List of non-Japanese sumo wrestlers

This is a list of foreign-born professional sumo wrestlers by country and/or ethnicity of origin, along with original name, years active in sumo wrestling, and highest rank attained. Names in bold indicate a still-active wrestler.

There are 186 wrestlers who have listed a foreign country as their place of birth on the banzuke or official ranking sheets.[1] The first foreign born wrestler to reach the top makuuchi division was the Hawaiian born Takamiyama in January 1968, who was also the first to win a top division tournament championship or yusho in 1972. He was followed by fellow Hawaiians Konishiki who was the first foreigner to reach the second highest ozeki rank in 1987, and Akebono who became the first foreign yokozuna, the highest rank, in 1993. In 1992, following the entry of six Mongolians to Oshima stable, there was an unofficial ban (called enryo or "restraint") instigated by the Japan Sumo Association's head Dewanoumi on any more foreign recruitment.[2] In 1998 this ban was relaxed but there was also the first official restrictions, a cap of 40 foreigners in professional sumo as a whole, not counting those who had obtained Japanese citizenship.[2] In 2002 this was changed to one foreigner per heya or training stable. Despite these restrictions, foreigners began to dominate the highest levels of the sport. By 2013, foreign born wrestlers made up just seven percent of the 613 wrestlers active in professional sumo, yet occupied one third of the 42 spots in the top division.[3] There has not been a Japanese-born wrestler promoted to yokozuna since 1998,[4] and no Japanese wrestler won a top division tournament between Tochiazuma in January 2006 and Kotoshogiku in January 2016, with 56 of the 58 tournaments held in that period won by Mongolians.[4]

Argentina

Brazil

Bulgaria

Canada


China

NOTE: Hong Kong and Taiwan are listed separately.

Czech Republic

Egypt

Estonia

Georgia

Hong Kong

Hungary

Indonesia

Japanese-born rikishi of non-Japanese or mixed ethnicity

Kazakhstan

Korea, North

NOTE: Korea was under Japanese rule from 1910 to 1945. Japanese-born Koreans are noted above.

Korea, South

NOTE: Korea was under Japanese rule from 1910 to 1945. Japanese-born Koreans are noted above.

Mongolia

Paraguay

Philippines

Poland

Russia

NOTE: prior to the end of WWII, the southern half of Sakhalin was controlled by Japan as Karafuto. also see Ukraine

Samoa

NOTE: Rikishi from American Samoa and Hawaiians of Samoan descent are listed under the United States heading.

Sri Lanka

Taiwan

Tonga

Ukraine

United Kingdom

United States

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Rikishi - All Foreigners". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 Furelaud, Gilles (January 2004). "Foreigners in Makuuchi: a chaotic history". Le Monde Du Sumo. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  3. ↑ Krieger, Daniel (Jan 24, 2013). "In Japan, Sumo Is Dominated by Foreigners". New York Times. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Kotoshogiku's sumo tournament victory ends long run of foreign wrestler domination". The Mainichi. January 25, 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  5. ↑ Furelaud, Gilles (February 2004). "Hoshitango: intai and danpatsu-shiki in 11 days". Le Monde Du Sumo. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  6. 1 2 Armstrong, Jim (July 10, 2015). "Canadian sumo wrestler Brodik Henderson going pro in Japan". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  7. ↑ Robinson, Eugene (July 19, 2014). "It's Not The Size Of This Sumo Wrestler That's Stunning". NPR. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  8. ↑ "Egyptian sumo wrestler storms his way into ancient sport". Yahoo News. July 31, 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  9. ↑ Gunning, John (August 2005). "Heya Peek:Chiganoura stable". Sumo Fan Magazine. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  10. ↑ Furelaud, Gilles (Nov 18, 2006). "Banzuke's newcomers". Le Monde du Sumo. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  11. ↑ Buckton, Mark (July 5, 2006). "The competition finally arrives". Japan Times. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  12. ↑ Sharnoff, Lora (1993). Grand Sumo. Weatherhill. ISBN 0-8348-0283-X.
  13. 1 2 Schreiber, Mark (Jan 26, 2003). "Whether crisis or not, sumo's show must go on". Japan Times. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  14. ↑ Furelaud, Gilles (February 2004). "Kazafuzan, the tiger from Kazakstan". Le Monde Du Sumo. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  15. ↑ "ポーランド出身の父持つ露草、角界入りは「日本の男にロマン感じた」" (in Japanese). Sanspo. September 2, 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  16. ↑ "武蔵川部屋に１７歳イチローが体験入門" (in Japanese). Daily Sports Online. June 4, 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
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