# List of sumo tournament top division champions

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 |
| 2025 | Hōshōryū (2) | | | | | |
| 2024 | Terunofuji (9) | Takerufuji | Ōnosato (1) | Terunofuji (10) | Ōnosato (2) | Kotozakura II |
| 2023 | Takakeishō (3) | Kiribayama* (1) | Terunofuji (8) | Hōshōryū (1) | 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 2 3 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, the tournament was held in Tokyo to avoid unnecessary domestic travel.
* ↑ Tournament cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* ↑ 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.