# The sumo wrestlers with the most top-division championships

The rikishi with the most makuuchi (top-division) tournament wins in grand sumo, counting official titles since the system began in 1909, according to Wikipedia.

- 5 votes · 22 items
- Nov 18, 2025 · Daiki Watanabe
- https://even.best/en/l/528/the-sumo-wrestlers-with-the-most-top-division-championships

## Top 15

1. **Hakuhō** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 45 top-division titles (2006-2021). From Mongolia. The all-time record.
2. **Asashōryū** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 25 top-division titles (2002-2010). The first yokozuna from Mongolia.
3. **Kitanoumi** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 24 top-division titles (1974-1984). Promoted to yokozuna at 21.
4. **Wajima** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 14 top-division titles (1972-1980). The first yokozuna who came from university sumo.
5. **Harumafuji** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 9 top-division titles (2009-2017). From Mongolia.
6. **Taihō** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 32 top-division titles (1960-1971). The great Shōwa-era yokozuna, as popular as baseball's Giants.
7. **Chiyonofuji** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 31 top-division titles (1981-1990). Nicknamed "The Wolf"; received the People's Honour Award.
8. **Takanohana II** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 22 top-division titles (1992-2001).
9. **Futabayama** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 12 top-division titles (1936-1943). Holds the record of 69 consecutive wins.
10. **Musashimaru** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 12 top-division titles (1994-2002). Born in American Samoa and raised in Hawaii.
11. **Akebono** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 11 top-division titles (1992-2000). From Hawaii; the first foreign-born yokozuna.
12. **Terunofuji** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 10 top-division titles (2015-2024). From Mongolia; fell to the fifth division and came back to reach yokozuna.
13. **Kitanofuji** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 10 top-division titles (1966-1973).
14. **Wakanohana I** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 10 top-division titles (1956-1960). "The demon of the ring".
15. **Tochinishiki** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 10 top-division titles (1952-1960).
16. **Tsunenohana** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 10 top-division titles (1921-1930).
17. **Tamanishiki** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 9 top-division titles (1929-1936).
18. **Tochigiyama** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 9 top-division titles (1917-1925).
19. **Tachiyama** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 9 top-division titles (1904-1916). Eleven if you add two unofficial titles from before 1909.
20. **Hokutoumi** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 8 top-division titles (1986-1991).
21. **Kashiwado** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The 47th Yokozuna. Established the \`\`Kashiwaho era'' with Taiho, winning the highest number of makuuchi championships with 5 times.
22. **Kakuryu** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The 71st Yokozuna. Maximum makuuchi victory 6 times.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.