Quick Glossary
Essential Sumo Vocabulary with Kanji
First-time visitor? This glossary distills the core terms you’ll hear inside Ryogoku Kokugikan. Each entry lists the romaji pronunciation, Japanese kanji, and a quick explanation so you can follow the action without pausing to Google.
People & Roles
- Rikishi 力士
- A professional sumo wrestler. Literally translates to “strong person.”
- Yokozuna 横綱
- The highest rank in sumo. Yokozuna perform the dohyō-iri rope ceremony and can never be demoted, but a yokozuna who can no longer perform is expected to retire. As of October 2026 there are two: Onosato and Hoshoryu.
- Ozeki 大関
- Second-highest rank. An ozeki who loses more than he wins in two tournaments in a row is demoted, and gets one chance to come back with 10 wins. As of October 2026: Kirishima, Kotozakura and Aonishiki.
- Gyoji 行司
- The referee inside the ring who calls the bout and points the gunbai, his war fan, at the winner.
- Yobidashi 呼出
- Ring announcers who call wrestlers onto the dohyō and maintain the clay ring.
- Shimpan 審判
- Ringside judges who review close calls and can order a rematch (torinaoshi).
Ring & Rituals
- Dohyō 土俵
- The clay ring where bouts take place, bordered by a straw circle.
- Shiko 四股
- Leg-stomping exercise performed to demonstrate strength and drive away evil spirits.
- Tachiai 立合い
- The explosive initial charge when wrestlers clash at the start of a bout.
- Chikara-mizu 力水
- “Power water” offered to wrestlers for purification before the ring, passed on from the previous winner.
- Kesho-mawashi 化粧まわし
- Ornate ceremonial aprons worn by sekitori (the top two divisions) in the ring-entering ceremony.
Match Outcomes
- Kimarite 決まり手
- Official winning techniques. There are 82, ranging from force-outs to throws, plus five results that are not techniques, such as a wrestler stepping out by mistake.
- Yorikiri 寄り切り
- A fundamental kimarite where a wrestler grips the mawashi and drives the opponent out.
- Oshidashi 押し出し
- Push-out victory achieved without grabbing the mawashi.
- Hatakikomi 叩き込み
- Slap-down technique that causes the opponent to lose balance and fall forward.
- Shonichi 初日
- The first day of a tournament. Everyone starts at 0-0 and nobody has lost yet. The next Tokyo tournament opens on 10 January 2027.
- Senshūraku 千秋楽
- The final day of a tournament, capped by the Emperor’s Cup award ceremony. Tournaments run 15 days, six a year.
Gear & Seating
- Mawashi 廻し
- The thick belt worn during bouts: silk for sekitori, cotton below juryo. Grips on the mawashi are crucial for offense.
- Sagari 下がり
- Stiff cords hanging from the front of the mawashi. Only sekitori wear them. They are for show; a sagari that falls off does not end the bout.
- Tamari-seki 溜席
- Premium ringside cushion seats closest to the action. Strict etiquette applies.
- Masu-seki 枡席
- Box seating on a raised floor with cushions, usually for four people; boxes for one to six people exist.
- Isu-seki 椅子席
- Chair seats (“arena seats”) on the second floor, offering Western-style comfort and clear views.
Stables & Rankings
- Heya 部屋
- A sumo stable, where wrestlers live and train together. There are 45 today.
- Oyakata 親方
- The stablemaster, who runs the heya and coaches its wrestlers.
- Sekitori 関取
- Wrestlers of the top two divisions, makuuchi and juryo.
- Banzuke 番付
- The official ranking sheet, issued before each tournament. The list for January 2027 comes out on 21 December 2026.
- Kachi-koshi 勝ち越し
- A winning record, eight wins or more in 15 bouts. The opposite is make-koshi, a losing record.