This is a list of wrestlers who have won the top division (makuuchi) championship in professional sumo since 1909, when the current championship system was established. These official tournaments are held exclusively in Japan.
The first table below lists the champions since the six-tournament system was instituted in 1958.[1] The championship is determined by the wrestler with the highest win–loss score after fifteen bouts, held at a rate of one per day over the duration of the 15-day tournament. In the event of a tie a play-off is held between the wrestlers concerned.[2]
Names in bold mark an undefeated victory (azenshō-yūshō). Names in italics mark a victory by a maegashira. Figures in brackets mark the number of championships earned up to that tournament for wrestlers who won the championship more than once.
January
March
May
July
September
November
Terunofuji (9)
Takakeishō (3)
Kiribayama* (1)
Terunofuji (8)
Takakeishō (4)
Kirishima II (2)
Mitakeumi (3)
Terunofuji (7)
Tamawashi (2)
Terunofuji (3)[a]
Terunofuji (4)
Hakuhō (45)
Terunofuji (5)
Terunofuji (6)
Hakuhō (44)
Not held[b]
Terunofuji (2)[a]
Takakeishō (2)[a]
Tamawashi (1)
Hakuhō (42)
Kakuryū (6)
Mitakeumi (2)
Hakuhō (43)
Kakuryū (4)
Kakuryū (5)
Mitakeumi (1)
Hakuhō (41)
Takakeishō (1)
Kisenosato (1)
Kisenosato (2)
Hakuhō (38)
Hakuhō (39)
Harumafuji (9)
Hakuhō (40)
Hakuhō (36)
Hakuhō (37)
Harumafuji (8)
Kakuryū (3)
Hakuhō (33)
Hakuhō (34)
Terunofuji (1)
Hakuhō (35)
Kakuryū (2)
Harumafuji (7)
Hakuhō (28)
Kakuryū (1)
Hakuhō (29)
Hakuhō (30)
Hakuhō (31)
Hakuhō (32)
Harumafuji (5)
Hakuhō (24)
Hakuhō (25)
Hakuhō (26)
Hakuhō (27)
Harumafuji (6)
Hakuhō (22)
Harumafuji (3)
Harumafuji (4)
Hakuhō (23)
Hakuhō (18)
Not held[c]
Hakuhō (19)
Harumafuji (2)
Hakuhō (20)
Hakuhō (21)
Asashōryū (25)
Hakuhō (13)
Hakuhō (14)
Hakuhō (15)
Hakuhō (16)
Hakuhō (17)
Asashōryū (23)
Hakuhō (10)
Harumafuji (1)
Hakuhō (11)
Asashōryū (24)
Hakuhō (12)
Hakuhō (6)
Asashōryū (22)
Hakuhō (7)
Hakuhō (8)
Hakuhō (9)
Asashōryū (20)
Hakuhō (2)
Hakuhō (3)
Asashōryū (21)
Hakuhō (4)
Hakuhō (5)
Tochiazuma II (3)
Asashōryū (16)
Hakuhō (1)
Asashōryū (17)
Asashōryū (18)
Asashōryū (19)
Asashōryū (10)
Asashōryū (11)
Asashōryū (12)
Asashōryū (13)
Asashōryū (14)
Asashōryū (15)
Asashōryū (5)
Asashōryū (6)
Asashōryū (7)
Asashōryū (8)
Kaiō (5)
Asashōryū (9)
Asashōryū (2)
Chiyotaikai (3)
Asashōryū (3)
Kaiō (4)
Asashōryū (4)
Tochiazuma II (2)
Tochiazuma II (1)
Musashimaru (10)
Musashimaru (11)
Chiyotaikai (2)
Musashimaru (12)
Asashōryū (1)
Takanohana II (21)
Kaiō (2)
Takanohana II (22)
Kaiō (3)
Musashimaru (9)
Kaiō (1)
Akebono (10)
Musashimaru (8)
Akebono (11)
Chiyotaikai (1)
Musashimaru (4)
Musashimaru (5)
Musashimaru (6)
Musashimaru (7)
Musashimaru (3)
Wakanohana III (4)
Wakanohana III (5)
Takanohana II (19)
Takanohana II (20)
Kotonishiki (2)
Wakanohana III (3)
Takanohana II (16)
Akebono (9)
Takanohana II (17)
Takanohana II (18)
Takanonami (2)
Takanonami (1)
Takanohana II (12)
Takanohana II (13)
Takanohana II (14)
Takanohana II (15)
Musashimaru (2)
Takanohana II (8)
Akebono (8)
Takanohana II (9)
Takanohana II (10)
Takanohana II (11)
Wakanohana III (2)
Takanohana II (4)
Akebono (7)
Takanohana II (5)
Musashimaru (1)
Takanohana II (6)
Takanohana II (7)
Akebono (3)
Wakahanada* (1)
Takanohana II (3)
Akebono (4)
Akebono (5)
Akebono (6)
1992
Takahanada* (1)
Konishiki (3)
Akebono (1)
Takahanada* (2)
Akebono (2)
1991
Hokutoumi (8)
Asahifuji (4)
Kotonishiki (1)
Konishiki (2)
1990
Chiyonofuji (30)
Hokutoumi (6)
Asahifuji (2)
Asahifuji (3)
Hokutoumi (7)
Chiyonofuji (31)
1989
Hokutoumi (4)
Chiyonofuji (27)
Hokutoumi (5)
Chiyonofuji (28)
Chiyonofuji (29)
Konishiki (1)
Asahifuji (1)
Ōnokuni (2)
Chiyonofuji (23)
Chiyonofuji (24)
Chiyonofuji (25)
Chiyonofuji (26)
Chiyonofuji (20)
Hokutoumi (2)
Ōnokuni (1)
Chiyonofuji (21)
Hokutoumi (3)
Chiyonofuji (22)
1986
Chiyonofuji (15)
Hoshi* (1)
Chiyonofuji (16)
Chiyonofuji (17)
Chiyonofuji (18)
Chiyonofuji (19)
1985
Chiyonofuji (11)
Chiyonofuji (12)
Hokuten'yū (2)
Chiyonofuji (13)
Chiyonofuji (14)
1984
Takanosato (4)
Wakashimazu (1)
Kitanoumi (24)
Wakashimazu (2)
Chiyonofuji (10)
1983
Kotokaze (2)
Chiyonofuji (8)
Hokuten'yū (1)
Takanosato (2)
Takanosato (3)
Chiyonofuji (9)
1982
Kitanoumi (23)
Chiyonofuji (4)
Chiyonofuji (5)
Chiyonofuji (6)
Takanosato (1)
Chiyonofuji (7)
1981
Chiyonofuji (1)
Kitanoumi (21)
Kitanoumi (22)
Chiyonofuji (2)
Kotokaze (1)
Chiyonofuji (3)
1980
Mienoumi (3)
Kitanoumi (18)
Kitanoumi (19)
Kitanoumi (20)
Wakanohana II (4)
Wajima (14)
1979
Kitanoumi (15)
Kitanoumi (16)
Wakanohana II (3)
Wajima (13)
Kitanoumi (17)
Mienoumi (2)
1978
Kitanoumi (10)
Kitanoumi (11)
Kitanoumi (12)
Kitanoumi (13)
Kitanoumi (14)
Wakanohana II (2)
1977
Wajima (10)
Kitanoumi (8)
Wakamisugi II* (1)
Wajima (11)
Kitanoumi (9)
Wajima (12)
1976
Kitanoumi (5)
Wajima (8)
Kitanoumi (6)
Wajima (9)
Kaiketsu (2)
Kitanoumi (7)
1975
Kitanoumi (3)
Takanohana I (1)
Kitanoumi (4)
Kongō (1)
Takanohana I (2)
Mienoumi (1)
1974
Kitanoumi (1)
Wajima (5)
Kitanoumi (2)
Wajima (6)
Wajima (7)
Kaiketsu (1)
1973
Kotozakura (4)
Kitanofuji (10)
Wajima (2)
Kotozakura (5)
Wajima (3)
Wajima (4)
1972
Wajima (1)
Kitanofuji (9)
Kotozakura (3)
1971
Taihō (32)
Tamanoumi II (5)
Kitanofuji (6)
Tamanoumi II (6)
Kitanofuji (7)
Kitanofuji (8)
1970
Kitanofuji (3)
Taihō (31)
Kitanofuji (4)
Kitanofuji (5)
Tamanoumi II (3)
Tamanoumi II (4)
1969
Taihō (29)
Kotozakura (2)
Taihō (30)
Tamanoshima* (2)
Kitanofuji (2)
1968
Sadanoyama (6)
Tamanoshima* (1)
Kotozakura (1)
Taihō (27)
Taihō (28)
1967
Taihō (24)
Kitanofuji (1)
Taihō (25)
Kashiwado (5)
Taihō (26)
Sadanoyama (5)
1966
Kashiwado (4)
Taihō (19)
Taihō (20)
Taihō (21)
Taihō (22)
Taihō (23)
1965
Sadanoyama (3)
Taihō (16)
Sadanoyama (4)
Taihō (17)
Kashiwado (3)
Taihō (18)
1964
Taihō (12)
Taihō (13)
Tochinoumi (3)
Taihō (14)
Taihō (15)
1963
Taihō (9)
Taihō (10)
Taihō (11)
Kashiwado (2)
Tochinoumi (2)
1962
Taihō (5)
Sadanoyama (2)
Tochinoumi (1)
Taihō (6)
Taihō (7)
Taihō (8)
1961
Kashiwado (1)
Asashio III (5)
Sadanoyama (1)
Taihō (2)
Taihō (3)
Taihō (4)
1960
Tochinishiki (10)
Wakanohana I (8)
Wakanohana I (9)
Wakanohana I (10)
Taihō (1)
1959
Wakanohana I (5)
Tochinishiki (8)
Wakanohana I (6)
Tochinishiki (9)
Wakanohana I (7)
1958
Wakanohana I (2)
Asashio III (3)
Tochinishiki (7)
Wakanohana I (3)
Wakanohana I (4)
Asashio III (4)
*Hoshi would later become Hokutoumi.
*Takahanada would later become the 2nd Takanohana.
*Tamanoshima would later become the 3rd Tamanoumi.
*Wakahanada would later become the 3rd Wakanohana.
*Wakamisugi II would later become the 2nd Wakanohana.
*Kiribayama would later become the 2nd Kirishima.
The following tables list the champions before the introduction of the current tournament system. The system was less regularized between years, with a different number of tournaments held at different times and in different venues, and often with a changing number of bouts fought in each tournament.
January
March
May
September
November
1957
Chiyonoyama (6)
Asashio III (2)
Tochinishiki (6)
Tamanoumi I (1)
New Year
Spring
Summer
Autumn
1956
Kagamisato (3)
Asashio III (1)
Wakanohana I (1)
Kagamisato (4)
1955
Chiyonoyama (4)
Chiyonoyama (5)
Tochinishiki (5)
Kagamisato (2)
1954
Tochinishiki (3)
Tochinishiki (4)
1953
Kagamisato (1)
Tochinishiki (2)
Azumafuji (6)
Spring
Summer
Autumn
1952
Haguroyama (7)
Azumafuji (5)
Tochinishiki (1)
1951
Terukuni (2)
Chiyonoyama (3)
Azumafuji (4)
1950
Chiyonoyama (2)
Azumafuji (3)
Terukuni (1)
1949
Azumafuji (2)
Masuiyama (2)
Chiyonoyama (1)
1948
no tournament
Azumafuji (1)
Masuiyama (1)
1947
no tournament
Haguroyama (5)
Haguroyama (6)
1946
no tournament
no tournament
Haguroyama (4)
1945
no tournament
Haguroyama (3)
1944
Haguroyama (2)
1943
Futabayama (11)
Futabayama (12)
no tournament
1942
Futabayama (9)
Futabayama (10)
no tournament
1941
Futabayama (8)
Haguroyama (1)
no tournament
1940
Futabayama (7)
no tournament
1939
Dewaminato (1)
Futabayama (6)
no tournament
1938
Futabayama (4)
Futabayama (5)
no tournament
1937
Futabayama (2)
Futabayama (3)
no tournament
1936
Tamanishiki (9)
Futabayama (1)
no tournament
1935
Tamanishiki (7)
Tamanishiki (8)
no tournament
1934
Minanogawa (2)
Shimizugawa (3)
no tournament
1933
Asashio** (1)
Tamanishiki (6)
no tournament
Spring
March
Summer
October
varied
varied
1932
Shimizugawa (1)
Tamanishiki (5)
Shimizugawa (2)
1931
Tamanishiki (3)
Tamanishiki (4)
1930
Toyokuni (2)
Tsunenohana (10)
Tamanishiki (2)
1929
Tamanishiki (1)
Toyokuni (1)
Tsunenohana (8)
Tsunenohana* (9)
1928
Tsunenohana (7)
Miyagiyama (2)
1927
Miyagiyama (1)
Tsunenohana (4)
Tsunenohana (5)
Tsunenohana (6)
[3] *tournament held in September
Spring
Summer
1926
Tsunenohana (3)
1925
Tochigiyama (9)
Nishinoumi III (1)
1924
Tochigiyama (7)
Tochigiyama (8)
1923
Tochigiyama (6)
Tsunenohana (2)
1922
Ōnishiki (5)
1921
Ōnishiki (4)
Tsunenohana (1)
1920
Ōnishiki (2)
Ōnishiki (3)
1919
Tochigiyama (4)
Tochigiyama (5)
1918
Tochigiyama (2)
Tochigiyama (3)
1917
Ōnishiki (1)
Tochigiyama (1)
1916
Nishinoumi II (1)
Tachiyama (9)
1915
Ōtori (2)
Tachiyama (8)
1914
Tachiyama (7)
1913
Ōtori (1)
Tachiyama (6)
1912
Tachiyama (4)
Tachiyama (5)
1911
Tachiyama (2)
Tachiyama (3)
1910
Hitachiyama (1)
Tachiyama (1)
1909
see below*
*A yūshō system giving the wrestler with the best tournament record a prize was introduced by the Mainichi newspaper in the second half of 1909, and this was officially integrated by the JSA in 1926. All tournaments predating the second tournament of 1909 did not recognize or award a championship. As a consequence of this, yokozuna Hitachiyama had seven pre-1909 mathematical "championship" equivalents that are uncounted here, and yokozuna Tachiyama had two.
**Asashio would later become Minanogawa Tōzō
2
32
1960–71
3
31
1981–90
4
25
2002–10
5
24
1974–84
6
22
1992–2001
7
14
1972–80
8
12
1936–43
12
1994–2002
10
11
1992–2000
Years
11
10
1921–30
10
1952–60
10
1956–60
10
1966–73
15
9*[6]
1904–16
9
1917–25
9
1929–36
9
2009–17
9
2015–24
20
8
1986–91
Top champions before 1909
Total
Years
Highest rank
1
28
1790–1810
Ōzeki
2
21
1772–93
Yokozuna
3
16
1812–22
Ōzeki
4
10
1824–37
Yokozuna
5
9*[7]
1899–1910
Yokozuna
9
1874–84
Yokozuna
^Wrestler is currently active.
