komusubi

Komusubi is a sumo wrestling rank and the fourth highest in the hierarchy of the professional sport. It is part of the sanyaku, the uppermost tier of the makuuchi division, ranking below sekiwake and above the maegashira ranks. In a typical tournament, two wrestlers hold the komusubi position, but there can be one or even none depending on the lineup determined for that event.

Promotion to komusubi is earned through strong performance in the preceding tournament, usually from among the maegashira or occasionally from the sekiwake tier. The ranking committee evaluates a wrestler’s overall results, including records against higher-ranked opponents and consistency across the 15-day event. The exact criteria are not published in detail, but a high win total and notable victories against top competitors increase the likelihood of promotion into komusubi.

Demotion from komusubi occurs if a wrestler finishes the tournament with a losing record, or make-koshi, which typically means eight losses or more in a 15-match basho. A make-koshi at the komusubi level usually leads to drop to a lower maegashira rank in the next banzuke. As with promotions, exceptions can occur due to injuries or other organizational considerations, with the final placement determined by the ranking committee.

The komusubi rank is considered a high-pressure slot within sumo, frequently pitting wrestlers against other sanyaku members and top-tier opponents early in the tournament. Holding komusubi reflects a wrestler’s ability to compete at the upper echelons of the sport, even as it carries the risk of rapid demotion with a poor result.