🎋 What Makes Someone a Yokozuna?
Before diving into the list itself, it's worth understanding why these 75 names stand apart from the thousands of wrestlers who have competed in professional sumo. The yokozuna rank — literally "horizontal rope" — is not simply the highest competitive rank. It is a lifetime title tied to dignity, comportment, and sustained dominance.
Promotion to yokozuna typically requires winning two consecutive tournament championships (yusho) at the ōzeki rank, or a performance deemed "equivalent." The Japan Sumo Association's Yokozuna Deliberation Council evaluates candidates not just on wins, but on hinkaku — a concept encompassing dignity, grace, and embodiment of sumo's ideals. This is why some dominant ōzeki have waited years for promotion while others with a slightly weaker record were elevated quickly: the committee weighs the whole person.
Crucially, unlike every other rank in sumo, a yokozuna cannot be demoted. Once elevated, the wrestler either performs at yokozuna level or is expected to retire. This creates a unique existential pressure that defines how yokozuna careers end — almost always in prolonged injury battles or ceremonial final appearances, never in relegation.
To understand more about how sumo's ranking system works from the bottom up, see our guide to sumo ranks explained and our overview of how sumo works.
🏯 Edo Era Yokozuna (1st–27th, approx. 1600s–1903)
The earliest yokozuna exist in a murky historical space. The rank was not formally established by the Japan Sumo Association (which did not yet exist) — instead, the Yoshida Tsukasa family, traditional arbiters of sumo ceremony, retroactively granted licenses to wrestlers deemed worthy of the honor. Many early yokozuna records are reconstructed from temple records, woodblock prints, and oral tradition rather than official documentation.
Notable Early Yokozuna
1st Yokozuna: Akashi Shiganosuke — Widely considered the first yokozuna, reportedly active in the early 17th century during the reign of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Almost everything about him is legendary rather than documented. Some historians question whether he was a real individual or a composite figure. His inclusion sets the tone for the murky origins of the rank.
4th Yokozuna: Ōnogawa Kisaburō (1758–1806) — One of the first yokozuna about whom substantial biographical details survive. Known for exceptional technique and credited with helping establish sumo's formal ceremonial traditions.
5th Yokozuna: Miyakishima Kōzaemon (1758–1816) — A contemporary of Ōnogawa and part of the period where two yokozuna sometimes coexisted, a practice that would become standard.
7th Yokozuna: Inazuma Raigōrō (1795–1877) — Remarkable for his longevity; reportedly competed into his fifties. His long career across the Edo-Meiji transition makes him a bridge figure in sumo history.
8th Yokozuna: Shiranui Kōemon (1802–1854) — Gave his name to one of the two yokozuna rope-tying styles still used today. The Shiranui style features the rope tied with both ends pointing outward, while the Unryū style (named after the 10th yokozuna) has one end tucked in. Every yokozuna since chooses one style at promotion.
10th Yokozuna: Unryū Hisakichi (1826–1891) — The namesake of the Unryū rope style. His rivalry with the 8th yokozuna's legacy in ceremonial tradition rather than direct competition underscores how yokozuna influence extends beyond the dohyo.
16th Yokozuna: Miyako-no-Shima (real name unknown) — Active in the mid-1800s, part of the transitional generation that would see sumo reorganize from regional tournament circuits into a more centralized Tokyo-based institution.
By the time sumo approached the Meiji Era, the institution was evolving rapidly. The Edo tournament system, which ran on limited annual tournaments, was giving way to a more professional structure. The yokozuna of this period were giants in their communities — celebrities of the feudal world whose patronage by daimyō gave them unusual social mobility for their era.
🌸 Meiji & Taishō Era Yokozuna (28th–35th, 1903–1926)
The Meiji Restoration of 1868 dramatically reshaped Japan, and sumo had to adapt or perish. Without samurai patronage, the sport needed a new identity as national entertainment. The yokozuna of this era became symbols of Japanese strength and tradition at a time when the country was simultaneously modernizing and celebrating its heritage.
27th Yokozuna: Nishimonoi Tanigorō (active early Meiji) — One of the last yokozuna whose career straddled the feudal and modern periods.
30th Yokozuna: Konishiki Yūsuke (1878–1903) — Not to be confused with the American-born Konishiki of the 1990s. This earlier wrestler helped bridge the sport's feudal roots with its modern tournament structure.
32nd Yokozuna: Miyako-no-Shima (active early 1900s) — A dominant figure in the transition to the modern tournament era.
35th Yokozuna: Tsurugahama Kan'ichi (1900–1950) — Active through the Taishō period and into early Shōwa, he witnessed sumo's centralization into what would become the Japan Sumo Association in 1925.
⛩️ Pre-War Shōwa Yokozuna (36th–43rd, 1926–1945)
The Shōwa era opened with sumo undergoing its most significant structural reform: the unification of the Tokyo sumo associations into the Japan Sumo Association in 1925 and the expansion to six annual tournaments (gradually, over decades). Yokozuna of the pre-war period became national heroes in a Japan increasingly focused on national pride.
36th Yokozuna: Miyakoshima Tōzō (1878–1943) — His promotion came shortly after the JSA's formation, making him part of the first generation of "official" modern yokozuna.
39th Yokozuna: Miyajima Jirō — Active in the 1930s during Japan's militarist period, when sumo was actively promoted as a expression of Japanese martial spirit.
41st Yokozuna: Tochigiyama Moriya (1892–1959) — Often regarded as one of the greatest yokozuna of the pre-war era, Tochigiyama achieved a then-unprecedented run of dominance in the 1910s and 1920s (he was actually retroactively assigned the 41st number — his active years preceded this). Considered technically brilliant and a model of yokozuna dignity.
42nd Yokozuna: Tsurugihama Kan'ichi — Active in the early Shōwa period.
43rd Yokozuna: Nishinishiki Uichirō — One of the last yokozuna promoted before World War II disrupted tournament sumo, which was suspended from 1944 to 1946.
🎌 Post-War Shōwa Yokozuna (44th–58th, 1945–1989)
The post-war yokozuna are the first generation most Western fans encounter in historical records, because this is when sumo began generating English-language coverage and because television broadcast (beginning in the 1950s) created enduring visual records. This era produced some of sumo's most celebrated grand champions.
45th Yokozuna: Terukuni Mangorō (1919–1977) — One of the first post-war champions, helping rebuild sumo's audience after wartime disruption.
47th Yokozuna: Miyashima Jūrō — Part of the immediate post-war recovery era.
48th Yokozuna: Chiyonishiki Akio (1922–1990) — A popular champion of the early television era, helping attract new audiences to the sport.
49th Yokozuna: Kagamijishi Mitsuru (1923–2004) — Known for powerful sumo and a dignified post-retirement career as a stable master.
48th–52nd Era: The Television Generation — As NHK began broadcasting tournaments in the 1950s, these yokozuna became genuine household names. Their bouts were discussed at workplaces and school yards across Japan.
52nd Yokozuna: Kitanofuji Katsuaki (born 1942) — Promoted in 1969, Kitanofuji became one of the most popular yokozuna of his era, known for flamboyant style both on and off the dohyo. He later became one of sumo's most beloved commentators, a role he held for decades. His dual legacy as competitor and broadcaster is unique in the sport's history.
53rd Yokozuna: Kotozakura Moriyoshi (1940–2021) — Known for his powerful, forward-driving style and later honored as an influential stable master who guided future champions.
54th Yokozuna: Kitanoumi Toshimitsu (1953–2015) — One of the most dominant yokozuna of the 1970s, Kitanoumi won 24 tournament championships and held the record for most career wins for many years. He later served as JSA chairman, making him one of the most administratively influential figures in modern sumo history.
55th Yokozuna: Wajima Hiroshi (born 1948) — Famous for his "golden left arm" — a devastating left-hand inside grip that won him 14 championships. His post-retirement life was controversial, including financial difficulties and a stint in professional wrestling, making him one of the more complex figures in yokozuna history.
56th Yokozuna: Wakanohana Kanji II (born 1953) — Part of a celebrated brother yokozuna pairing with Takanosato.
57th Yokozuna: Mienoumi Tsuyoshi (born 1950) — A technically gifted wrestler who won 10 championships, known for excellent ring sense and defensive skills.
58th Yokozuna: Chiyonofuji Mitsugu (1955–2016) — Perhaps the most beloved yokozuna of the late Shōwa era, Chiyonofuji ("The Wolf") won 31 championships despite a slender build unusual for the top rank. His muscular physique, intense eyes, and technical mastery made him a cultural icon. His retirement speech in 1991, where he simply said "I've lost my strength," reduced the sumo world to silence. He later served as the 58th yokozuna's stable master and JSA board member before his death from pancreatic cancer.
🌊 Heisei Era Yokozuna (59th–73rd, 1989–2019)
The Heisei era (1989–2019) was sumo's most turbulent modern period — beginning with a golden age of Japanese-born yokozuna, transitioning through a controversial era of foreign dominance, and ending with profound questions about the sport's future identity.
59th Yokozuna: Onokuni Yasushi (born 1962) — The first Heisei-era yokozuna, known for his massive physique and powerful belt sumo.
60th Yokozuna: Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi (born 1963) — Part of the celebrated "Futagoyama stable" era that produced multiple yokozuna.
61st Yokozuna: Ryōgoku Kaiki (Onokuni's stablemate)
62nd Yokozuna: Akebono Tarō (born Chad George Haaheo Rowan, 1969) — The first foreign-born yokozuna, promoted in 1993. His promotion was genuinely controversial and forced Japanese sumo to confront questions about national identity. Standing approximately 2.04 meters tall and weighing around 233 kg, he was physically unlike any previous yokozuna. He won 11 championships and competed for five years at yokozuna level. His post-retirement career took many turns including MMA and professional wrestling.
63rd Yokozuna: Wakanohana Masaru (born 1971) — A popular Japanese-born yokozuna who provided a counterpoint to the foreign dominance narrative of the 1990s. His 1998 championship run was celebrated as a resurgence of Japanese sumo.
64th Yokozuna: Taiho Kōki — Note: The 48th yokozuna; this numbering corrects earlier reference. Taiho (1940–2013) remains one of the most revered yokozuna ever, winning 32 championships and dominating the 1960s. His favorite food, oyakodon, supposedly became more popular across Japan simply because he liked it — a measure of his cultural footprint.
65th Yokozuna: Musashimaru Kōyō (born Fiamalu Penitani, 1971) — The second foreign-born yokozuna, from American Samoa. He and Akebono formed a rare dual-foreign yokozuna coexistence. Musashimaru won 12 championships and was known for his devastating pushing and thrusting attacks.
67th Yokozuna: Musōyama Masashi — A brief tenure at the top rank due to injuries.
68th Yokozuna: Asashōryū Akinori (born Dolgorsürengiin Dagvadorj, 1980) — The first Mongolian yokozuna, promoted in 2003. Asashōryū was perhaps the most controversial yokozuna in modern history — spectacularly talented (25 championships, including a perfect 15-0 record seven times) and repeatedly in trouble for behavior deemed unworthy of yokozuna dignity. His forced retirement in 2010 following a violent off-dohyo incident remains debated: was the punishment fitting, or was he held to an unfair standard?
69th Yokozuna: Hakuho Shō (born Mönkhbatyn Davaajargal, 1985) — The greatest yokozuna in recorded history by almost any statistical measure. Promoted in 2007, Hakuho won 45 championship titles, accumulated an unprecedented 1,187 career wins, and won 10 consecutive tournaments in 2009-2010. He held the rank for 14 years before retiring in 2021. His dominance was so complete that it paradoxically hurt the sport's drama — yet watching him perform the dohyo-iri was witnessing something transcendent. His post-retirement work as a stable master (Miyagino stable) and his naturalization as a Japanese citizen have kept him central to sumo's story.
70th Yokozuna: Harumafuji Kōhei (born Davaanyamyn Byambadorj, 1984) — Promoted in 2012, known for his speed and technical brilliance despite a relatively small physique for the top rank. His career ended abruptly in 2017 following an incident involving a fellow wrestler, leaving sumo fans to wonder what more he might have achieved.
71st Yokozuna: Kakuryū Rikisaburō (born Mangaljalavyn Anand, 1985) — Promoted in 2014, Kakuryū was known for exceptional technique and ring intelligence. He retired in 2021 after prolonged injury struggles, emblematic of how the modern yokozuna's physical demands have shortened careers.
72nd Yokozuna: Kisenosato Yutaka (born 1986) — The first Japanese-born yokozuna in nearly two decades when promoted in 2017, triggering scenes of national celebration. He achieved the rare feat of winning a tournament while injured, in his very first tournament as yokozuna. Unfortunately, the injury never fully healed and he retired in 2019 after limited appearances — one of the most bittersweet careers in yokozuna history.
73rd Yokozuna: Terunofuji Haruo (born Gantulga Ganerdene, 1991) — His story is arguably the most extraordinary in modern sumo. Once a top-ranked ōzeki, Terunofuji fell through the ranks to the very bottom of professional sumo due to catastrophic knee injuries and other health problems. He then rebuilt his career from the lowest division, becoming the only wrestler in modern history to return to yokozuna from near-complete professional obscurity. Promoted in 2021, he has won multiple championships but continued knee problems have kept him absent for extended periods.
🌸 Reiwa Era Yokozuna (74th–75th, 2019–present)
The Reiwa era opened with sumo still dominated by the Mongolian generation — but by 2025, a Japanese-born wrestler had finally reclaimed the throne. The 74th and 75th yokozuna represent both the continuation of that Mongolian tradition and a new chapter in sumo's evolving identity.
74th Yokozuna: Hoshoryu Tomokatsu (born 1999, Mongolia) — Promoted in 2024, Hoshoryu is the nephew of the legendary 72nd Yokozuna Asashoryu. Where his uncle was explosive and occasionally reckless, Hoshoryu fights with a calculated intelligence and a repertoire of acrobatic throws that makes him one of the most technically entertaining wrestlers of his generation. His promotion was a moment of genuine excitement — sumo had a young, dynamic Yokozuna with a famous bloodline and a style entirely his own. He competes from Tatsunami stable.
75th Yokozuna: Onosato Daiki (born 2000, Ishikawa, Japan) — Promoted in May 2025 after just 13 professional tournaments — the fastest Yokozuna promotion in modern history. Onosato is the first Japanese-born Yokozuna since Kisenosato in 2017, ending an eight-year period of Mongolian grand champions. At 192cm and approximately 188kg, he combines the physical attributes of sumo's elite heavyweights with speed and technique unusual for his size. His stable master is Kisenosato himself — creating a rare continuity of Japanese Yokozuna mentorship. He trains at Nishonoseki stable and was 5-time champion as of early 2026.
📊 Complete Yokozuna Reference Table
The following table provides a condensed reference for all 75 yokozuna. Note that historical records for early wrestlers are incomplete; dates marked with (~) are approximate.
| # | Wrestler Name | Active Era | Nationality/Origin | Notable Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Akashi Shiganosuke | ~1600s | Japan | Legendary; possibly mythologized |
| 2 | Ayagawa Gorōjirō | ~1700s | Japan | Early Edo era |
| 3 | Kirishima Mongoro | ~1750s | Japan | Edo period champion |
| 4 | Ōnogawa Kisaburō | 1758–1806 | Japan | Key figure in ceremonial development |
| 5 | Miyakishima Kōzaemon | 1758–1816 | Japan | Contemporary of 4th yokozuna |
| 6 | Sendagawa Kichigoro | ~1800s | Japan | Early 19th century |
| 7 | Inazuma Raigōrō | 1795–1877 | Japan | Competed into his 50s |
| 8 | Shiranui Kōemon | 1802–1854 | Japan | Namesake of Shiranui rope style |
| 9 | Tsurugihama Tanigorō | ~1820s–1860s | Japan | Mid-Edo era |
| 10 | Unryū Hisakichi | 1826–1891 | Japan | Namesake of Unryū rope style |
| 11 | Shiranui Kōemon II | ~1840s–1880s | Japan | Second wrestler to take this name |
| 12 | Jinmaku Kyūgorō | 1829–1903 | Japan | Meiji-era figure |
| 13 | Higashiyama Tarōkichi | ~1840s–1880s | Japan | Late Edo period |
| 14 | Nishinoumi Kajirō I | 1855–1920 | Japan | Long active span across eras |
| 15 | Nishimonoi Tanigorō | ~1860s–1900s | Japan | Meiji era |
| 16 | Ōtori Tanigoro | ~1870s–1900s | Japan | Late Meiji era |
| 17 | Konishiki Yūsuke I | ~1870s–1910s | Japan | Early modern era |
| 18 | Ōzutsu Man'emon | ~1880s–1910s | Japan | Meiji era dominant force |
| 19 | Miyakoshima Tōzō | ~1890s–1920s | Japan | Meiji/Taishō bridge era |
| 20 | Ōkitsu Unryū | ~1890s–1920s | Japan | Taishō period |
| 21 | Tsurugahama Kan'ichi I | ~1900–1930s | Japan | Early 20th century |
| 22 | Ōnishiki Uichirō I | ~1900s–1930s | Japan | Taishō era |
| 23 | Miyakoshima Tōzō II | ~1910s–1930s | Japan | Taishō/early Shōwa |
| 24 | Nishinoumi Kajirō II | ~1910s–1930s | Japan | Name continuation of 14th |
| 25 | Nishimonoi Tanigorō II | ~1910s–1930s | Japan | Taishō period |
| 26 | Ōkinishiki Uichirō | ~1910s–1930s | Japan | Early Shōwa era |
| 27 | Miyakoshima Tōzō III | ~1920s–1940s | Japan | Pre-war Shōwa |
| 28–35 | (Meiji/Taishō group) | 1900–1926 | Japan | See era summary above |
| 36–43 | (Pre-war Shōwa group) | 1926–1945 | Japan | See era summary above |
| 44 | Tsurugihama Kōichi | Post-war | Japan | Rebuilt post-war sumo |
| 45 | Terukuni Mangorō | Post-war | Japan | Early TV era champion |
| 46 | Tochigiyama Moriya | Post-war era | Japan | Legendary pre/post-war figure |
| 47 | Azumafuji Kin'ichi | Post-war | Japan | Post-war recovery era |
| 48 | Chiyonishiki Akio | 1950s | Japan | Television era pioneer |
| 49 | Kagamijishi Mitsuru | 1950s | Japan | Powerful 1950s champion |
| 50 | Yoshibayama Junnosuke | 1950s | Japan | Technical specialist |
| 51 | Miyajima Jirō (Tochinishiki) | 1950s–60s | Japan | Won 10 championships |
| 52 | Kagamiyama Hironori (Wakanishiki) | 1958–1962 | Japan | Brief but dominant tenure |
| 53 | Kotozakura Moriyoshi | 1960s–70s | Japan | Powerful belt wrestler |
| 54 | Kitanoumi Toshimitsu | 1974–1985 | Japan | 24 championships; later JSA chairman |
| 55 | Wajima Hiroshi | 1973–1981 | Japan | 14 championships; controversial retirement |
| 56 | Mitoizumi Nobuyoshi | 1990–1992 | Japan | Known for dramatic salt-throwing ritual |
| 57 | Onokuni Yasushi | 1987–1991 | Japan | Large physique; won 2 championships |
| 58 | Chiyonofuji Mitsugu | 1981–1991 | Japan | 31 championships; "The Wolf"; dominant 1980s figure |
| 59 | Futahaguro Kōji | 1986–1988 | Japan | Only yokozuna to retire without winning a yusho |
| 60 | Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi | 1988–1992 | Japan | 8 championships; trained under Kokonoe stable |
| 61 | Asahifuji Seiya | 1990–1992 | Japan | Won 9 championships; now JSA chairman (Isegahama) |
| 62 | Konishiki Yasokichi | Never promoted | USA (Hawaii) | First foreign-born ōzeki; controversial non-promotion despite 3 yusho |
| 62 | Akebono Tarō | 1993–2001 | USA (Hawaii) | First foreign-born yokozuna; 11 championships |
| 63 | Musashimaru Kōyō | 1999–2003 | USA (Hawaii) | 12 championships; last American-born yokozuna |
| 64 | Wakanohana Masaru III | 1998–2000 | Japan | Last Japanese-born yokozuna before 19-year drought |
| 65 | Takanohana Kōji II | 1994–2003 | Japan | 22 championships; iconic 1990s rivalry with Akebono |
| 66 | Musoyama Masashi | Never promoted | Japan | Ōzeki who narrowly missed yokozuna promotion |
| 66 | Miyabiyama Tetsushi | Never promoted | Japan | Demoted from ōzeki; never reached yokozuna |
| 66 | Asashōryū Akinori | 2003–2010 | Mongolia | 25 championships; dominant early 2000s; retired amid controversy |
| 67 | Hakuhō Shō | 2007–2021 | Mongolia | 45 championships; undisputed greatest of all time (GOAT) |
| 68 | Asashōryū Akinori | See #66 | Mongolia | Note: ordinal numbering differs by source; commonly listed as 68th |
| 69 | Hakuhō Shō | See above | Mongolia | Commonly listed as 69th in JSA official numbering |
| 70 | Harumafuji Kōhei | 2012–2017 | Mongolia | 9 championships; retired after assault controversy |
| 71 | Kakuryū Rikisaburō | 2014–2021 | Mongolia | 6 championships; technical wrestler; retired March 2021 |
| 72 | Kisenosato Yutaka | 2017–2019 | Japan | First Japanese-born yokozuna in 19 years; won yusho while injured |
| 73 | Terunofuji Haruo | 2021–2025 | Mongolia | Greatest comeback in sumo history; 6 yusho post-recovery; retired Jan 2025 |
| 74 | Hōshōryū Tomokatsu | 2024–present | Mongolia | Nephew of Asashoryu; promoted July 2024; known for acrobatic throws |
| 75 | Onosato Daiki | 2025–present | Japan | First Japanese-born Yokozuna since Kisenosato; promoted 2025; powerful pushing style |