makuuchi

Makuuchi is the top division of professional sumo wrestling. It forms the highest tier of competition in the sport and is governed by the Japan Sumo Association. The division typically includes up to 42 wrestlers and features the sport’s most prominent competitors. Within makuuchi, the ranks are yokozuna, ōzeki, sekiwake, komusubi, and maegashira.

Competition is carried out in six annual honbasho, officially sanctioned tournaments that last 15 days each. In makuuchi, every day there are 21 bouts, with each wrestler facing a different opponent. Results are recorded on the banzuke, a ranking list published before each tournament. The wrestler with the best record is awarded the yusho (championship); if two or more wrestlers tie for first, a playoff is used to determine the champion.

Promotion and relegation: Wrestlers move between makuuchi and the second division, jūryō, based on performance. A kachi-koshi (more wins than losses) generally leads to promotion or retention in makuuchi; a make-koshi (more losses) can result in demotion to jūryō. The banzuke is revised after every honbasho, reshuffling the makuuchi lineup.

Sanyaku and prestige: The top four ranks—yokozuna, ōzeki, sekiwake, and komusubi—form the sanyaku, or titled ranks, and carry particular prestige and responsibilities. Maegashira ranks fill the remainder of the division. The makuuchi championship and its stars are central to the sport's contemporary image.

Venues: Official tournaments are held at several venues around Japan, most notably the Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, with others in cities such as Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. The division's results shape the careers of wrestlers and the historical record of sumo.