Professional sumo divisions

At the top of the division are the four ranks of "titleholders", or "champions" called the san'yaku, comprising yokozuna, ōzeki, sekiwake and komusubi.

This is the only division that is featured on standard NHK's live coverage of sumo tournaments and is broadcast bilingually.

Terunofuji (retired) Kotozakura Hōshōryū Ōnosato Wakamotoharu Daieishō Abi Wakatakakage Takanoshō Kirishima Tobizaru Atamifuji Gōnoyama Ōhō Shōdai Ura Hiradoumi Chiyoshōma Takayasu Ichiyamamoto Endō Mitakeumi Rōga Takarafuji Churanoumi Ōshōma Tamawashi Meisei Midorifuji Takerufuji Nishikigi Ōnokatsu Shōnannoumi Kotoshōhō Hokutofuji Kinbōzan Hakuōhō Kitanowaka Tamashōhō Kagayaki Nishikifuji Tokihayate Jūryō (十両) is the second highest division, and is fixed at 28 wrestlers.

The name literally means "ten ryō"', which was at one time the income a wrestler ranked in this division could expect to receive.

Sumo wrestlers ranked in the divisions below jūryō are considered to be in training and receive a small allowance instead of a salary.

Such jūryō-makuuchi matchups are also not uncommon towards the end of a sumo tournament, in order to better establish promotion and relegation of individuals between the two divisions.

In the current system, there are 120 wrestlers in the division (60 ranked on the East and 60 on the West side of the banzuke).

This eighth match is sometimes required as a result of tournament withdrawals due to injury of sekitori, and is usually given to makushita wrestlers who have achieved a 3–4 or worse record in their regular seven bouts.

In such a match-up, the makushita wrestler will have his hair fashioned into a full oicho-mage as sekitori do but continues to wear his plain cotton mawashi.

This level represents the first break point in the treatment a wrestler receives as he rises up the ranks.

All wrestlers, apart from those who have had successful amateur careers and are given special dispensation to enter makushita or sandanme directly, start in this division.

The jonokuchi division varies in size and typically includes between 40 and 90 wrestlers, with the high mark being reached for each May tournament as the number of recruits appearing in maezumō is generally largest during the preceding March tournament, when the Japanese school year ends.