ichidai toshiyori: "one-generation elder" (The honor is given to strong yokozuna so that they can keep their fighting name as an elder name. However, their stock dies with them and cannot be passed down to an apprentice. Currently there are two one-generation elders: Taiho and Kitanoumi.)

ichimon: a group of affiliated stables; the five ichimon are Dewanoumi, Nishonoseki, Takasago, Tokitsukaze, and Tatsunami/ Isegahama

intai: to retire

"Jikan desu" or "Jikan ippai": "Time is up" (a gyoji command during matches)

jonidan: second lowest division of wrestlers

jonokuchi: lowest division of wrestlers

jungyo: sumo exhibition tour

juryo: second highest division of wrestlers

Kachikoshi: a winning record; for the juryo and makuuchi division, 8-7 or better, for divisions below juryo, 4-3 or better

kadoban ozeki: an ozeki that had a losing record the previous tournament; if he has another losing record in the following tournament, he will be demoted

kanji (1): Chinese characters(all sumo names are written with kanji)

kanji (2): supervisor

kanjin-zumo: benefit sumo performed for charity (17th century)

Kantosho: Fighting Spirit Award

keiko: practice

keikoba: the practice area

kensho-ken: envelopes containing "encouragement money" that a winner of a bout receives as a bonus

kesho-mawashi: the fancy ceremonial aprons that sekitori wear for their dohyo-iri

kettei-sen: a playoff

ki: heart, spirit, mind, as in Ki ga haitte imasu (He is really psyched)

kimarite: winning technique

Kimura Shonosuke: the name always given to the top referee

kinboshi: "gold star"; given to a maegashira wrestler who defeats a yokozuna

kinjite: foul or illegal technique

kodomo-zumo: children’s sumo

koenkai: organization that sponsors a stable or an individual wrestler

kohai: a junior

Kokugikan: sumo arena in Ryogoku, Tokyo

komusubi: forth highest rank in the top makuuchi division

Kosho Seido: Public Injury System that allows an injured wrestler to sit out a tournament without affecting his rank

kubinage: "headlock throw" technique

kuroboshi: "black star"; a loss

maegashira: fifth highest rank in the makuuchi division

maezumo: "pre-sumo" division

makekoshi: a losing record

makushita: third highest division

makushita tsukedashi: an exemption for college champions that allows them to enter the sumo rankings at the bottom of makushita

makuuchi: top division above juryo

man-in onrei: "Full house, thank you"; banners that hang above the dohyo in a sold-out tournament

masu-zeki: box seats on the first floor of the arena

matawari: sumo style splits

matta: "wait"; sumo wrestler who makes a false start or is not ready when time has expired

mawashi: sumo wrestler’s belt

mochi-kyukin: incentive pay for wrestlers in juryo or above divisions

mono-ii: conference by the judges to decide on a close match

morozashi: during a fight, the situation of a wrestler having both hands on his opponent’s belt

musubi no ichiban: the last match of the day

myoseki: the 105 elder names