makuuchi 幕内
The top division: 42 wrestlers, from yokozuna down to the maegashira.
Makuuchi is the top division, with 42 wrestlers. From the top, its ranks are yokozuna, ōzeki, sekiwake and komusubi, then the numbered maegashira. In Japan its bouts run from about 4pm to just before 6pm. From November to March, while eastern Australia is on daylight saving, that's roughly 6pm to 8pm in Sydney and Melbourne.
Related words
- jūryō 十両
- The second division, and the lowest that's paid a salary.
- sekitori 関取
- A wrestler in the top two divisions, makuuchi and jūryō, who's paid a salary.
- yokozuna 横綱
- Grand champion, the top rank. A yokozuna can't be demoted.
- maegashira 前頭
- The numbered rank-and-file of the top division.