Sumo Ranks and the Banzuke Explained

One sheet of thick brush calligraphy places every professional wrestler in Japan, and after a few minutes it is easy to read.

Published October 19, 2026 at 12:00 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: The banzuke is the official ranking sheet of professional sumo, issued before each of the six yearly tournaments. Wrestlers are placed in six divisions, from jonokuchi at the bottom to makuuchi at the top, where the ranks run from maegashira up through komusubi, sekiwake, ozeki and yokozuna. Results in each tournament change the next list.

What the banzuke is

The banzuke is a ranking list for professional sumo wrestlers, written by hand in a distinctive thick calligraphy style called sumo-ji. The letters are rounded and packed tightly, an old design meant to suggest a full house and good attendance. The sheet lists the wrestlers' names in rank order, and the style is part of sumo's visual identity. A new banzuke is released about two weeks before each grand tournament, called honbasho.

Fans, media and wrestlers study it closely, because it shows who has moved up and who has moved down. Copies are sold in shops near the tournament venue and are popular souvenirs. The sheet is divided into east and west sides, and each division has a column. Within a rank, east is considered slightly senior to west, so a wrestler listed at east maegashira number one outranks west number one by a small margin.

The six divisions

Professional sumo has six divisions. From the top they are makuuchi, juryo, makushita, sandanme, jonidan and jonokuchi. Makuuchi, often called the top division, has the most famous wrestlers and fixed rank titles. Juryo is the second division, and its wrestlers are also considered full professionals. The wrestlers in makuuchi and juryo are called sekitori. They receive a salary, wear a formal topknot style called oichomage in tournaments, and have attendants known as tsukebito.

Below juryo, wrestlers are in the lower divisions, where they receive allowances rather than salaries, live in training stables and perform daily chores. New recruits enter through a pre-tournament called maezumo, then begin in the lowest division. Many wrestlers spend years climbing the divisions, and the lower-division matches are an enjoyable part of the day for visitors who arrive early.

The ranks in the top division

Inside makuuchi the ranks run from the bottom up: maegashira, komusubi, sekiwake, ozeki and yokozuna. Maegashira form the largest group and are numbered, with number one at the top. The next three levels, komusubi, sekiwake and ozeki, are the san'yaku or titled ranks, with yokozuna at the peak. There are usually only a few komusubi and sekiwake at a time, and these are earned by strong results against top opponents.

Ozeki is a senior rank, often translated as champion. Yokozuna, or grand champion, is the highest, and a yokozuna wears a thick white rope belt in a ring-entering ceremony. The number of wrestlers at ozeki and yokozuna varies. At times there have been few, and the sheet reflects that. For visitors, it is enough to know that rank affects entrance ceremonies, pay and respect in the stable.

How wins change rank

Each tournament lasts fifteen days, and top-division wrestlers fight once per day. A wrestler with eight or more wins has a winning record, called kachi-koshi, and often moves up. A losing record, called make-koshi, usually leads to a drop. The amount of movement depends on the record and the available places. Promotion to ozeki typically requires strong results over three tournaments, and commonly cited guidelines refer to a total of about thirty-three wins, though the decision rests with the sumo association.

Ozeki who have consecutive losing records can be demoted, but they get a chance to return if they win enough in the next tournament. Promotion to yokozuna is decided by a deliberation council after exceptional results, such as winning championships in consecutive tournaments. A yokozuna cannot be demoted, so the expectation is that one will retire when performance declines. This special status is part of what makes the rank so respected.

The six tournaments and where to see them

Sumo holds six grand tournaments a year. January, May and September take place at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, March at Osaka, July at Nagoya and November at Fukuoka. Each lasts fifteen days, starting on a Sunday. Tickets are sold through official channels and typically go on sale about a month before each tournament. Seat types range from box seats on tatami mats to chair seats.

The big matches are in the late afternoon, but arriving earlier lets you see the lower divisions and the ring-entering ceremonies. Check the Japan Sumo Association site for current dates, ticket details and English information. Kokugikan has a small museum and a gift shop, and the area around Ryogoku has restaurants serving chanko nabe. Tournament schedules are published well in advance on the association's site, so it is easy to plan around them.

Reading a banzuke in practice

At first glance the sheet looks like a wall of black strokes. Start with the top, where the largest characters list the top ranks. The yokozuna and ozeki are in the center of the top section, and the next ranks follow. Names are written vertically in columns. Compare the entries to the previous list, if you have one, or look at a news summary.

You will see who rose or fell. Following one wrestler through several tournaments is a good way to learn how the system works, because each result has a clear effect. Rank names also give clues. Maegashira literally means in front of the head, a historical reference to the wrestlers who stood in front of those with higher ranks. Learning these small details makes the sheet more engaging.

Etiquette for visitors and what to pair with a tournament

When attending a tournament, you do not need to know the rankings in detail to enjoy it. Take a program or use an English guide, and listen to the announcements. Applause is welcome during bouts, and shouting the wrestler's name is common among fans. Do not walk around during a match, and avoid blocking views with large umbrellas or signs. At box seats, shoes are removed and cushions are provided.

Eat and drink at your seat, as is customary, but keep the space tidy. Photography rules vary, so look for signs. The ring itself is treated as a sacred space, so visitors should never touch it. Salt-throwing and ritual gestures before bouts are part of the tradition and are best observed quietly. In Ryogoku, the Sumo Museum inside the Kokugikan displays items related to the sport's history, usually with free entry on days without tournaments. Check current opening details.

Nearby, the Sumida River offers pleasant walks. For a hands-on look at the sport, some stables allow morning practice viewing with advance arrangements. Such opportunities change often and come with strict rules, so use official channels or a reputable tour operator. Food is part of the experience. Chanko nabe, a hearty hot pot, is the classic meal of sumo wrestlers, and Ryogoku has restaurants that specialize in it. Yakitori, a popular snack at tournaments, is often sold inside the venue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest rank in sumo?

Yokozuna, or grand champion, is the highest rank. It is awarded for outstanding performance after review by a deliberation council, and it cannot be lost through demotion. For that reason, a yokozuna normally retires when he can no longer perform at the level the rank requires.

How often is the banzuke published?

A new banzuke is released about two weeks before each of the six yearly grand tournaments. It reflects results from the previous tournament and is sold as a souvenir. Fans study it closely to see who has risen or fallen, and copies appear in shops near the venues.

What do kachi-koshi and make-koshi mean?

Kachi-koshi is a winning record, which in a fifteen-day tournament means eight or more wins. Make-koshi is a losing record, seven wins or fewer. These results largely decide whether a wrestler rises or falls on the next ranking list, and fans follow them closely.

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