is a notation used in professional

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 th ...

wrestling to record a lower-ranked ('' maegashira'') wrestler's victory over a '' yokozuna''. It is believed that the term stems from the usage of the terms ''shiroboshi'' (lit: white star) to designate a bout victory, and ''kuroboshi'' (black star) to designate a bout defeat. Thus, a "gold star" designates it as a special victory. The word ''kinboshi'' first came into popular use in the Taishō period (1912–1926), and the system of monetarily awarding a ''maegashira'' who defeated a ''yokozuna'' in an official tournament began in January, 1930. A ''kinboshi'' victory increases the balance in the ''maegashiras '' mochikyūkin'' account by 10 yen. This balance is converted using a multiplier, presently 4,000, and added to the wrestler's bonus in every subsequent tournament in which he competes as a '' sekitori''. With six tournaments a year, this one victory corresponds to a pay increase of 240,000 yen per annum for the remainder of the wrestler's ''sekitori'' career. The ''kinboshi'' record is held by former '' sekiwake'' Akinoshima who won 16 bouts against ''yokozuna'' when ranked as a ''maegashira''.

Restrictions

''Kinboshi'' are not awarded to '' san'yaku'' ranked wrestlers who defeat a yokozuna, nor is it awarded if the ''maegashira'' beats a ''yokozuna'' with a default win (or '' fusenshō''). It is also not given if the ''yokozuna'' is disqualified for using an illegal move (or ''hansoku'').

Other uses

''Ginboshi'' (銀星 or silver star) is also used informally to denote a ''maegashira'' victory over an '' ōzeki.'' However, there is no monetary bonus for such a win, nor are official ''ginboshi'' records kept. The unofficial record holder for silver star victories is Aminishiki, with 47. The term ''kinboshi'' is used outside sumo in informal language. It can mean a major victory, or (in slang) a beautiful woman.

List of ''kinboshi'' records

Tables for both ''kinboshi'' earned (by ''maegashira'') and those conceded (by ''yokozuna'') are given below.
''Kinboshi appearing in individual wrestlers' records before they began to be awarded in January, 1930 are unofficial and retrospectively conferred.''

List of top ''kinboshi'' earners

''Kinboshi'' earned by active wrestlers

This is a running list of the number of all earned by all currently active wrestlers.

All time ''kinboshi'' earned by wrestlers

This list includes the top ''kinboshi'' earners since records began.

''Kinboshi'' conceded

Active ''yokozuna kinboshi'' ratio

This is a running list of ''kinboshi'' ratio conceded by the currently active ''yokozuna''.

All time lowest ''kinboshi'' ratio

This list has the top five ''yokozuna'' who have conceded the lowest ratio of ''kinboshi'' since official records began. Active yokozuna are listed in bold. *'' Tsunenohana's yokozuna career ended very shortly after official kinboshi records came into effect in January 1930; therefore his record has not been included.''

References

{{Reflist Sumo terminology