Highest-ranking of the six divisions of professional sumo
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A makuuchi match with the 69th yokozuna Hakuhō beating Dejima as the 68th yokozuna Asashōryū watches in the background
Makuuchi (幕内), or makunouchi (幕の内), is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (rikishi), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments.
This is the only division that is featured on NHK's standard live coverage of sumo tournaments. The lower divisions are shown on their satellite coverage, with only the makuuchi broadcast having bilingual English commentary.
Makuuchi literally means "inside the curtain", a reference to the early period of professional sumo, when there was a curtained-off area reserved for the top ranked wrestlers, to sit before appearing for their bouts.
Wrestlers are considered for promotion or demotion in rank before each grand tournament according to their performance in the one previous. Generally, a greater number of wins than losses (kachi-koshi) results in a promotion, and the reverse (make-koshi) results in demotion. There are stricter criteria for promotion to the top two ranks, which are also privileged when considered for demotion.
Makuuchi (幕内), or makunouchi (幕の内), is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (rikishi), ordered...
This is a list of wrestlers who have won the top division (makuuchi) championship in professional sumo since 1909, when the current championship system...
ranked in order of hierarchy from highest to lowest, are as follows: Makuuchi (幕内), or makunouchi (幕の内), is the top division. It is fixed at 42 wrestlers...
stood out in 2024 by earning promotion straight into sumo's top division (makuuchi) after just one tournament in the second-highest jūryō division. In March...
top jūryō wrestlers. Top jūryō wrestlers are often called to bout with makuuchi wrestlers, but their income stay that of a jūryō. Binzuke (鬢付け) Also called...
championship in his debut as a sekitori in September 2013. He took the top makuuchi division championship in May 2015, only 25 tournaments after his professional...
alphabetical list of all active professional sumo wrestlers in the top makuuchi division, and all those currently in lower divisions who have a Wikipedia...
wrestler from Fukushima. He made his debut in March 2017 and reached the top makuuchi division in November 2019. He wrestles for Arashio stable, where he is...
this period he participated in numerous training camps with other current makuuchi wrestlers such as Nishikifuji or Ōnoshō, both also from the Tōhoku region...
specialist, he debuted in sumo wrestling in September 2016 and made his makuuchi debut in January 2021. His highest rank has been maegashira 1. He wrestles...
sekiwake Kotonowaka. He made his debut in November 2015 and reached the top makuuchi division in March 2020, reaching the san'yaku ranks in January 2023. His...
Michinoku stable under the name Kiribayama Tetsuo (霧馬山鐵雄), and reached the top makuuchi division in January 2020. He wrestles for Otowayama stable, where he moved...
wrestler. He made his professional debut in January 2009, reaching the top makuuchi division in July 2011. The highest rank he has reached is sekiwake. He...
University, he made his professional debut in March 2015, reaching the top makuuchi division in November of the same year. He has ten special prizes for Fighting...
distinguished himself by winning his first makuuchi victory on his birthday and by performing his first makuuchi ring-entering ceremony using a keshō-mawashi...
wrestles for Takasago stable. He debuted in sumo in March 2016 and made his makuuchi debut in September 2017. His highest rank has been ōzeki. He has earned...
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