History of Sumo in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: November 12, 2025

Sumo is a full-contact wrestling sport where wrestlers (rikishi) try to force their opponent out of a circular ring (dohyō) or make them touch the ground with anything other than their feet. The primary objective is to use various grappling techniques to unbalance and displace the opponent, leading to a victory when one of these conditions is met. It is a traditional Japanese sport with a rich history.

1909: List of Upper Divisions Champions

Refer to the lists of top division champions and second division champions for the list of upper division champions since 1909.

1914: First Brazilian Sumo Tournament

In 1914, the first Brazilian sumo tournament was held.

1923: Great Kantō earthquake

The 2018 film 'The Chrysanthemum and the Guillotine' depicts female sumo wrestlers at the time of civil unrest following the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake.

December 1925: Japan Sumo Association Reunited

On December 28, 1925, the Japan Sumo Association reunited and increased the number of annual tournaments from two to four.

1949: Extension of Tournament Length

In 1949, the length of sumo tournaments was extended from ten to fifteen days.

1958: Increase in Annual Tournaments

In 1958, the Japan Sumo Association increased the number of annual tournaments from four to six.

1969: Average Weight Increase

In 1969, the average weight of top division wrestlers was 125 kilograms (276 lb).

1973: First Collegiate Yokozuna

In 1973, Hiroshi Wajima became the first, and remains the only, wrestler with a collegiate background to attain the rank of yokozuna.

September 1974: Extremely Rare Draw

In September 1974, an extremely rare hikiwake (draw) occurred, marking the last such draw in sumo wrestling.

1984: Old Kokugikan location

Until the end of 1984, the Kokugikan was located in Kuramae, Tokyo.

1985: National Sumo Federation Existed

As early as 1985, a national Sumo Federation existed in the UK.

1985: New Kokugikan Venue

In 1985, the Kokugikan moved to a newly built venue at Ryōgoku.

1991: Average Weight Increase

By 1991, the average weight of top division wrestlers had increased to over 150 kilograms (330 lb).

1991: Exhibition Tournament in London

In 1991, an exhibition sumo tournament was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi won.

1992: Establishment of IFS

In 1992, the International Sumo Federation (IFS) was established to promote the sport's development worldwide.

1994: Minimum Height Requirement Introduced

In 1994, the Japanese Sumo Association required that all sumo wrestlers be a minimum 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) in height, leading to cosmetic surgeries by aspiring wrestlers.

1998: Absence of Japanese Yokozuna

From 1998 until 2017, no Japanese wrestler had been named yokozuna, highlighting the dominance of foreign-born wrestlers in sumo's highest ranks.

November 1999: Increasing Collegiate Background

In November 1999, the International Herald Tribune reported that more than a third of the wrestlers in the top two divisions had a university degree.

2001: Sumo at the World Games

From 2001 until 2022, Sumo was featured in the World Games.

2007: Training Stables and Wrestlers

In 2007, 43 training stables hosted 660 wrestlers in professional sumo.

2007: US Sumo Open

In 2007, the US Sumo Open was held in the Los Angeles Convention Center, attracting an audience of 3,000.

2008: Controversies and Scandals

In 2008, the sumo world was rocked by high-profile controversies and scandals, which negatively affected its reputation and ticket sales, and impacted its ability to attract new recruits.

January 2009: Foreign-Born Wrestler Promotion

In the 10 years since January 2009, five of the nine wrestlers promoted to ōzeki were foreign-born, signaling a shift in the composition of top-ranked sumo wrestlers.

2010: Sumo at World Combat Games

Since their inception in 2010, Sumo has been featured at the World Combat Games.

2016: Rebound in Popularity

By 2016, sumo's popularity and general attendance had rebounded due to the presence of multiple yokozuna (grand champions) and other high-profile wrestlers gaining public attention.

2017: Promotion of Kisenosato Yutaka

In 2017, Kisenosato Yutaka became the first Japanese wrestler to be promoted to yokozuna since 1998, ending a period of foreign dominance in the highest rank.

2018: Monthly Salary Figures

As of 2018, salary figures for the top two divisions were available.

2018: Film Depicting Female Sumo

In 2018, the film "The Chrysanthemum and the Guillotine" was released, depicting female sumo wrestlers at the time of civil unrest following the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake.

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January 2019: Record Average Weight

As of January 2019, the average weight of top division wrestlers reached a record 166 kilograms (366 lb).

2019: Cost of Sponsorship

As of 2019, a single sumo sponsorship cost ¥70,000, with ¥60,000 going to the winner and ¥10,000 deducted by the Japan Sumo Association.

2019: Height and Weight Requirements

In 2019, The Japan Times reported the minimum height requirement was 167 cm (5 ft 6 in), and the weight requirement was 67 kg (148 lb) for sumo wrestlers.

2022: Removal From World Games

In 2022, sumo was removed from future World Games programs due to poor sportsmanship and organization.

2023: Height and weight requirements loosened

In 2023, the Sumo Association loosened the height and weight requirements, announcing that prospective recruits not meeting the minimums could still enter sumo by passing a physical fitness exam.