This section last updated to be current through February 1996.
Shikona Makunouchi Wins Losses Year.Month of entry ========= === === ===== Akebono 319 124 88.03 Akinoshima 346 304 82.03 Aogiyama 32 43 85.03 Asahiyutaka 44 46 87.03 Asanosho 44 46 92.03 Asanowaka 85 95 92.03 Daishi 69 81 84.03 Daishoho 190 214 90.01 Ganyu 0 0 86.03 Hamanoshima 88 107 92.01 Higonoumi 117 136 92.01 Kaio 125 100 88.03 Kasugafuji 279 321 81.03 Kenko 131 154 81.03 Kiraiho 174 186 81.03 Kirishima 515 495 75.03 Kitakachidoki 237 273 81.05 Konishiki 580 387 82.07 Kotobeppu 125 158 81.03 Kotoinazuma 300 345 78.03 Kotonishiki 336 258 84.03 Kotonowaka 224 241 84.05 Kyokudozan 297 348 80.05 Mainoumi 185 220 90.05 Minatofuji 97 113 84.03 Misugisato 331 374 79.09 Mitoizumi 403 399 78.03 Musashimaru 274 116 89.09 Musoyama 123 79 93.01 Naminohana 89 106 84.05 Oginishiki 118 137 87.03 Oginohana 162 193 83.07 Takanohana 366 129 88.03 Takanonami 247 140 87.03 Takatoriki 263 233 83.03 Tamakasuga 10 5 94.01 Terao 451 524 79.07 Tochinowaka 393 412 85.03 Tomonohana 98 112 92.03 Tosanoumi 35 25 94.03 Wakanohana 287 167 88.03 Wakashoyo 134 165 81.05
Heisei-era Yusho winners:
basho rank shikona heya record
1989 Hatsu Yokozuna Hokutoumi (Kokonoe) 14-1 1989 Haru Yokozuna Chiyonofuji (Kokonoe) 14-1 1989 Natsu Yokozuna Hokutoumi (Kokonoe) 13-2 1989 Nagoya Yokozuna Chiyonofuji (Kokonoe) 12-3 1989 Aki Yokozuna Chiyonofuji (Kokonoe) 15-0 1989 Kyushu Ozeki Konishiki (Takasago) 14-1 1990 Hatsu Yokozuna Chiyonofuji (Kokonoe) 14-1 1990 Haru Yokozuna Hokutoumi (Kokonoe) 13-2 1990 Natsu Ozeki Asahifuji (Oshima) 14-1 1990 Nagoya Ozeki Asahifuji (Oshima) 14-1 1990 Aki Yokozuna Hokutoumi (Kokonoe) 14-1 1990 Kyushu Yokozuna Chiyonofuji (Kokonoe) 14-1 1991 Hatsu Ozeki Kirishima (Izutsu) 14-1 1991 Haru Yokozuna Hokutoumi (Kokonoe) 13-2 1991 Natsu Yokozuna Asahifuji (Oshima) 14-1 1991 Nagoya Maegashira 13 Kotofuji (Sadogatake) 14-1 1991 Aki Maegashira 5 Kotonishiki (Sadogatake) 13-2 1991 Kyushu Ozeki Konishiki (Takasago) 13-2 1992 Hatsu Maegashira 2 Takahanada (Fujishima) 14-1 1992 Haru Ozeki Konishiki (Takasago) 13-2 1992 Natsu Sekiwake Akebono (Azumazeki) 13-2 1992 Nagoya Maegashira 1 Mitoizumi (Takasago) 13-2 1992 Aki Komusubi Takahanada (Fujishima) 14-1 1992 Kyushu Ozeki Akebono (Azumazeki) 14-1 1993 Hatsu Ozeki Akebono (Azumazeki) 13-2 1993 Haru Komusubi Wakahanada (Futagoyama) 14-1 1993 Natsu Ozeki Takanohana (Futagoyama) 14-1 1993 Nagoya Yokozuna Akebono (Azumazeki) 13-2 1993 Aki Yokozuna Akebono (Azumazeki) 14-1 1993 Kyushu Yokozuna Akebono (Azumazeki) 13-2 1994 Hatsu Ozeki Takanohana (Futagoyama) 14-1 1994 Haru Yokozuna Akebono (Azumazeki) 12-3 1994 Natsu Ozeki Takanohana (Futagoyama) 14-1 1994 Nagoya Ozeki Musashimaru (Musashigawa) 15-0 1994 Aki Ozeki Takanohana (Futagoyama) 15-0 1994 Kyushu Ozeki Takanohana (Futagoyama) 15-0 1995 Hatsu Yokozuna Takanohana (Futagoyama) 13-2 1995 Haru Yokozuna Akebono (Azumazeki) 14-1 1995 Natsu Yokozuna Takanohana (Futagoyama) 14-1 1995 Nagoya Yokozuna Takanohana (Futagoyama) 13-2 1995 Aki Yokozuna Takanohana (Futagoyama) 15-0 1995 Kyushu Yokozuna Wakanohana (Futagoyama) 12-3 1996 Hatsu Ozeki Takanonami (Futagoyama) 14-1
Akeni: Red and green bamboo trunks used to carry Juryo and Makuuchi level wrestlers special effects around.
Aki (basho): Fall (tournament).
Banzuke: An ordered list of all the active wrestlers written in Chinese characters in calligraphy; a ranking sheet. Usually, the banzuke is released 2 weeks before the start of a tournament. (Technically, it's released 13 days before the tourney.)
Basho: A sumo tournament. In a sanctioned competition, consists of seven or fifteen bouts held over a two week period.
Akeni: Red and green bamboo trunks used to carry Juryo and Makuuchi level wrestlers special effects around.
Bintsuke: Chamomile oil used to slick back the wrestlers' hair into a topknot style.
Chikara-gami: "Power paper" given to wrestlers after they sip chikara-mizu. They usually use it to mask their mouths while they spit out the chikara mizu.
Chikara-mizu: "Power water" sipped and spat out by wrestlers before a match. They are given the ladle by the last winner on their side (east or west) to win as a transfer of power and luck.
Chon-mage: Sumo hairstyle with topknot and hair slicked with oil.
Danpatsu-shiki: Retirement ceremony where the top knot is snipped by friends and comrades and eventually shorn off (usually by the oyakata).
Dohyo: A raised clay platform with a ring formed by sunken straw bales in the center where sumo bouts are carried out.
Dohyo-iri: The entrance ceremony done before the Juryo and Makuuchi division begin their bouts. Each wrestler enters and joins a circle around the dohyo.
Ebanzuke: An illustrated, unofficial banzuke.
Gino-sho: Technique award given to a wrestler below Ozeki rank.
Gunbai: The "war paddle" carried by the referee inside the ring.
Gyoji: A referee who stands in the ring encouraging wrestlers and officiating the bout. He calls the winner and reties mawashi if they begin to unravel.
Hana-michi: The aisles which lead from the dressing area to the dohyo.
Hana-zumo: Sumo performed for laughs.
Haru (basho): Spring (tournament)
Heya: A stable; a building used to house and train rikishi. This includes sleeping accommodations, cooking facilities and training dohyo.
Higashi: east (the more prestigious division of the banzuke)
Hon-basho: Any of six official basho held in each odd numbered month by the Sumo Kyokai. Only these contests count in the official scores used to rank the rikishi.
Hoshitori-hyo: A chart used to keep track of a wrestler's record. Usually, the chart is provided blank for fans to fill in as a tournament progresses.
Ichimon: A group of stables that are related. They tend to practice together. In addition, when a wrestler from a stable with only one upper division wrestler wins a title, he rides in the winner's car with a high-ranking member of his Ichimon.
Intai-zumo: Retirement from sumo.
Jonidan: The second lowest level of competitive professional sumo.
Jonokuchi: The lowest level of competitive professional sumo.
Jungyo: The exhibition bashos that are held across the nation in between the regular basho schedule. These help in recruiting new rikishi to the sport and also give other people a chance to see the rikishi up close. The most extensive Jungyo is in July-August, covering the Tohoku and Hokkaido regions. Jungyo performances do not affect rank.
Jun-yusho: Runner-up for the tournament title.
Juryo: The first of the two professional divisions of Sumo. Thirty men vie for entrance into the top, Makunouchi division.
Kachi-koshi: In a tournament, attaining the number of wins that assures a better than even percentage. Out of 15 bouts, for example, a rikishi is said to be kachi-koshi at that point where he tallies 8 wins.
Kadoban: Only applies to Ozeki; An Ozeki is said to be kadoban when he lost 8 or more in the previous tournament, and if he does so again, he will be demoted.
Kanto-sho: Fighting spirit award given to a wrestler below Ozeki rank.
Kensho-kin: Money given to wrestlers in envelopes after they win bouts. Each sponsor pays 60,000 yen to have a banner paraded around the ring with the company name on it. The wrestler is given 25,000 yen in cash after the bout. 30,000 is held by the Sumo Association to pay taxes and 5,000 is used to pay for making the banner.
Kesho-mawashi: A ceremonial apron worn by wrestlers during the their entrance ceremony.
Kimarite: The names given to each of the seventy winning techniques and two inadvertent methods that describe the result of a Sumo bout.
Kin-boshi: Literally, "gold star." This is a salary incentive a Maegashira ranked sekitori receives for defeating a Yokozuna.
Koen-kai: A support group/fan club. This differs from a true fan club in that they are expected to pay the wrestler they sponsor handsome sums of cash for associating with them. Koen-kai have parties and provide Kesho-mawashi for the men they support among other things.
Kokugikan: The Arena of the National Sport, in the Ryogoku neighborhood in southeastern Tokyo. This is the rather magnificent facility where Hon-basho, retirement ceremonies, World Amateur Championships and other events are held.
Komusubi: The rank below Sekiwake but above the Maegashira. There are typically two or three rikishi holding this rank. Most rikishi do poorly when promoted to komusubi for the first time and are demoted.
Kuroboshi: A "black star" indicating a loss.
Kyokai: An official association or administration. For Sumo, the Nihon Sumo Kyokai administers the sport under the Ministry of Education.
Maegashira: The lower ranks of the Makunouchi division, numbered from one (highest) to 15 or 16. There is an east and a west position at each numbered level. The number of Maegashira ranks is adjusted so that there are a total of forty Makunouchi rikishi.
Make-koshi: The opposite of kachi-koshi. In a 7 bout tournament, having 4 losses guarantees make-koshi.
Makunouchi: Also called Makuuchi, this is the top division of Ozumo. It is comprised of the ranks of Yokozuna, Ozeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi and Maegashira.
Massuseki: 4 person "box" seats on the lower level of the stadiums that sumo is performed in.
Mawashi: The thick belt that is wrapped around a rikishi for Sumo. It is wound in such a manner that protects the genitals as well as offering a way for the combatants to grapple. Juryo level and higher wear silk of various colors. Lower levels wear black cotton.
Monoii: A meeting between the ringside judges and the referee to discuss whether or not the referee chose the correct winner in a close match or whether a rematch is warranted.
Morozashi: An inside belt grip where both a wrestler's hands and arms are positioned under his opponent's arms.
Nakabi: The middle day of a basho.
Natsu (basho): Summer (tournament).
Nishi: west (the less prestigious division of the banzuke)
Nodo-wa: Thrusts to the throat.
Oicho-mage: The kinko leaf-style top-knot worn by wrestlers in Juryo or higher. It looks like a little fan at the end of the top-knot.
Oyakata: Stablemaster or coach. The man who trains and takes care of all wrestlers living in his stable.
Ozeki: The champion rank of Sumo. Whereas other ranks can be attained by consistently winning, this rank must be granted by the Sumo Kyokai.
Rensho: Consecutive wins.
Renzoku yusho: Winning consecutive yusho.
Rijiicho: The head (chairman) of the (sumo) association.
Rikishi: Literally, "strong man." This is an all-purpose term for men engaging in Sumo.
Sansho: Any of three special prizes awarded to Makunouchi sekitori under the rank of Ozeki. These are for superior technique, superior performance and fighting spirit.
Sekitori: A rikishi ranked in one of the top two divisions of Sumo, who is being paid a salary.
Sekiwake: The junior champion rank of Sumo. Usually two to four rikishi hold this rank.
Senshuraku: The final (15th) day of the tournament.
Shiko: Stamping down with each leg; used as a warm-up before bouts and in practice.
Shikona: A wrestler's "fighting name".
Shiroboshi: A "white star" indicating a win.
Shitaku-beya: The dressing area for rikishi in the performance arena.
Shukun-sho: Outstanding performance award given to a wrestler below Ozeki rank.
Sumobeya: See Heya. When referring to a specific heya, the suffix -beya may be used; instead of saying that Tosanoumi's heya is Isenoumi, it is neater to talk of Tosanoumi, of Isenoumi-beya. It is less awkward to say, "Look, there's Izutsu-beya" than "That heya is Izutsu."
Tachi-mochi: The sword-bearer in the Yokozuna dohyo-iri.
Tawara: Straw bales sunk into the dohyo to mark the edges of the ring.
Tenno-shihai: Emperor's cup (trophy given to tournament winners).
Torikumi: The term for an individual sumo bout, or also used to refer to the list of bouts for an entire day.
Torinaoshi: A rematch after a close bout.
Toshiyori-kabu: A financial term, this is a license that must be purchased from the Sumo Kyokai in order to hold a position as Oyakata, or coach. There are only a limited number of these positions, each of which carries a name. Currently, these cost between two and four hundred million yen.
Tozai: The system whereby wrestlers are divided into east and west divisions.
Tsukebito: Assistants to wrestlers ranked in Juryo or higher.
Tsuna: A braided belt of white linen worn by Yokozuna for ceremony.
Tsuppari: Slapping attacks.
Tsuyu-harai: The herald in the Yokozuna entrance ceremony literally, "the dew sweeper".
Unryu: A style of Yokozuna entrance ceremony currently practiced by Akebono which involves slowly sliding feet that are wide-spread together. Formerly practiced by Chiyonofuji.
Yao-cho: "Fixed" bouts where one wrestler allows the other to win.
Yasumi: To "rest". When a wrestler chooses to step out of a tournament because of an illness, or injury, a "yasumi" mark is placed on the hoshitori-hyo for each day he's resting.
Yobidashi: Assistants who sweep the dohyo (lower rankers) and call out the names of the rikishi in a sing-song fashion before each bout while holding an open fan.
Yokozuna: The pinnacle of active Sumo, this is the rank of grand champion. Only 65 men have held this rank.
Yumitori-shiki: The bow twirler who performs at the end of each day's bouts.
Yusho: The tournament title. A rikishi wins a yusho by winning more matches than any other in his division, or if two or men are tied, by being triumphant in a playoff.
Zabuton: A thin flat pillow (used in box seats).
Zensho (yusho): Winning a tournament title with 15 wins and no losses
Masumi Abe Ken Coller John Crossley Patricia L. Cuyler Yuzuru Hiraga Richard A. Magahiz Ramon Miquel Achim Pawelczyk George Piternick Shari Custer-Poza David Riley Lora Sharnoff John Swain Richard Webb