Hello, I’m Kodak.
If you have watched sumo—or searched for Japanese wrestling terms—you may have seen the word yokozuna.
It can refer to both the rank itself and a wrestler who holds that rank.
Yokozuna (横綱) means the highest rank in professional sumo.
It is commonly translated as “grand champion.”
The word originally referred to the special thick white rope worn by an authorized top wrestler during the yokozuna dohyō-iri, or ceremonial ring entrance.
Dai-yokozuna (大横綱) means “great yokozuna.” It is an informal expression of praise—not a rank above yokozuna.
This article explains the word from the viewpoint of someone seeing sumo for the first time: its meaning, kanji, pronunciation, history, promotion standards, duties, dai-yokozuna, and the unrelated WWE search results.
For a broader introduction to the sport, see our beginner’s guide to sumo vocabulary.
- 1 What Does Yokozuna Mean in Sumo?
- 2 The Kanji Meaning of 横綱
- 3 How to Pronounce Yokozuna
- 4 Why Is Yokozuna the Highest Sumo Rank?
- 5 How Does a Wrestler Become a Yokozuna?
- 6 Can a Yokozuna Be Demoted?
- 7 What Is the Yokozuna Dohyō-Iri?
- 8 What Does Dai-Yokozuna Mean?
- 9 Yokozuna vs Ōzeki: What Is the Difference?
- 10 Can Yokozuna Be Used Outside Sumo?
- 11 Why Does WWE Appear When You Search for Yokozuna?
- 12 Natural Example Sentences with Yokozuna
- 13 Common Beginner Mistakes
- 13.1 Mistake 1: Treating Yokozuna as a Personal Name
- 13.2 Mistake 2: Thinking Every Tournament Winner Becomes a Yokozuna
- 13.3 Mistake 3: Thinking Dai-Yokozuna Is an Official Rank
- 13.4 Mistake 4: Pronouncing Zuna Like the English Word “Zoo”
- 13.5 Mistake 5: Assuming Yokozuna Means “An Unbeatable Wrestler”
- 14 FAQ About Yokozuna
- 14.1 What does yokozuna mean?
- 14.2 What does yokozuna literally mean?
- 14.3 Is yokozuna higher than ōzeki?
- 14.4 Can there be more than one yokozuna?
- 14.5 Can a yokozuna be demoted?
- 14.6 What does dai-yokozuna mean?
- 14.7 How many championships are needed to become a dai-yokozuna?
- 14.8 Is the WWE Yokozuna a real sumo yokozuna?
- 14.9 How do you pronounce yokozuna?
- 14.10 What is the plural of yokozuna?
- 15 Related Sumo Words
- 16 Summary: Yokozuna Meaning in Sumo
- 17 References
What Does Yokozuna Mean in Sumo?
Hiragana: よこづな
Romaji: yokozuna
Meaning in sumo: the highest rank; a wrestler holding that rank
Common English translation: grand champion
A yokozuna stands at the top of the professional sumo ranking system, called the banzuke (番付).
横綱 (yokozuna)
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大関 (ōzeki)
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関脇 (sekiwake)
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小結 (komusubi)
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前頭 (maegashira)
A tournament championship is something a wrestler can win at one tournament. Yokozuna is a continuing rank earned through exceptional results and approval.
A yokozuna can win many championships—but “yokozuna” does not simply mean “the winner of today’s tournament.”
The Kanji Meaning of 横綱
The word 横綱 contains two kanji:
sideways, horizontal, across
綱 (tsuna / zuna)
a thick rope; a strong cord
横 + 綱
⇒ literally, something like a “horizontal rope” or “rope worn across/around the body”
Originally, yokozuna referred to the special rope itself. A top wrestler who received permission to wear it and perform a solo ceremonial entrance became known as a yokozuna.
The thick white rope resembles a shimenawa (注連縄), the sacred rope seen at Shinto shrines and other purified spaces.
A yokozuna is not simply “the wrestler with the most points.”
He is the top-ranked wrestler who is qualified to wear the special white rope and represent the dignity of sumo.
Other top-division wrestlers wear decorative kesho-mawashi during their group entrance, but they do not wear the yokozuna rope.
How to Pronounce Yokozuna
Hiragana: よこづな
Katakana: ヨコヅナ
Romaji: yokozuna
Mora: よ・こ・づ・な (yo-ko-zu-na)
Say the word in four even beats:
The conventional English spelling is yokozuna, while the Japanese spelling preserves づ because the second part comes from 綱 (つな / tsuna).
yo・ko・zu・na
Also keep the vowel in zu short. It is not the long English sound in “zoo.”
Why Is Yokozuna the Highest Sumo Rank?
The meaning of yokozuna changed over time.
1. The word referred to the ceremonial rope.
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2. Exceptional wrestlers were authorized to wear it and perform a special solo ring entrance.
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3. Those wrestlers came to be called yokozuna.
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4. Yokozuna gradually became established as the highest formal rank above ōzeki.
In 1789, the wrestlers Tanikaze and Onogawa received permission connected with the yokozuna ceremonial entrance. The word later began appearing on the written ranking sheet, and the position eventually became formally established as sumo’s highest rank.
That is why older explanations sometimes call early yokozuna “ōzeki who were licensed to wear the rope.”
How Does a Wrestler Become a Yokozuna?
A wrestler does not become a yokozuna simply by winning once or reaching first place in a points table.
1. The wrestler must already hold the rank of ōzeki.
2. He is expected to show outstanding strength and dignity.
3. The usual performance standard is two consecutive top-division championships, or results considered equivalent.
4. The Yokozuna Deliberation Council considers the candidate, and the Japan Sumo Association makes the formal decision.
The wrestler must also be judged to have the strength and dignity appropriate to the rank, and the official review process still takes place.
There is no simple beginner formula that covers every case, so it is best to remember the principle: the candidate must show sustained, yokozuna-level dominance as an ōzeki.
Can a Yokozuna Be Demoted?
A defining feature of the rank is that a yokozuna is not demoted to ōzeki or a lower position.
A yokozuna is expected to keep displaying strength and dignity. If he can no longer perform at an appropriate level, the traditional final step is not demotion—it is retirement.
Poor results can eventually lead to demotion.
Yokozuna
There is no lower rank to return to. The wrestler carries the responsibility of the permanent highest rank until retirement.
However, repeated absences or weak performances attract much more attention because the rank represents the very top of the sport.
What Is the Yokozuna Dohyō-Iri?
The yokozuna dohyō-iri (横綱土俵入り) is the special ceremonial entrance performed by a yokozuna.
土俵 (dohyō) — sumo ring
入り (iri) — entering
横綱土俵入り
⇒ a yokozuna’s ceremonial entrance into the ring
The yokozuna wears the thick white rope over a ceremonial apron and enters with two accompanying wrestlers:
the attendant who goes in front
太刀持ち (tachimochi)
the sword bearer who follows
The movements include clapping, extending the arms, and stamping the feet, which connect the spectacle of sumo with ideas of purification and driving away harmful forces.
What Does Dai-Yokozuna Mean?
Hiragana: だいよこづな
Romaji: dai-yokozuna / dai yokozuna
Literal meaning: great yokozuna
Natural English: an all-time great yokozuna; a legendary grand champion
大 (dai) means “great,” “major,” or “large.” Adding it to 横綱 praises a yokozuna whose achievements and influence are considered extraordinary.
Dai-yokozuna is not an official rank above yokozuna.
It is an honorific description used by fans, writers, commentators, and sometimes sumo-related media for a truly outstanding yokozuna.
Informal praise: 大横綱 (dai-yokozuna)
There is no separate “dai-yokozuna promotion ceremony,” and a wrestler’s printed rank does not change from 横綱 to 大横綱.
People usually look at a combination of championships, records, longevity, dominance, memorable matches, and influence on sumo. Because the label is informal, its use is partly a matter of judgment.
For example, the Japan Sumo Association records 45 top-division championships for Hakuhō, 32 for Taihō, and 31 for Chiyonofuji. Wrestlers with historic records like these are commonly discussed as dai-yokozuna.
“Super yokozuna” may incorrectly sound like an official extra rank.
Yokozuna vs Ōzeki: What Is the Difference?
・highest rank
・performs the special yokozuna dohyō-iri
・wears the ceremonial white rope
・cannot be demoted
・expected to retire when no longer able to fulfill the rank’s standard
大関 (ōzeki)
・second-highest rank
・does not wear the yokozuna rope
・can be demoted after the required sequence of losing records
・must first reach this rank before being considered for yokozuna
An ōzeki or lower-ranked wrestler can defeat a yokozuna. The rank reflects the yokozuna’s proven achievements and continuing status—not invincibility in every bout.
Can Yokozuna Be Used Outside Sumo?
Yes. Japanese dictionaries also record a figurative use meaning the best, strongest, or leading figure in a category.
彼はこの業界の横綱だ。
Kare wa kono gyōkai no yokozuna da.
He is the leading figure in this industry.
この料理は冬の鍋料理の横綱だ。
Kono ryōri wa fuyu no naberyōri no yokozuna da.
This dish is the champion of winter hot-pot dishes.
Depending on context, use “the champion,” “the leader,” “the biggest name,” or “the best of its kind.”
Why Does WWE Appear When You Search for Yokozuna?
Some English-language searches for yokozuna meaning show results about a famous WWE performer whose ring name was Yokozuna.
It should not be confused with holding the real rank of yokozuna in Japan’s professional sumo system.
yokozuna = the official highest rank
WWE:
Yokozuna = a performer’s ring name/persona inspired by sumo imagery
But the person’s entertainment character and the official Japanese rank are two different things.
Natural Example Sentences with Yokozuna
彼は横綱になった。
Kare wa yokozuna ni natta.
He became a yokozuna.
横綱が土俵に上がった。
Yokozuna ga dohyō ni agatta.
The yokozuna stepped into the ring.
横綱土俵入りを初めて見ました。
Yokozuna dohyō-iri o hajimete mimashita.
I watched a yokozuna ring-entering ceremony for the first time.
大関が横綱に昇進した。
Ōzeki ga yokozuna ni shōshin shita.
The ōzeki was promoted to yokozuna.
横綱には強さだけでなく品格も求められる。
Yokozuna ni wa tsuyosa dake de naku hinkaku mo motomerareru.
A yokozuna is expected to have not only strength but also dignity.
その力士は後に大横綱と呼ばれるようになった。
Sono rikishi wa nochi ni dai-yokozuna to yobareru yō ni natta.
That wrestler later came to be called a legendary yokozuna.
横綱は簡単に負けられないという重圧を背負っている。
Yokozuna wa kantan ni makerarenai to iu jūatsu o seotte iru.
A yokozuna carries the pressure of being expected not to lose easily.
このチームはリーグの横綱だ。
Kono chīmu wa rīgu no yokozuna da.
This team is the powerhouse of the league.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Treating Yokozuna as a Personal Name
In sumo, yokozuna is a rank, while a wrestler also has an individual ring name called a shikona.
Hakuhō, Taihō, Chiyonofuji, etc. ⇒ individual ring names
Mistake 2: Thinking Every Tournament Winner Becomes a Yokozuna
A tournament championship and a permanent rank are different. A wrestler must already be an ōzeki and pass the much higher yokozuna promotion standard.
Mistake 3: Thinking Dai-Yokozuna Is an Official Rank
Dai-yokozuna is praise for a historically exceptional yokozuna. It does not appear as a separate rank above yokozuna on the official banzuke.
Mistake 4: Pronouncing Zuna Like the English Word “Zoo”
The word has four short, fairly even beats: yo-ko-zu-na.
Mistake 5: Assuming Yokozuna Means “An Unbeatable Wrestler”
A yokozuna is the highest-ranked wrestler, but he can still lose individual bouts and tournaments.
FAQ About Yokozuna
What does yokozuna mean?
Yokozuna (横綱) means the highest rank in professional sumo and also a wrestler who holds that rank. It is commonly translated as “grand champion.”
What does yokozuna literally mean?
The kanji are 横, meaning horizontal or across, and 綱, meaning a thick rope. The name comes from the ceremonial rope associated with a yokozuna.
Is yokozuna higher than ōzeki?
Yes. Yokozuna is the highest rank, and ōzeki is the second-highest. A wrestler must first become an ōzeki before being considered for promotion to yokozuna.
Can there be more than one yokozuna?
Yes. Yokozuna is not a single championship seat that only one person can hold. More than one wrestler can hold the rank at the same time, and there can also be periods with no active yokozuna.
Can a yokozuna be demoted?
No. A yokozuna is not demoted to ōzeki or a lower rank. If the wrestler can no longer meet the expectations of the position, retirement is the traditional outcome.
What does dai-yokozuna mean?
Dai-yokozuna (大横綱) literally means “great yokozuna.” It is an informal honorific for a historically outstanding yokozuna, not an official higher rank.
How many championships are needed to become a dai-yokozuna?
There is no official number because dai-yokozuna is not a formal rank. The label reflects an overall judgment of dominance, records, longevity, and legacy.
Is the WWE Yokozuna a real sumo yokozuna?
No. Yokozuna was used as a WWE ring name and sumo-inspired character. It does not mean the performer held the official Japanese sumo rank.
How do you pronounce yokozuna?
Pronounce it in four short beats: yo-ko-zu-na. Avoid heavily stressing one part or lengthening zu like the English word “zoo.”
What is the plural of yokozuna?
Japanese nouns do not normally change for plural number, so yokozuna can refer to one or several wrestlers. In English, writers usually also use yokozuna as the plural, though “yokozunas” occasionally appears.
Related Sumo Words
番付 (banzuke) — official ranking list
大関 (ōzeki) — second-highest rank
土俵 (dohyō) — sumo ring
土俵入り (dohyō-iri) — ceremonial ring entrance
化粧まわし (kesho-mawashi) — ceremonial apron
四股名 (shikona) — a wrestler’s ring name
優勝 (yūshō) — tournament championship
昇進 (shōshin) — promotion
rikishi = wrestler
dohyō = ring
banzuke = ranking list
yokozuna = highest rank
Once those are clear, a sumo broadcast becomes much easier to follow.
Our sumo vocabulary guide brings the most important terms together in one beginner-friendly page.
Yokozuna, Dai-Yokozuna, or Ozeki? 30-Second Check
These sumo titles get mixed up often. Answer two quick questions to sort them out.
Yokozuna: cannot be demoted, retires instead.
Dai-yokozuna: not an official rank.
Ozeki: must be reached before yokozuna.
Inspired by the title, not an actual sumo rank.
Awarded by the Japan Sumo Association.
※ A tournament championship alone does not make a wrestler a yokozuna.
Summary: Yokozuna Meaning in Sumo
The highest rank in professional sumo; commonly translated as “grand champion.”
● Kanji and origin
横 means horizontal/across, and 綱 means thick rope. The word originally referred to the special ceremonial rope.
● Promotion
A candidate must already be an ōzeki and demonstrate outstanding strength, dignity, and sustained championship-level results.
● No demotion
A yokozuna does not fall back to a lower rank. The position continues until retirement.
● Dai-yokozuna (大横綱)
An informal expression meaning a great or legendary yokozuna—not an official rank above yokozuna.
● WWE Yokozuna
A professional-wrestling ring name inspired by the sumo rank, not an official Japanese sumo title held by that performer.
The special rope became the name of the wrestler permitted to wear it—and eventually the name of sumo’s highest rank.
References
- Japan Sumo Association: Historical Yokozuna — official list of wrestlers who held the rank.
- Japan Sumo Association: Yokozuna promotion standards — strength, dignity, and two consecutive championships or equivalent results.
- Japan Sumo Association: How 横綱 appeared on the banzuke.
- Kotobank: 横綱 — dictionary meanings, rope origin, history, rank, and figurative use.
- Kotobank: 土俵入り — explanation of the ceremonial ring entrance.
- Japan Sumo Association: Hakuhō profile.
- Japan Sumo Association: Taihō profile.
- Japan Sumo Association: Chiyonofuji profile.
- WWE: Yokozuna profile — the professional-wrestling ring name and persona.
