The following is a list of year in

sumo is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a ''rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring (''dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by thr ...

articles listed in chronological order from the most recent. Each gives an overview of the happenings in sumo for each year listed. The highlights below refer only to top division championships.

2020s

* 2022 in sumo * 2021 in sumo - Kakuryū and Hakuho retire.

Terunofuji , lead=yes), is a Mongolian-born naturalised-Japanese professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for the Isegahama stable, he entered professional sumo in January 2011 and took the second division ''jūryō'' championship in his debut as a ''sekitori ...

is promoted to yokozuna. *

2020 in sumo The following are the events in professional sumo during 2020. Tournaments Hatsu basho Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 January – 26 January Haru basho Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 8 March – 22 March Natsu basho Originally sched ...

- Gōeidō and Kotoshōgiku retire, the May basho is cancelled due to the ongoing

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

2010s

2019 in sumo The following are the events in professional sumo during 2019. Tournaments Hatsu basho Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 13 January – 27 January Haru basho Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 10 March – 24 March Natsu basho Ryōgoku Kokugi ...

Kisenosato is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Ibaraki. He made his professional debut in 2002, and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in 2004 at the age of just 18. After many years in the junior ''san'yaku'' ranks, he reached the sec ...

retires *

2018 in sumo The following are the events in professional sumo during 2018. Tournaments Hatsu basho Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 14 January – 28 January Haru basho Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 11 March – 25 March Natsu basho Ryōgoku Kokugikan ...

Tochinoshin ; ) is a Georgian professional sumo wrestler from Mtskheta. He is a member of the Kasugano stable and made his professional debut in March 2006. He reached the top ''makuuchi'' division just two years later in May 2008. After a long hiatus due t ...

wins his first championship. * 2017 in sumo -

is promoted to yokozuna, Harumafuji retires. * 2016 in sumo - Kotoshogiku and Goeido win the first championships by Japanese-born wrestlers in ten years * 2015 in sumo - Hakuhō wins a record-breaking 33rd top division championship * 2014 in sumo - Kakuryū wins first championship and is promoted to

yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the on ...

* 2013 in sumo - Sokokurai becomes the first expelled wrestler to be reinstated * 2012 in sumo -

Baruto Kaido Höövelson, (known professionally as Baruto Kaito ; born 5 November 1984) is an Estonian politician and former professional sumo wrestler. Making his debut in May 2004, he reached the top division after just two years in sumo in May 2006 ...

and Kyokutenhō win their only championships. Harumafuji becomes ''yokozuna'' *

2011 in sumo The following are the events in professional sumo during 2011. Tournaments *Hatsu basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 9 January – 23 January *Haru basho, Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 13 March – 27 March (cancelled) *Natsu basho, Ryogoku ...

- A

match-fixing In organized sports, match fixing is the act of playing or officiating a match with the intention of achieving a pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. There are many reasons why match fixing might take place, ...

scandal leads to the cancellation of the March tournament * 2010 in sumo - Asashōryū retires after an alleged nightclub brawl, several wrestlers are suspended for illegal

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...

gambling, Hakuhō goes on record postwar winning streak

2000s

* 2009 in sumo - Harumafuji's 1st championship, Hakuho has 3 championships and all-time record of 86 wins out of 90 in one year *

2008 in sumo The following are the events in professional sumo during the year 2008. Tournaments *Hatsu honbasho, basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 13 January – 27 January *Haru basho, Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 9 March – 23 March *Natsu basho, R ...

- Asashōryū returns, Kotoōshū first European champion, marijuana scandals begin * 2007 in sumo - Hakuho is promoted to yokozuna, Asashōryū is first suspended yokozuna,

Tokitsukaze stable hazing scandal The Tokitsukaze stable hazing scandal occurred in Japan on June 26, 2007, when , a seventeen-year-old junior sumo wrestler who fought under the ''shikona'' of Tokitaizan, collapsed and died after a training session at Tokitsukaze stable's lodgings i ...

* 2006 in sumo - Asashōryū's general dominance continues, Hakuho wins first championship * 2005 in sumo - Asashōryū is first to sweep all championships in his "grand slam" year * 2004 in sumo - Asashōryū just misses all championship sweep, Kaiō wins 5th and last championship *

2003 in sumo The following are the events in professional sumo during 2003. Tournaments *Hatsu basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12–26 January *Haru basho, Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 9–23 March *Natsu basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 11–25 M ...

- Takanohana and Musashimaru retire, Asashōryū debuts as ''yokozuna'' * 2002 in sumo - Takanohana out most of year due to injury, Asashōryū wins first of many championships * 2001 in sumo - number of wrestlers win championships in spite of injury,

Kotomitsuki is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Okazaki City. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 1999. He reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in November 2000 and won one ''yūshō'' or tournament championship, in Septemb ...

wins his only and all 3 special prizes * 2000 in sumo - 3 wrestlers win championships for first time, Akebono wins his last

1990s

* 1999 in sumo - Musashimaru dominates, Chiyotaikai and

Dejima , in the 17th century also called Tsukishima ( 築島, "built island"), was an artificial island off Nagasaki, Japan that served as a trading post for the Portuguese (1570–1639) and subsequently the Dutch (1641–1854). For 220 years, it ...

win their first championships * 1998 in sumo - between them, the Futagoyama brothers dominate,

Kotonishiki Kotonishiki Katsuhiro (born June 8, 1968 as Hideyuki Matsuzawa) is a former sumo wrestler from Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. He began his career in 1984, reaching the top ''makuuchi'' division in 1989. He won two top division tournament tit ...

becomes only wrestler to win two championships at ''

maegashira , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the on ...

'' rank * 1997 in sumo - Futagoyama wrestlers continue championship dominance * 1996 in sumo - Takanohana takes 4 championships, and stablemate

Takanonami Takanonami Sadahiro (born Sadahiro Namioka October 27, 1971 – June 20, 2015) was a Japanese sumo wrestler and coach from Aomori. He held sumo's second highest rank of '' ōzeki'' from 1994 until 2000. He won two tournament championships, and wa ...

one for a near year sweep * 1995 in sumo - Takanohana takes 4 championships to dominate; his brother Wakanohana takes 1 * 1994 in sumo - Musashimaru wins 1st championship, Takanohana achieves necessary criteria for promotion to ''yokozuna'' * 1993 in sumo - Akebono becomes first foreign-born ''yokozuna'', has most dominant year at 4 championships, Futagoyama brothers take one each * 1992 in sumo -

Asahifuji is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Aomori. He joined professional sumo in 1981, reaching the top ''makuuchi'' division just two years later. He reached the second highest rank of '' ōzeki'' in 1987 and became the 63rd ''yokoz ...

retires leaving no ''yokozuna'' for the next eight months, championships are split Takahanada* 2, Akebono 2, and 1 each for

Konishiki Saleva'a Fuauli Atisano'e (born December 31, 1963), professionally known as is an American former sumo wrestler.Franz LidzMeat Bomb, 05.18.92 - ''Sports Illustrated'' He was the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach '' ōzeki'', the second- ...

and

Mitoizumi Mitoizumi Masayuki (born 2 September 1962 as Masato Koizumi) is a former sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaraki, Japan. His professional career spanned 22 years, from 1978 until 2000. The highest rank he reached was ''sekiwake''. He won over 800 career ...

* 1991 in sumo -

Hokutoumi is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō. He was the sport's 61st ''yokozuna'' and won eight top division championships. He wrestled for Kokonoe stable, as did Chiyonofuji, and the two were the first ''yokozuna'' stablemat ...

and Asahifuji win their last championships,

wins his first, Kirishima and

Kotofuji is a former sumo wrestler from Chiba, Chiba, Chiba City, Japan. His highest rank was ''sekiwake''. In 1991 he won a top division ''yūshō'' or tournament championship from the ''maegashira'' ranks. Career Kotofuji made his professional debut ...

win their only championships * 1990 in sumo - championships split at two each between Ōzeki Asahifuji, and ''yokozunas'' Hokutoumi and

Chiyonofuji , born , was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler and the 58th ''yokozuna'' of the sport. Following his retirement as a wrestler, he was the stable master of Kokonoe stable until the time of his death. Chiyonofuji was considered one of the gr ...

, the second win would be Chiyonofuji's last ''*Takahanada would later become the 2nd Takanohana.''

1980s

* 1989 in sumo - Chiyonofuji and Hokutoumi vie for dominance at three and two championships respectively,

gets first tournament win * 1988 in sumo - Asahifuji has first win, Chiyonofuji takes the last four tournaments and record for longest bout

winning streak A winning streak, also known as a win streak or hot streak, is an uninterrupted sequence of success in games or competitions, commonly measured by at least 4 wins that are uninterrupted by losses or ties/draws. Although sometimes claimed as a ...

in modern sumo history - later surpassed by Hakuho * 1987 in sumo -

and Onokuni are promoted to yokozuna; Futahaguro is forced to retire * 1986 in sumo - Stablemates Chiyonofuji and Hoshi* claim all six Yusho with five and one respectively. Futahaguro is promoted to Yokozuna.

Takanosato , real name , was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Namioka, Aomori. He was the sport's 59th ''yokozuna'' from 1983 to 1986 and won four top division tournament championships. After retirement he established Naruto stable which he ran fr ...

retires. * 1985 in sumo - Chiyonofuji wins 4 of the 6 tournaments, Asashio IV wins his first and only yusho, Hokuten'yū wins 2nd and last yusho.

Kitanoumi , born , was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler. He was the dominant wrestler in the sport during the 1970s. Kitanoumi was promoted to '' yokozuna'' at the age of 21, becoming the youngest ever to achieve sumo's top rank. He won 24 tournament ...

retires. The new

Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The fist ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the lands of the Ekōin temple in Ry ...

is opened. * 1984 in sumo -

Wakashimazu (born 12 January 1957 as Mutsuo Hidaka) is a Japanese former sumo wrestler from Nakatane, Kagoshima, Japan. His highest rank was '' ōzeki''. He won two top division ''yūshō'' or tournament championships. He retired in 1987 and founded Matsug ...

takes home his 1st and 2nd yusho, Kitanoumi wins his 24th and final yusho, Takanosato wins 4th and final yusho as well, surprise maegashira 12 Tagaryū claims a yusho, Chiyonofuji claims 10th yusho. * 1983 in sumo - Both Chiyonofuji and Takanosato win 2 yusho, with Kotokaze and Hokuten'yū winning the other two. Takanosato is promoted to Yokozuna. Wakanohana II retires. * 1982 in sumo - Chiyonofuji dominates winning 4 yusho, Kitanoumi and Takanosato win the other two. * 1981 in sumo - Chiyonofuji and Kitanoumi vie for dominance at three and two championships respectively, Kotokaze gets first tournament win. Chiyonofuji promoted to Yokozuna. Wajima retires. * 1980 in sumo - Kitanoumi wins 3 yusho,

Mienoumi is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Matsusaka, Mie. He was the 57th ''yokozuna'' of the sport. After retiring he founded the Musashigawa stable and was a chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. He was the first rikishi in histo ...

, Wakanohana II, and Wajima win their last titles. Mienoumi retires. ''*Hoshi would later become Hokutoumi''

1970s

* 1979 in sumo -

wins three tournaments,

, Wajima, and Wakanohana II win the other three. Mienoumi is promoted to Yokozuna. * 1978 in sumo - Kitanoumi dominates with 5 yusho, with Wakanohana II taking the other. Wakanohana II is promoted to Yokozuna. * 1977 in sumo - Wajima and Kitanoumi again vie for dominance with 3 and 2 yusho respectively, Wakamisugi II* wins his first Championship. * 1976 in sumo - Kitanoumi and Wajima vie for dominance with 3 and 2 yusho respectively, Kaiketsu wins his second and last yusho. * 1975 in sumo - Kitanoumi and

Takanohana I Takanohana Kenshi 貴ノ花健士 (born Hanada Mitsuru; February 19, 1950 – May 30, 2005) was a sumo wrestler from Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan. His highest rank was ''Makuuchi#Ōzeki, ōzeki'', which he held for fifty tournaments. As an active ''ri ...

take 2 yusho, while Mienoumi and

Kongo Congo or The Congo may refer to either of two countries that border the Congo River in central Africa: * Democratic Republic of the Congo, the larger country to the southeast, capital Kinshasa, formerly known as Zaire, sometimes referred to a ...

both take their first. * 1974 in sumo - Wajima wins 3 yusho while Kitanoumi takes his first 2, Kaiketsu wins his first title. Kitanoumi promoted to Yokozuna. Both

Kitanofuji is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Asahikawa, Hokkaidō. He made his professional debut in 1957, reaching the top ''makuuchi'' division in 1964. He was the sport's 52nd ''yokozuna'', a rank he attained in 1970. He won ten tourn ...

and

Kotozakura was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kurayoshi, Tottori. He was the sport's 53rd ''yokozuna''. He made his professional debut in 1959, reaching the top division in 1963. After several years at the second highest rank of '' ōzeki'', ...

retire. * 1973 in sumo - Wajima wins 3, Kotozakura wins 2, and Kitanofuji wins his last yusho. Kotozakura and Wajima are promoted to Yokozuna. * 1972 in sumo - There is a different winner for each basho with Hasegawa, Kitanofuji, Kotozakura, Takamiyama, Tochiazuma I, and Wajima winning one yusho a piece. Takamiyama becomes first foreign born top division champion. * 1971 in sumo - Kitanofuji and Tamanoumi II again vie for dominance with 3 and 2 yusho respectively, while an ageing Taihō wins his last title and retires. Tamanoumi dies suddenly in October after a delayed

appendectomy An appendectomy, also termed appendicectomy, is a Surgery, surgical operation in which the vermiform appendix (a portion of the intestine) is removed. Appendectomy is normally performed as an urgent or emergency procedure to treat complicated acu ...