List of sumo tournament top division champions

The Emperor's Cup has been awarded to the winner of top division tournaments since 1925.

This is a list of wrestlers who have won the top division (makuuchi) championship in professional sumo since 1909, when the current championship system was established. These official tournaments are held exclusively in Japan.

1958 to present

The first table below lists the champions since the six-tournament system was instituted in 1958. The championship is determined by the wrestler with the highest win–loss score after fifteen bouts, held at a rate of one per day over the duration of the 15-day tournament. In the event of a tie a play-off is held between the wrestlers concerned.

Names in bold mark an undefeated victory (a zenshō-yūshō). Names in italics mark a victory by a maegashira. Figures in brackets mark the number of championships earned up to that tournament for wrestlers who won the championship more than once.

January March May July September November
year
in sumo
Tokyo Osaka Tokyo Nagoya Tokyo Kyushu
2024 Terunofuji (9) Takerufuji
2023 Takakeishō (3) Kiribayama* (1) Terunofuji (8) Hōshōryū Takakeishō (4) Kirishima II (2)
2022 Mitakeumi (3) Wakatakakage Terunofuji (7) Ichinojō Tamawashi (2) Abi
2021 Daieishō Terunofuji (3) Terunofuji (4) Hakuhō (45) Terunofuji (5) Terunofuji (6)
2020 Tokushōryū Hakuhō (44) Not held Terunofuji (2) Shōdai Takakeishō (2)
2019 Tamawashi (1) Hakuhō (42) Asanoyama Kakuryū (6) Mitakeumi (2) Hakuhō (43)
2018 Tochinoshin Kakuryū (4) Kakuryū (5) Mitakeumi (1) Hakuhō (41) Takakeishō (1)
2017 Kisenosato (1) Kisenosato (2) Hakuhō (38) Hakuhō (39) Harumafuji (9) Hakuhō (40)
2016 Kotoshōgiku Hakuhō (36) Hakuhō (37) Harumafuji (8) Gōeidō Kakuryū (3)
2015 Hakuhō (33) Hakuhō (34) Terunofuji (1) Hakuhō (35) Kakuryū (2) Harumafuji (7)
2014 Hakuhō (28) Kakuryū (1) Hakuhō (29) Hakuhō (30) Hakuhō (31) Hakuhō (32)
2013 Harumafuji (5) Hakuhō (24) Hakuhō (25) Hakuhō (26) Hakuhō (27) Harumafuji (6)
2012 Baruto Hakuhō (22) Kyokutenhō Harumafuji (3) Harumafuji (4) Hakuhō (23)
2011 Hakuhō (18) Not held Hakuhō (19) Harumafuji (2) Hakuhō (20) Hakuhō (21)
2010 Asashōryū (25) Hakuhō (13) Hakuhō (14) Hakuhō (15) Hakuhō (16) Hakuhō (17)
2009 Asashōryū (23) Hakuhō (10) Harumafuji (1) Hakuhō (11) Asashōryū (24) Hakuhō (12)
2008 Hakuhō (6) Asashōryū (22) Kotoōshū Hakuhō (7) Hakuhō (8) Hakuhō (9)
2007 Asashōryū (20) Hakuhō (2) Hakuhō (3) Asashōryū (21) Hakuhō (4) Hakuhō (5)
2006 Tochiazuma II (3) Asashōryū (16) Hakuhō (1) Asashōryū (17) Asashōryū (18) Asashōryū (19)
2005 Asashōryū (10) Asashōryū (11) Asashōryū (12) Asashōryū (13) Asashōryū (14) Asashōryū (15)
2004 Asashōryū (5) Asashōryū (6) Asashōryū (7) Asashōryū (8) Kaiō (5) Asashōryū (9)
2003 Asashōryū (2) Chiyotaikai (3) Asashōryū (3) Kaiō (4) Asashōryū (4) Tochiazuma II (2)
2002 Tochiazuma II (1) Musashimaru (10) Musashimaru (11) Chiyotaikai (2) Musashimaru (12) Asashōryū (1)
2001 Takanohana II (21) Kaiō (2) Takanohana II (22) Kaiō (3) Kotomitsuki Musashimaru (9)
2000 Musōyama Takatōriki Kaiō (1) Akebono (10) Musashimaru (8) Akebono (11)
1999 Chiyotaikai (1) Musashimaru (4) Musashimaru (5) Dejima Musashimaru (6) Musashimaru (7)
1998 Musashimaru (3) Wakanohana III (4) Wakanohana III (5) Takanohana II (19) Takanohana II (20) Kotonishiki (2)
1997 Wakanohana III (3) Takanohana II (16) Akebono (9) Takanohana II (17) Takanohana II (18) Takanonami (2)
1996 Takanonami (1) Takanohana II (12) Takanohana II (13) Takanohana II (14) Takanohana II (15) Musashimaru (2)
1995 Takanohana II (8) Akebono (8) Takanohana II (9) Takanohana II (10) Takanohana II (11) Wakanohana III (2)
1994 Takanohana II (4) Akebono (7) Takanohana II (5) Musashimaru (1) Takanohana II (6) Takanohana II (7)
1993 Akebono (3) Wakahanada* (1) Takanohana II (3) Akebono (4) Akebono (5) Akebono (6)
1992 Takahanada* (1) Konishiki (3) Akebono (1) Mitoizumi Takahanada* (2) Akebono (2)
1991 Kirishima I Hokutoumi (8) Asahifuji (4) Kotofuji Kotonishiki (1) Konishiki (2)
1990 Chiyonofuji (30) Hokutoumi (6) Asahifuji (2) Asahifuji (3) Hokutoumi (7) Chiyonofuji (31)
1989 Hokutoumi (4) Chiyonofuji (27) Hokutoumi (5) Chiyonofuji (28) Chiyonofuji (29) Konishiki (1)
1988 Asahifuji (1) Ōnokuni (2) Chiyonofuji (23) Chiyonofuji (24) Chiyonofuji (25) Chiyonofuji (26)
1987 Chiyonofuji (20) Hokutoumi (2) Ōnokuni (1) Chiyonofuji (21) Hokutoumi (3) Chiyonofuji (22)
1986 Chiyonofuji (15) Hoshi* (1) Chiyonofuji (16) Chiyonofuji (17) Chiyonofuji (18) Chiyonofuji (19)
1985 Chiyonofuji (11) Asashio IV Chiyonofuji (12) Hokuten'yū (2) Chiyonofuji (13) Chiyonofuji (14)
1984 Takanosato (4) Wakashimazu (1) Kitanoumi (24) Wakashimazu (2) Tagaryū Chiyonofuji (10)
1983 Kotokaze (2) Chiyonofuji (8) Hokuten'yū (1) Takanosato (2) Takanosato (3) Chiyonofuji (9)
1982 Kitanoumi (23) Chiyonofuji (4) Chiyonofuji (5) Chiyonofuji (6) Takanosato (1) Chiyonofuji (7)
1981 Chiyonofuji (1) Kitanoumi (21) Kitanoumi (22) Chiyonofuji (2) Kotokaze (1) Chiyonofuji (3)
1980 Mienoumi (3) Kitanoumi (18) Kitanoumi (19) Kitanoumi (20) Wakanohana II (4) Wajima (14)
1979 Kitanoumi (15) Kitanoumi (16) Wakanohana II (3) Wajima (13) Kitanoumi (17) Mienoumi (2)
1978 Kitanoumi (10) Kitanoumi (11) Kitanoumi (12) Kitanoumi (13) Kitanoumi (14) Wakanohana II (2)
1977 Wajima (10) Kitanoumi (8) Wakamisugi II* (1) Wajima (11) Kitanoumi (9) Wajima (12)
1976 Kitanoumi (5) Wajima (8) Kitanoumi (6) Wajima (9) Kaiketsu (2) Kitanoumi (7)
1975 Kitanoumi (3) Takanohana I (1) Kitanoumi (4) Kongō (1) Takanohana I (2) Mienoumi (1)
1974 Kitanoumi (1) Wajima (5) Kitanoumi (2) Wajima (6) Wajima (7) Kaiketsu (1)
1973 Kotozakura (4) Kitanofuji (10) Wajima (2) Kotozakura (5) Wajima (3) Wajima (4)
1972 Tochiazuma I Hasegawa Wajima (1) Takamiyama II Kitanofuji (9) Kotozakura (3)
1971 Taihō (32) Tamanoumi II (5) Kitanofuji (6) Tamanoumi II (6) Kitanofuji (7) Kitanofuji (8)
1970 Kitanofuji (3) Taihō (31) Kitanofuji (4) Kitanofuji (5) Tamanoumi II (3) Tamanoumi II (4)
1969 Taihō (29) Kotozakura (2) Taihō (30) Kiyokuni Tamanoshima* (2) Kitanofuji (2)
1968 Sadanoyama (6) Wakanami Tamanoshima* (1) Kotozakura (1) Taihō (27) Taihō (28)
1967 Taihō (24) Kitanofuji (1) Taihō (25) Kashiwado (5) Taihō (26) Sadanoyama (5)
1966 Kashiwado (4) Taihō (19) Taihō (20) Taihō (21) Taihō (22) Taihō (23)
1965 Sadanoyama (3) Taihō (16) Sadanoyama (4) Taihō (17) Kashiwado (3) Taihō (18)
1964 Taihō (12) Taihō (13) Tochinoumi (3) Fujinishiki Taihō (14) Taihō (15)
1963 Taihō (9) Taihō (10) Taihō (11) Kitabayama Kashiwado (2) Tochinoumi (2)
1962 Taihō (5) Sadanoyama (2) Tochinoumi (1) Taihō (6) Taihō (7) Taihō (8)
1961 Kashiwado (1) Asashio III (5) Sadanoyama (1) Taihō (2) Taihō (3) Taihō (4)
1960 Tochinishiki (10) Wakanohana I (8) Wakamisugi I Wakanohana I (9) Wakanohana I (10) Taihō (1)
1959 Wakanohana I (5) Tochinishiki (8) Wakanohana I (6) Tochinishiki (9) Wakanohana I (7) Wakahaguro
1958 Wakanohana I (2) Asashio III (3) Tochinishiki (7) Wakanohana I (3) Wakanohana I (4) Asashio III (4)
  1. ^ a b c Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, the tournament was held in Tokyo to avoid unnecessary domestic travel.
  2. ^ Tournament cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  3. ^ Tournament cancelled due to the match-fixing scandal

*Hoshi would later become Hokutoumi.
*Takahanada would later become the 2nd Takanohana.
*Tamanoshima would later become the 3rd Tamanoumi.
*Wakahanada would later become the 3rd Wakanohana.
*Wakamisugi II would later become the 2nd Wakanohana.
*Kiribayama would later become the 2nd Kirishima.

1909 to 1957

The following tables list the champions before the introduction of the current tournament system. The system was less regularized between years, with a different number of tournaments held at different times and in different venues, and often with a changing number of bouts fought in each tournament.

January March May September November
Tokyo Osaka Tokyo Tokyo Kyushu
1957 Chiyonoyama (6) Asashio III (2) Annenyama Tochinishiki (6) Tamanoumi I (1)
New Year Spring Summer Autumn
Tokyo Osaka Tokyo Tokyo
1956 Kagamisato (3) Asashio III (1) Wakanohana I (1) Kagamisato (4)
1955 Chiyonoyama (4) Chiyonoyama (5) Tochinishiki (5) Kagamisato (2)
1954 Yoshibayama Mitsuneyama Tochinishiki (3) Tochinishiki (4)
1953 Kagamisato (1) Tochinishiki (2) Tokitsuyama Azumafuji (6)
Spring Summer Autumn
Tokyo Tokyo Tokyo
1952 Haguroyama (7) Azumafuji (5) Tochinishiki (1)
1951 Terukuni (2) Chiyonoyama (3) Azumafuji (4)
1950 Chiyonoyama (2) Azumafuji (3) Terukuni (1)
1949 Azumafuji (2) Masuiyama (2) Chiyonoyama (1)
1948 no tournament Azumafuji (1) Masuiyama (1)
1947 no tournament Haguroyama (5) Haguroyama (6)
1946 no tournament no tournament Haguroyama (4)
1945 no tournament Bishūyama Haguroyama (3)
1944 Saganohana Haguroyama (2) Maedayama
1943 Futabayama (11) Futabayama (12) no tournament
1942 Futabayama (9) Futabayama (10) no tournament
1941 Futabayama (8) Haguroyama (1) no tournament
1940 Futabayama (7) Akinoumi no tournament
1939 Dewaminato (1) Futabayama (6) no tournament
1938 Futabayama (4) Futabayama (5) no tournament
1937 Futabayama (2) Futabayama (3) no tournament
1936 Tamanishiki (9) Futabayama (1) no tournament
1935 Tamanishiki (7) Tamanishiki (8) no tournament
1934 Minanogawa (2) Shimizugawa (3) no tournament
1933 Asashio** (1) Tamanishiki (6) no tournament
Spring March Summer October
Tokyo varied Tokyo varied
1932 Shimizugawa (1) Okitsuumi Tamanishiki (5) Shimizugawa (2)
1931 Tamanishiki (3) Tamanishiki (4) Musashiyama Ayazakura
1930 Toyokuni (2) Tsunenohana (10) Yamanishiki Tamanishiki (2)
1929 Tamanishiki (1) Toyokuni (1) Tsunenohana (8) Tsunenohana* (9)
1928 Hitachiiwa Noshirogata Tsunenohana (7) Miyagiyama (2)
1927 Miyagiyama (1) Tsunenohana (4) Tsunenohana (5) Tsunenohana (6)

*tournament held in September

Spring Summer
1926 Tsunenohana (3) Orochiyama
1925 Tochigiyama (9) Nishinoumi III (1)
1924 Tochigiyama (7) Tochigiyama (8)
1923 Tochigiyama (6) Tsunenohana (2)
1922 Tsurugahama Ōnishiki (5)
1921 Ōnishiki (4) Tsunenohana (1)
1920 Ōnishiki (2) Ōnishiki (3)
1919 Tochigiyama (4) Tochigiyama (5)
1918 Tochigiyama (2) Tochigiyama (3)
1917 Ōnishiki (1) Tochigiyama (1)
1916 Nishinoumi II (1) Tachiyama (9)
1915 Ōtori (2) Tachiyama (8)
1914 Tachiyama (7) Ryōgoku
1913 Ōtori (1) Tachiyama (6)
1912 Tachiyama (4) Tachiyama (5)
1911 Tachiyama (2) Tachiyama (3)
1910 Hitachiyama (1) Tachiyama (1)
1909 see below* Takamiyama I


*A yūshō system giving the wrestler with the best tournament record a prize was introduced by the Mainichi newspaper in the second half of 1909, and this was officially integrated by the JSA in 1926. All tournaments predating the second tournament of 1909 did not recognize or award a championship. As a consequence of this, yokozuna Hitachiyama had seven pre-1909 mathematical "championship" equivalents that are uncounted here, and yokozuna Tachiyama had two.
**Asashio would later become Minanogawa Tōzō

Most career championships

^Wrestler is currently active.

See also


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