Ranking in Sumo accounts for absolutly everything. It affects when you get up in the morning, how much you get to eat, how much freedom you will have, and how you are treated in your stable.

The number of rikishi (wrestlers) is constantly changing due to people retiring and dropping out of Sumo, but, it usually stays around 800 rikishi. Generally, if a rikishi has a kachi-koshi (winning record) he will go up in rank. If he has a make-koshi (losing record) he will go down in rank. In the Juryo and Makkuchi divisons, they have 15 matches per 15 day tournament. So the rikishi in Juryo and Makuuchi have to have a 8-7 record or better to be promoted. From Makushita down to Maezumo, they have 7 bouts per 15 day tournament. So, that means they have to get a 4-3 record or better to be promoted.

The Ranking system in Sumo shows a hierarchy in the Sumo world. Rikishi start Sumo in the Maezumo (Pre-Sumo) divison after taking a long sumo class. If they win enough bouts, they are officially entered into Sumo. They start off in the Jonokuchi divison. Then, if they keep on getting winning records, they will eventually make it to Juryo rank. The odds of making it into Juryo rank are about 1:10. When you reach Juryo rank, it is a large jump. You are finally considered a "Professional" rikishi, you start to earn a large paycheck, you are allowed to wear a silk mawashi (belt) in tournaments, and you are given tsukebito. (Tsukebito are attendants. The people who make up the tsukebito are lower ranked rikishi.) If he keeps on winning, he will keep on progressing to the Makkuchi, Komusubi and Sekiwake ranks. To become a Ozeki, a Rikishi must get about 33 wins in 3 tournaments. Then, the Sumo Association will hold a meeting on whether or not you should be promoted. To make it to the Highest rank, Yokozuna, You must get at least 27 wins in 2 tournaments. Then, the Sumo Association and the Yokozuna Council will decide on if you should be promoted. If you are promoted, you can never be demoted after that. If a Yokozuna starts to lose, however, they will be forced to retire.

 

 

The Number of Rikishi in Sumo

Yokozuna 1-4
Ozeki 1-4
Sekiwake 2
Komosubi 2
Makkuchi 32
Juryo 26
Makushita 120
Sandamme 200
Jonidan 300
Jonokuchi 100
Total: Around 800

The Banzuke is the ranking sheet in Sumo. The banzuke is hand-written in a special style of writing called Sumo-e. The person who writes the banzuke is one of the high-ranking gyoji. It is usually released about a week before each tournament. The official banzuke is quite a hot collectors item. Most of the copies are given away to supporters of various rikishi and supporters of certain stables. On the Banzuke, the rikishi are divided into east and west sides. The east is the more prestigious side. At the top of the banzuke in large print are the Makkuchi and Juryo divisons, and below that in the small print are the lower divisons.

 

A picture of Ozeki Chiyotaikai pointing to his name on the Banzuke.