts. |
| Uwatenage | 上手投げ | Overarm throw | Throw using the outer (overarm) grip on the mawashi. A powerful, crowd-pleasing technique. About 5%. |
| Oshitaoshi | 押し倒し | Push-down | Push opponent down to the ground with both hands. About 4%. |
| Yoritaoshi | 寄り倒し | Force-down | Drive opponent out and down with sustained body contact. About 3%. |
| Tsukiotoshi | 突き落とし | Thrust-down | Thrust opponent sideways and down off-balance. About 3%. |
| Hikiotoshi | 引き落とし | Pull-down | Pull opponent forward and down, usually by the arm or shoulder. About 3%. |
| Kotenage | 小手投げ | Arm throw | Lock opponent's arm and throw using leverage against the elbow joint. About 2%. |
| Shitatenage | 下手投げ | Underarm throw | Throw using the inner (underarm) grip on the mawashi. About 2%. |
Rare & Spectacular Techniques
Some kimarite appear only a handful of times per year — or per decade. Crowd favourites include:
The Officials
Sumo bouts are overseen by a multi-layered officiating system — a referee in the ring, five judges at ringside, and a review process that predates modern instant replay.
Gyoji (行司) — The Referee
The gyoji officiates each bout from inside the ring, carrying an ornate war fan (gunbai) to signal the winner. Gyoji have their own hierarchical rank system that mirrors the wrestlers' — from apprentices all the way up to the two top-ranked gyoji: Kimura Shonosuke (the highest) and Shikimori Inosuke (the second highest).
- Gyoji wear elaborate silk robes whose colour and design indicate their rank
- The most senior gyoji carries a tanto (short dagger) tucked into his belt — symbolising his readiness to take responsibility by ritual suicide if he makes a grave error. (This is purely ceremonial today.)
- Gyoji also serve as calligraphers for the official ranking sheets (banzuke) and perform the Shinto rituals for dohyo construction
Shinpan (審判) — The Ringside Judges
Five judges sit around all four sides of the dohyo (one on each cardinal side plus one chief judge). All shinpan are oyakata (retired former wrestlers who now serve as stable masters or association officials). Their role is to closely watch each bout for foot touches on the tawara, body touches on the clay, and to confirm — or challenge — the gyoji's decision.
Mono-ii (物言い) — The Challenge
When a shinpan disagrees with the gyoji's call, he raises his hand to signal a conference. All five judges then gather in the centre of the ring to discuss the call. Three outcomes are possible:
- Gunbai-dori (軍配通り) — The gyoji's original call is upheld
- Sashi-chigae (差し違え) — The call is reversed (the gyoji was wrong)
- Torinaoshi (取り直し) — The bout is declared too close to call and a rematch is ordered
Video replay has been available to the judges since 1969. An additional referee in a separate video review room can communicate with the ringside judges via earpiece during deliberations.
The Sumo Rank Ladder
Sumo has six divisions. Promotion and demotion happen every tournament based on your win-loss record. Only the top two divisions (Makuuchi and Juryo) are salaried professionals. For the full breakdown, see our complete guide to sumo ranks.
The Makuuchi Rank Breakdown
Inside the top division (Makuuchi), there is a further hierarchy of five ranks:
- Yokozuna (横綱) — Grand Champion. The highest rank in all of sumo. Cannot be demoted; expected to retire when performance declines. Currently active: Terunofuji.
- Ozeki (大関) — Champion. Second highest. Demoted if they lose more than they win in two consecutive tournaments (unless they win 10+ in the next).
- Sekiwake (関脇) — Third rank. A proving ground for future Ozeki candidates.
- Komusubi (小結) — Fourth rank. Faces the toughest schedule (top wrestlers always fight the san'yaku).
- Maegashira (前頭) — Ranked 1 through ~17 on each side (East/West). The bulk of the top division.
How Promotion Works
In Makuuchi and Juryo, a wrestler needs 8 wins out of 15 bouts (kachi-koshi) to be promoted or hold their rank. 7 or more losses (make-koshi) means demotion. In the lower divisions (Makushita and below), wrestlers compete 7 bouts and need 4 wins to advance.
The jump from Makushita to Juryo — from unpaid trainee to salaried professional — is one of the most dramatic moments in a wrestler's career. Only the top few Makushita wrestlers make this leap each tournament.
How Tournaments Work
There are 6 official tournaments (honbasho) per year, each lasting exactly 15 days. Top division wrestlers compete once per day, building a record from 0-0 to a final score out of 15. The wrestler with the most wins at the end takes the tournament championship (yusho). In case of a tie, a single playoff bout (or multiple) decides the winner.
* Dates are subject to change. Check the Japan Sumo Association's official site for the latest. Want to attend in person? See our guide to buying sumo tickets.
Special Prizes & Awards
Yusho (優勝) — Tournament Championship
The wrestler with the most wins at the end of the 15-day tournament claims the yusho. If two or more wrestlers are tied, a playoff (kettei-sen) is held on the final day — a sudden-death bout (or series of bouts) to determine the champion.
The makuuchi champion receives the Emperor's Cup (天皇賜杯), an enormous silver trophy presented in an elaborate ceremony on the final day. Additional prizes include trophies from various countries, organisations, and sponsors — some famously include giant quantities of food (a thousand bottles of Coca-Cola, trays of beef, baskets of mushrooms).
Sansho (三賞) — Three Special Prizes
Awarded to exceptional makuuchi wrestlers ranked below Yokozuna and Ozeki. Each prize is worth ¥2 million (approximately $13,500 USD). A wrestler can win multiple prizes in the same tournament.
- Shukun-sho (殊勲賞) — Outstanding Performance: Awarded for defeating Yokozuna or Ozeki, particularly if those victories were decisive in the tournament race
- Kanto-sho (敢闘賞) — Fighting Spirit: Awarded for showing exceptional effort and tenacity, often to a wrestler with a strong winning record
- Gino-sho (技能賞) — Technique: Awarded for displaying superior technical skill, clever strategy, and beautiful sumo
The prizes are not always awarded — if no wrestler is deemed worthy in a given category, that prize is withheld for that tournament.
Kinboshi (金星) — Gold Star
When a rank-and-file maegashira wrestler defeats a Yokozuna, it is called a kinboshi — a gold star. This is one of sumo's most celebrated upsets. Each kinboshi earns the wrestler a permanent monthly bonus of ¥4,000 added to their base pay for the rest of their active career. A wrestler who collects multiple kinboshi over their career can earn a substantial recurring bonus.
A Typical Tournament Day
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8:00 AM
Jonokuchi & Jonidan boutsThe arena is nearly empty. Entry is free in the morning for lower divisions.
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10:30 AM
Sandanme & Makushita boutsThe crowd begins to fill in. These wrestlers are one or two promotions from a professional contract.
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~2:30 PM
Juryo boutsThe second division. These are fully salaried wrestlers, announced with full ceremony.
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~4:00 PM
Makuuchi dohyo-iri (ring entry ceremony)Wrestlers parade in formation wearing their ornate kesho-mawashi (ceremonial aprons). The Yokozuna performs his own separate entrance.
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~4:10 PM
Makuuchi bouts beginThe arena is packed. The atmosphere transforms completely.
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~6:00 PM
Final bouts + Yumitori-shikiThe last bouts feature the highest-ranked wrestlers. The day ends with the traditional bow-twirling ceremony (yumitori-shiki).
Watching on ABEMA (live stream)
ABEMA broadcasts every division live from around 8:00 AM through 6:00 PM JST during tournament days. You can watch from the very first Jonokuchi bout all the way through to the final Yokozuna match — all free, no account required. See our full guide to watching sumo online.
Outside Japan? A VPN lets you access ABEMA from anywhere.
Watch the Next Tournament Live — Free
ABEMA streams every bout free, from Jonokuchi all the way to Makuuchi. No account needed.
Watch on ABEMA (Free)Life in a Sumo Stable (Heya)
Professional sumo is not just a sport — it is a way of life. Every wrestler belongs to a heya (stable), a training facility where they live, eat, and train under the strict supervision of an oyakata (stable master, always a former wrestler). There are currently around 45 active stables.
A Day in the Stable
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~5:00 AM
Wake-upJunior wrestlers rise first. No breakfast — they train on an empty stomach.
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5:30–7:00
Junior keiko (practice)Lowest-ranked wrestlers train first while seniors sleep. Practice includes shiko (leg stomps), teppo (pillar slapping), and sparring (butsukari-geiko).
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7:00–10:30
Senior keikoTop-ranked wrestlers practice while juniors watch, learn, and serve as training partners.
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~11:00 AM
Chanko-nabe lunchThe entire stable eats together, with seniors eating first. The juniors cook and serve.
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Afternoon
Rest & napSleeping after a heavy meal is part of the weight-gain strategy.
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Evening
Free time / choresSekitori (top two divisions) have freedom. Juniors may have cleaning duties.
The Harsh Reality for Juniors
Wrestlers ranked below juryo (the lower four divisions) live communally in the stable. They must cook, clean, serve their seniors, carry bags, run errands, and act as personal attendants (tsukebito) for the top-ranked wrestlers. They receive no salary — only a modest bi-monthly allowance. They cannot marry, own a car, or choose their own clothing in public.
Life as a Sekitori
Reaching juryo — the second division — changes everything. Sekitori (wrestlers in the top two divisions) earn a monthly salary starting at approximately ¥1.1 million (~$7,400 USD) for juryo and rising to ¥3 million (~$20,000 USD) for Yokozuna. They have their own rooms, can marry, own a car, wear silk mawashi, and are served by junior wrestlers rather than serving others.
Chanko-nabe — The Sumo Diet
The staple meal of every sumo stable is chanko-nabe — a hearty hot-pot stew loaded with protein (chicken, pork, fish, tofu), vegetables, and noodles or rice. Traditionally, chicken is the preferred protein because chickens walk on two legs, symbolising a wrestler who never touches the ground on all fours (i.e., never loses).
Wrestlers eat enormous quantities — sometimes 8,000–10,000 calories per day — followed by a nap to maximise weight gain. For more on the sumo diet, see our dedicated article on what sumo wrestlers eat.
The Culture Around the Sport
The Stable System (部屋)
Every professional sumo wrestler belongs to a heya (stable) — a training facility where wrestlers live, train, and eat together under a former champion who serves as their master (oyakata). There are currently around 45 active stables. A wrestler joins a stable as a teenager and typically stays for their entire career.
The stable system shapes everything: training partners, diet, daily schedule, and even the wrestler's ring name (shikona). International wrestlers — from Mongolia, Georgia, Russia, and beyond — have fully assimilated into this system. For a close look at one stable's wrestlers, see our Futagoyama stable tracker.
The Mawashi
The only item of clothing worn during competition is the mawashi — a heavy silk belt (about 9 metres long) folded and wrapped around the waist. The colour and quality of a mawashi signals rank: lower-division wrestlers wear cotton mawashi, while top-division wrestlers wear silk in colours of their choosing. The sagari — the stiffened fringe hanging from the front — is purely ceremonial.
Sumo and Shinto
Sumo is deeply intertwined with Japan's Shinto religion. The dohyo is considered sacred ground; the salt purifies it; the roof above the ring (tsuriyane) is modelled after a Shinto shrine; and the gyoji functions as both referee and priest. Even the Yokozuna's rope belt (shimenawa) is identical to the sacred ropes found at Shinto shrines, signifying the divine status of the grand champion.