Who are the 10 best sumo wrestlers ever to exist? A ranked list

Who are the 10 best sumo wrestlers ever to exist? A ranked list

Steve Njuguna
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:22 PM

Sumo wrestling is a traditional form of Japanese wrestling that incorporates grappling and throwing as the primary way to gain victory. It is Japan's official sport and has been practised since the 8th century. Join us today as we look at some of the best sumo wrestlers in history!

Here is a list of the best sumo wrestlers ever to exist.
Tamawashi and Tobizaru compete during day eight of the Grand sumo Summer Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 15, 2022. Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

In Japanese, the word 'sumo' can be roughly translated to 'fight.' It is also common in other countries such as Mongolia and The Philippines.

The top 10 best sumo wrestlers to ever exist

The sport has also found popularity in the United States as it is popularly depicted in Hollywood martial arts films. The highest-ranked sumo wrestler in the sport is given the honorary title of Yokozuna.

10. Konishiki Yasokichi

Konishiki was born Saleva'a Fuauli Atisano'e in Hawaii, USA, and was the first non-Japanese Sumo wrestler to reach the sumo rank of Ozeki, the second most senior title after Yokozuna. In 81 tournaments over his career, he won 649 bouts. After he retired from Sumo wrestling, he became a successful TV personality in Japan and America and has been featured in both movies and TV shows.

Name

Saleva'a Fuauli Atisano'e

Professional Era

(1984-2002)

Yokozuna number

Unranked

Professional sumo wrestler Konishiki Yasokichi arrives at the Jay Leno TV show on June 9, 1998 (Photo by:Margaret Norton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Konishiki Yasokichi arrives at the Jay Leno TV show on June 9, 1998 (Photo by: Margaret Norton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Source: Getty Images

9. Inazuma Raigorō

Inazuma was a 19th-century wrestler who achieved the rank of Yokozuna and held it for nine consecutive years (1830-1839). He is the 7th ever Yokozuna on record.

Name

Inazuma Raigoro

Professional era

1830-1839

Yokozuna number

7th

8. Musashimaru Kōyō

Musashimaru is another non-Japanese sumo champion. He was born in American Samoa but moved to Hawaii as a child. He was initially named Fiamalu Penitani. He achieved the rank of Yokozuna in 1999 though injuries forced him to retire in 2002 aged just 31. He was the 67th Yokozuna.

Name

Musashimaru Kōyō

Professional era

1993-2002

Yokozuna number

67th

Musashimaru is one of the best non-Japanese sumo wrestlers ever to grace the Sport
Musashimaru during an event in 2002 (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)
Source: Getty Images

7. Wajima Hiroshi

Hiroshi Wajima was a dominant wrestler in the late 20th century. He was crowned the sport's 54th Yokozuna in 1973. He was also the only collegiate athlete to become Yokozuna. He passed away in 2018 due to cancer.

Name

Hiroshi Wajima

Professional era

1969-1984

Yokozuna number

54th

Wajima Hiroshi during a collegiate tournament in Osaka, Japan in 1969. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)
Wajima Hiroshi during a collegiate tournament in Osaka, Japan, in 1969. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)
Source: Getty Images

6. Tanikaze Kajinosuke

Tanikaze was an 18th-century Yokozuna who was the first to be recognized with the title while still alive. He is officially recorded as the 4th ever Yokozuna, and there is a statue of him in Sendai, Japan.

Name

Tanikaze Kajinosuke

Professional era

1769-1795

Yokozuna number

4th

Tanikaze is considered one of the greatest sumo wrestlers of all time
A depiction of Tanikaze Kajinosuke of Edo, the Best Wrestler in Japan, c. the mid-1780s by Japanese artist Katsukawa Shunsho (Photo by: Sepia Times/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Source: Getty Images

5. Asashōryū Akinori

Akinori was born in Mongolia under the name Dolgorsürengiin Dagvadorj. He dominated sumo wrestling in the early 21st century, with his spell as Yokozuna lasting from 2004-2007. He was the sport's 68th Yokozuna and the first Mongolian to achieve that rank. He was known for being controversial and retired in 2010 after being accused of assault outside a Tokyo nightclub.

Name

Asashōryū Akinori

Professional era

1999-2010

Yokozuna number

68th

Asashoryu is considered one of the best sumo wrestlers of all time
Asashoryu raises his fist after beating Chiyotakai and winning the Grand sumo New Year Tournament on January 24, 2004, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)
Source: Getty Images

4. Harumafuji Kōhei

Harumafuji is another Mongolian-born wrestler.His original name is Davaanyamyn Byambadorj.He was the sport's 70th Yokozuna and had five years of dominance between 2012 and 2017. He is lighter than most sumo wrestlers and used his superior technique and skills to best opponents. He resigned in 2017 after admitting to physically assaulting another wrestler at a regional meet.

Name

Davaanyamyn Byambadorj

Professional era

2001-2017

Yokozuna Number

70th

Harumafuji is one of the most famous sumo wrestlers of all time
Harumafuji during a sumo meet in 2017 (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)
Source: Getty Images

3. Taiho Koki

Koki was born Ivan Boryshko in 1940 to a Japanese mother and a Ukrainian father. His family was split up after World War 2 when the Soviet Union took over the Sakhalin Islands, and he moved to Japan with his mother. He became the 48th Yokozuna in 1961, aged just 21 years. He passed away in 2013.

Name

Taiho Koki

Professional era

1958-1971

Yokozuna rank

48th

Taiho is considered one of the greatest Sumo wrestlers of all time
Taiho during a sumo championship in 1964 (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)
Source: Getty Images

2. Kitanoumi Toshimitsu

Kitanoumi was the youngest ever sumo wrestler to be made Yokozuna, earning the achievement aged 21 years and two months in 1974. He was the sport's 55th Yokozuna and later became the Japanese Sumo association president. He passed away in 2015.

Name

Kitanoumi Toshimitsu

Professional era

1967-1985

Yokozuna era

55th

Kitanoumi was the youngest ever Sumo wrestler to achieve the rank of Yokozuna
Yokozuna Kitanoumi receives his certificate after winning the Grand sumo Nagoya Tournament on July 20, 1980, in Nagoya, Japan. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)
Source: Getty Images

1. Hakuho Sho

Sho is widely considered the most outstanding sumo wrestler ever. Born Mönkhbatyn Davaajargal in Mongolia, he first became Yokozuna in 2007. He is well known for his longevity and consistency, only retiring in 2021 after a twenty-year sumo wrestling career. He also holds the annual Hakuho cup in Japan for upcoming sumo wrestlers.

Name

Mönkhbatyn Davaajargal

Professional era

2001-2021

Yokozuna number

69th

Hakuho is the best sumo wrestler in the history of the sport
Hakuho after winning the tournament on day fifteen of the Grand sumo Spring Tournament at Edion Arena Osaka on March 24, 2019, in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)
Source: Getty Images

The sport of sumo wrestling continues to garner more attention and popularity across the world. It requires skill, strength, technique, and discipline to be a champion. That is why we have broken down the top 10 best sumo wrestlers in the world.

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Authors
Steve Njuguna photo
Steve Njuguna
Steve Njuguna is a media professional with close to a decade of experience in the sports media industry. He has previously worked as a sports journalist with Bamba Sports TV, Vybez Radio and The Nairobian newspaper.