Yokozuna

Yokozuna is the highest rank in professional sumo. A wrestler retains the title for life after promotion, though may retire rather than be demoted.

Sumo ranking system: The hierarchy of professional sumo divisions and wrestler ranks, which changes through tournament performance. Yokozuna sits atop this hierarchy and cannot be demoted through ordinary tournament results.
Professional sumo: The organized professional form of Japanese sumo wrestling, conducted in ranked divisions and official tournaments. Yokozuna exists within this specific professional system.
Yokozuna (rope): A thick ceremonial rope worn around the waist by a yokozuna during ring-entering ceremonies. The rank takes its name from this distinctive symbol of the champion's status.
Taihō Kōki: A Japanese sumo wrestler who held yokozuna rank from 1961 to 1971 and won 32 top-division championships. His championship record became a defining benchmark for yokozuna achievement.
Yokozuna ring-entering ceremony: A ceremonial entrance performed by a yokozuna before tournament bouts, accompanied by attendants and ritual gestures. The ceremony makes the rank's ritual status visible before competition begins.
Yokozuna Deliberation Council: An advisory body that evaluates candidates for promotion to yokozuna and the conduct of existing yokozuna. Its recommendations shape promotion decisions and scrutiny of the rank.
Makuuchi: The top division of professional sumo, comprising the highest-ranked wrestlers. Every yokozuna competes in this division.
Tamagaki Gakunosuke: An early sumo wrestler traditionally recognized among the first yokozuna. His place in early rank histories illustrates how the title emerged before modern administration.
Chiyonofuji Mitsugu: A Japanese yokozuna who won 31 top-division championships between 1981 and 1991. His long dominance shaped the modern image of an exceptionally powerful champion.
Intai: Retirement from professional sumo, often marked by a wrestler's formal retirement ceremony. A yokozuna who can no longer meet the rank's expectations retires rather than being demoted.

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