More than 50
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 ...
wrestlers have reached the second highest in the sport, the rank of ''
ōzeki'', but have failed to rise to the top rank since the
modern era
The term modern period or modern era (sometimes also called modern history or modern times) is the period of history that succeeds the Middle Ages (which ended approximately 1500 AD). This terminology is a historical periodization that is applie ...
of sumo began in 1927 with the merger of the Tokyo and Osaka organizations. By 2020, over 250 wrestlers have been promoted to the rank of ''ōzeki'' throughout the entire history of the sport. Wrestlers who went on to be promoted to ''yokozuna'' are tabulated in the ''
list of yokozuna
This is a list of all sumo wrestlers who have reached the sport's highest rank of ''yokozuna''. It was not recorded on the ''banzuke'' until 1890 and was not officially recognised as sumo's highest rank until 1909. Until then, ''yokozuna'' was mer ...
''.
The number of top division ''
yūshō
is the term for a championship in Japanese. This article focuses on championships in the sport of professional sumo.
It is awarded in each of the six annual ''honbasho'' or official tournaments, to the wrestler who wins the most bouts. ''Yūs ...
'' (championships) won by each ''ōzeki'' is also listed. There is no requirement to win a championship before promotion, but a wrestler must usually have won around 33 bouts over three consecutive tournaments. Since 1927, the longest-serving ''ōzeki'' of modern times have been
Kaiō and
Chiyotaikai who each held the rank for 65 tournaments. With five wins, Kaiō also holds the record for ''yūshō'' won in the modern era by a wrestler to never reach the rank of ''yokozuna''.
List
* Wrestler held the rank on more than one occasion.
See also
*
List of past sumo wrestlers
This is a list of prominent past wrestlers (either retired or deceased) in the sport of professional sumo. They are listed in order of the year and tournament month that they made their professional debuts. The information listed below was gleaned ...
*
List of sumo tournament top division champions
This is a list of rikishi, wrestlers who have won the Makuuchi, top division (''makuuchi'') yusho, championship in professional sumo since 1909, when the current championship system was established. These honbasho, official tournaments are held ex ...
*
List of ''yokozuna''
*
List of ''sekiwake''
*
List of ''komusubi''
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:List of ozeki
ōzeki
Lists of sumo wrestlers
Ōzeki