Seventy-five wrestlers have reached sumo's supreme rank of Yokozuna across recorded history. A handful stand so far above the rest in achievement, longevity, or historical significance that they define the sport's golden ages. Here are the legends who shaped sumo.
Hakuho — The Greatest of All Time
By any metric, Hakuho Sho (the 69th Yokozuna, 2007–2021) is the greatest sumo wrestler in recorded history. Born Mönkhbatyn Davaajargal in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in 1985, he dominated the sport to a degree that may never be replicated:
- 45 tournament victories — 16 more than any other wrestler
- 16 perfect 15–0 records (zensho yusho)
- 122 consecutive wins (September 2009 – November 2010) — the all-time record
- Active for 25 years in professional sumo
Hakuho retired in September 2021 and now operates Miyagino Stable as Miyagino oyakata, having naturalized as a Japanese citizen. His training methods, psychological dominance, and technical perfection set standards the sport still uses as its reference point.
Taiho — The Postwar Giant
Taiho Koki (48th Yokozuna, 1961–1971) dominated sumo through the economic miracle of postwar Japan, when the sport's popularity was at its peak. Half-Ukrainian (his father was a Ukrainian prisoner of war) and half-Japanese, Taiho won 32 tournaments and was so popular that "Taiho, Giant Pandas, and Omelette Rice" became a catchphrase for Japan's three most beloved things in the 1960s. He remains the most beloved Yokozuna in Japan's collective memory.
Chiyonofuji — The Wolf
Chiyonofuji Mitsugu (58th Yokozuna, 1981–1991) was nicknamed "The Wolf" for his predatory competitive instinct. Remarkably lean for a top wrestler at 126 kg, he compensated with exceptional technique and grip strength so powerful that opponents' arms showed bruises after his throws. He won 31 tournaments and retired at age 35 in 1991 — his final tournament was announced on the same day he lost to a much younger rival. He serves as the model for technical excellence over raw size.
Asashoryu — The Controversial Champion
Asashoryu Akinori (68th Yokozuna, 2003–2010) was Mongolia's first Yokozuna and perhaps the sport's most polarizing figure. He won 25 tournaments with unmatched intensity and competitiveness, but repeatedly clashed with sumo's strict behavioral codes — missing a jungyo tour while appearing healthy in a soccer match, grabbing opponents after the bout, and other violations of hinkaku (dignity). His forced retirement in 2010 following a nightclub incident ended a career that might otherwise have challenged Hakuho's records.
Terunofuji — The Comeback King
Terunofuji Haruo (73rd Yokozuna, 2021–present) is the author of the most improbable comeback in sumo history. Promoted to Ozeki in 2015, he collapsed due to severe knee injuries and diabetes, dropping through the divisions until he was fighting in Jonidan — sumo's second-lowest division — in 2019. He then rebuilt himself entirely, won the Juryo championship, fought back to the top division, and won six tournaments to earn Yokozuna promotion in 2021. The medical reality of his knees means retirement is imminent, but his story of resilience is unmatched.
Hoshoryu — The Current Champion
Hoshoryu Tomokatsu (74th Yokozuna, January 2025–present) is the nephew of Asashoryu and has shown signs of a more composed, disciplined approach to the rank than his uncle. Promoted after back-to-back victories in November 2024 and January 2025, he is currently sumo's reigning Yokozuna and the primary challenger to Aonishiki's growing dominance.