The greatest yokozuna of modern times is

[sekitori 492]

When I first started watching sumo, I was very impressed by a reigning yokozuna, Kitanoumi, and a small, extremely athletic looking rikishi. Although he was 24 years old and had never achieved anything of much importance other than to reach komusubi once, I began to follow his career. He won his first yusho at the age of 26 and continued to win for the next ten years, finally totaling 31 yushos. I was very fortunate to have followed this late bloomer, Chiyonofuji. I doubted if anyone following him could begin to duplicate his career.

Following him was Takanohana Koji who could have added considerably to his 22 yushos if he hadn't encountered severe injuries. From what I understand, he also had 16 jun-yushos. That's 38 one/two finishes in a career shortened by injury. It doesn't begin to equate to Hakuho's 54 one/two finishes but it's still a very impressive figure.

Later on, I enjoyed watching another athletic yokozuna who was also dominant. He was Asashoryu, but I was never really a fan. It just seemed that he considered himself too good for sumo and therefore was beyond following the rules of behavior for a yokozuna.

Then along came Hakuho. His first yusho was in the Natsu basho of 2006. It took him almost another year, in the Haru basho of 2007, to win his second. Since that victory, he has competed in 49 bashos, winning 33 of them. In other words, he has won 67% of the bashos in which he has competed during the past eight years—an average of just about four yushos per year. To me, those are absolutely amazing figures.

Also, since becoming a yokozuna, he has not missed a single basho for any reason whatsoever—except of course for the Haru basho of 2011 which was cancelled and which everyone missed.

Some may say that one of the reasons for his dominance is that the talent of his opposition hasn’t been as good as it could be. Were his opponents as good as those encountered by other yokozunas before him? I have no idea, but the fact remains that he has consistently defeated all of rikishis that he has been asked to face.

It’s debatable as who was the greatest yokozuna of those I have ever seen in action, not including Taiho who retired before I started watching sumo—Kitanoumi near end of his career, Chiyonofuji, Takanohana, Asashoryu, or Hakuho. However, considering the astounding number of yushos he has won and his durability, a good case must be made for Hakuho. When he does leave sumo, the primary reason probably won't be because of a substantial loss of ability. I think it will be because he has become bored and will have nothing left to prove.

My favorite rikishi of all time is not however, one of the yokozunas mentioned above. It’s someone I greatly admire who was a pioneer and who has earned a special place in sumo. I refer of course to Kyokutenho.

Edited July 27, 2015 by sekitori

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

Looking at the pics of Kyokutenho with Hakuho, you an almost forget that he was never an Ozeki or Yokozuna.

1970's-Kitanoumi

1980's-Chiyonofuji

1990's-Takanohana

2000's-Asashoryu

2010's-Hakuho

Seems you got every decade covered. I believe they are all great in there unique and collective ways. If I had to absolutely choose one?........

...CHIYONOFUJI.

[WAKATAKE 2,661]

Naming the greatest in any sport will have its critics and proponents. What is unique about any sport is any type of certain statistics that athletes are able to achieve in their sport. Hakuho leads with the most yusho in makuuchi, then you have Kyokutenho who just got the most matches in makuuchi. Kaio has the most wins overall (though that will surely be surpassed by Hakuho soon). They are all great in their own right. But as far as the yokozuna go, Taiho, Kitanoumi, Chiyonofuji, Takanahona all have had to compete with some of the best that sumo has had to offer in their own respective eras. I would still have to name Chiyonofuji, I think he had some of the toughest opponents for his time.

[Swami 245]

Kitanoumi's last couple of years tarnished his otherwise superb record - he should probably have retired late 1982 or early 1983. Equally, had it not been for Kitanoumi, Wajima would probably have won 20 - 25 yusho.

But for me Chiyonofuji will still be the best - his 1989 Haru Basho bout with Onokuni just sums up the sheer will to win, his nage technique was just on a different level to anyone else.

Swami

[Jakusotsu 5,987]

I would still have to name Chiyonofuji, I think he had some of the toughest opponents for his time.

...and some of the easiest, if the rumors are true.

[Swami 245]

I would still have to name Chiyonofuji, I think he had some of the toughest opponents for his time.

...and some of the easiest, if the rumors are true.

All these silly yaocho stories tend to generate from those who had an axe to grind against the Kyokai (eg former komusubi Itai and his ex-oyakata).

Jealousy plays a part too.

Swami

[Asashosakari 19,451]

All these silly yaocho stories tend to generate from those who had an axe to grind against the Kyokai (eg former komusubi Itai and his ex-oyakata).

Jealousy plays a part too.

Strangely enough though, pretty much none of Chiyonofuji's contemporaries seem to like him all that much, as evidenced by how he's been kept away from important jobs as much as possible over the last 20 years and how everyone bar Chiyotaikai has left the stable as soon as they had the chance, and one wonders why there would be so much more ax-grinding and jealousy against him than every other top wrestler in history... You may not believe the whole allegation that he turned 1980s Ozumo into his private little circus where he was orchestrating most yusho races from start to finish, but there's an awful lot of smoke in his case compared to other historical yaocho claims. Edited July 29, 2015 by Asashosakari

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

All these silly yaocho stories tend to generate from those who had an axe to grind against the Kyokai (eg former komusubi Itai and his ex-oyakata).

Jealousy plays a part too.

Strangely enough though, pretty much none of Chiyonofuji's contemporaries seem to like him all that much, as evidenced by how he's been kept away from important jobs as much as possible over the last 20 years and how everyone bar Chiyotaikai has left the stable as soon as they had the chance, and one wonders why there would be so much more ax-grinding and jealousy against him than every other top wrestler in history... You may not believe the whole allegation that he turned 1980s Ozumo into his private little circus where he was orchestrating most yusho races from start to finish, but there's an awful lot of smoke in his case compared to other historical yaocho claims.

If the allegation is indeed true, could he not have just as easily orchestrated becoming chairman? Someone as accomplished as him certainly makes sense as the chairman, or at least #2 (nothing against Hokutoumi)

[Asashosakari 19,451]

If the allegation is indeed true, could he not have just as easily orchestrated becoming chairman?

As a yokozuna he was in a position of power, as an entry-level oyakata he wasn't, and you can't really jump the queue; seniority counts for a lot. So some apprenticeship period applies to everyone who becomes oyakata, and by the time Chiyonofuji had worked his way past the additional hurdles set up by the senior executives, some 15 years had passed without him being able to (re)build much of a power base. Edited July 29, 2015 by Asashosakari

[Usagi 36]

I started watching sumo with Takanonami and Akebono as Yokozunae.

Takanonami was a great fighter with strong opponents like Akebono and Musashimaru and he was behaving like a Yokozuna and honoring his rank.

On the other hand he didn't have to face Wakanohana, Takanonami, Akinoshima, Takatoriki - making it easier for him to reach his results.

Asashoryu may have been the most talented Rikishi I ever saw, but he hindered himself with his arrogance - inside and outside the dohyo.

Hakuho has become arrogant in his older years, giving extrashoves and behaving like a jerk, but his sumo has always been brilliant and he gained more victories than any other. And his behaviour in his earlier years has not to be criticized. By now I'd say, Hakuho is the greatest Yokozuna I ever witnessed - but he may destroy this, if he keeps behaving like he did recently.

Edited July 31, 2015 by Usagi

[orandashoho 720]

It's easy to lose a good reputation, and difficult to get it back again.

If Hakuho cares about the legend that he is building, he will strive not to offend and play the Yokozuna role the way it is expected of him.

If he just takes his prizes without caring where these are coming from, he will be forgotten the moment he retires.

[Asashosakari 19,451]

If he just takes his prizes without caring where these are coming from, he will be forgotten the moment he retires.

Sorry, but that's complete hyperbole. One just needs to look at the aforementioned Chiyonofuji and also Asashoryu to see that plenty of people will fondly remember even those with less than stellar characters.

In any case, I've come around to the opinion that Hakuho will probably not stay in the Kyokai (just a feeling, no hard facts) so it might not make any difference if he ruffles some feathers among the higher-ups in his waning days.

Edit: By the way, I'd argue that it's actually exceptionally hard for sportspeople to lose a good reputation; the likes of Lance Armstrong demonstrate that it takes an awful lot of revelations until the majority of fans will cease their hero worship. Reputations are easy to lose in areas where reputation is a major currency (politics, anything to do with social responsibility), but while sumo may once have been one of those areas IMHO it has been sufficiently "sportified" that that's no longer true, even for yokozuna.

Edited July 29, 2015 by Asashosakari

[yorikiried by fate 2,028]

One just needs to look at the aforementioned Chiyonofuji and also Asashoryu to see that plenty of people will fondly remember even those with less than stellar characters.

Yup, I'll swap three Hakuhos for half an Asashoryu any day. Thanks.

[sekitori 492]

When I began this topic, I was thinking of the word "greatest" in the context of having the most success in competition. Some of you, rightly so, also consider personal behavior and attitude as also a part of that prominence.

In that respect, I can think of Ty Cobb, whom many consider as the greatest baseball player of all time. He had a lifetime batting average of .367. Yet he was regarded as a villain by many people because of his rudeness and playing the game with extreme violence. He was also self assured, as a yokozuna must be. When asked in 1959 what his batting average would be if he was playing at that time, he replied, "about .310 or .315". When the questioner asked why he thought he would hit with such a low average, he supposedly said, "Because I’m 72 f---ing years old, you ignorant son of a bitch".

Then there was Ted Williams whose relationship with fans and the press was described as being "temperamental, high-strung, and at times tactless". He had a lifetime BA of .344 and if he hadn't missed five years of his career because of military service, he could have set records for home runs and runs batted in. Many consider him to be the best hitter in baseball history. Yet the behavior of both of these great players must have had some role in diminishing their stellar reputations, at least to some extent.

I'm sure that athletes considered to be great in many other sports have had the same character issues.

Yet somehow, to be considered as a great yokozuna, strength of character obviously does matter and it matters more than in other athletic endeavors. That's because sumo is much more than just a contest between two individuals. If I had it to do over again, I would have retitled this topic, "All things considered, the greatest yokozuna of modern times is……………". I think that sounds more appropriate.

[Treblemaker 254]

I think the term, "greatest" should be more defined. If you're talking about the "highest achieving", that's one thing. If referring to someone adhering to the definition of Yokozuna, and exemplifying that role, that's something else. If you're talking about someone people turned out to watch, who grabbed the interest and emotions of the crowd, and who might have been the best "entertainer" or best "draw", then we're on a different planet again.

In terms of achievements, you can't touch Hakuho. Methodical, technical and effective. But then, there was a long time where he had nobody to really play with.

In terms of being a total textbook "Yokozuna", at least to the naked eye, again, Hakuho seems to stand out. But I would perhaps add Takanohana.

In terms of popularity and excitement, I might narrow it down to Kitanoumi, Chiyonofuji and Asashoryu. All were fun to watch, but for sheer tension, intensity and drama, nobody came close to Asa. It didn't matter that there was a dearth of competition for a few years, and it didn't really matter WHO he was up against, once that last slap on the belt woke people up, you knew you were in for a treat.

So, "greatest" Yokozuna? Well, time will tell.

10 years from now, Hakuho will be remembered fondly, but few people are going to dial up his bouts on YouTube. Takanohana and Chiyonofuji will still be draws at autograph sessions and book signings, but Asashoryu will still be the most popular figure for people who saw him in action. Maybe not the "greatest", but certainly the most remembered. Just on counting the number of hits of his bouts as available on YT, he easily has more views than all other videos of Yokozunas combined.

The only one of the current crop who might have a claim to come close is HF, if he can stay healthy.

Greatest "Non-Yokozunas" have to go to Kaio and Kyokutenho. Reasons are self-explanatory.

All of the above, my most humble opinions. Your mileage WILL vary.

[Gurowake 4,088]

I define "greatest" to mean "greatest mass and/or height". The answer is therefore Akebono.

Edited July 30, 2015 by Gurowake

[Maguroyama 27]

If we disregard popularity, hinkaku and such and focus solely on achievements, numbers and records, there is only one: Hakuho.

[Tsubame 367]

If we disregard popularity, hinkaku and such...

...than we had (arbitrary) wrestling and no more sumo!

[wanderer 159]

Just on counting the number of hits of his bouts as available on YT, he easily has more views than all other videos of Yokozunas combined.

This is good point. The most popular Yokozuna according to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or what not. Let us put more videos of those who had careers in the pre-internet era.

[Chinonofuji 35]

At first glance, ok and maybe second glance too, it has to be Hakuho, given his astonishing capability and durability, but I agree, impression of a wooden rooster aside, he has historically left me a bit cold. Asashoryu, on the other hand, was pure fire. I will never forget him spinning around Musashimaru, felling him like a woodpecker filled with helium might attack a small tree. But that was when he was up-and-coming, before he started to humiliate opponents, tear off rear-view mirrors from cars, and disappear with odd maladies only to be seen playing soccer. In the end, he became--to me--an extremely creative and quick bully, but not a true champion. I rooted for him, though. Takanohana was a little odd and a bit of a prima donna, with his controlled breathing, funny habits, and strange family life, but he had a heroic quality about him too, not to mention a great right-hand grip and a series of titanic matches against men significantly bigger than him that I also won't soon forget. Hard to be boring or mechanical when you're facing Akebono, Konishiki, and Musashimaru. He also had a series of challenges to overcome that I found made him more sympathetic. Not promoted quickly enough? Ok, double zensho yusho. Not big enough? Gain weight. Get hurt? Stay out for basho after basho, and then come back and prove to the critics that you've still got it. And in that regard, what a performance against Musashimaru in May 2001, on one leg, followed by the face that showed all the intensity he kept at bay every other match.

Was Takanohana the best? I guess it has to be Hakuho, but in my totally biased, nothing-to-do-with-the-numbers opinion, Takanohana had a quality those following him lacked.

[Tsubame 367]

Interesting thing I just noticed:

Many remember great rikishi via bouts and/or strong opponents. And I have to admit: yes, I also do this. You remember a great rikishi or consider some as a great rikishi because of the fights he was involved and the opponents he has to met.

One cannot deny the achievements hakuho achieved, but du you also remember great bouts of him and/or strong opponents?

[orandashoho 720]

One cannot deny the achievements hakuho achieved, but du you also remember great bouts of him and/or strong opponents?

Maybe he'll get some great bouts against Terunofuji now :-)

[sekitori 492]

One thing about Hakuho that stands out to me, other than his immense ability, is that he's so durable. Since he became an ozeki in May 2006, he has appeared in 55 bashos, 51 of them consecutively. He has won 35 of those 55.

Another impressive statistic is that he has conceded only nine kinboshis in his career, a percentage of less than 1.5. Kakuryu's percentage of kinboshis given up is more than 6.5 while Harumafuji's is almost 11. Taiho and Chiyonofuji, both among the greatest yokozunas of all, have a kinboshi percentage of around four. The percentage of others such as Kitanoumi, Takanohana, etc. is even higher.

Some may say that Hakuho's kinboshi record has much to do with the lack of ability of his opposition. My response is that he regularly faces maegashira rikishis who are highly motivated to knock off a yokozuna each time they face one. Lots of things can happen in such a match--a misstep, a slip, maybe even an attempted henka. Despite those possibilities, he hardly ever loses to those lower ranking rikishis. He has done everything expected of him when facing maegashira rikishis. He defeats the people he's expected to defeat and he has done that consistently, year after year. When speaking of greatness, consistency comes to mind and I doubt if many yokozunas can approach Hakuho's.

Edited August 11, 2015 by sekitori

[bettega 431]

As an outsider, a guy who is very very far from the real sumo it seems to me that Hakuho is fighting anothe kind of fight. He's clearly upset (against what?) and "playing with his food" (at least in his first 4-5 bouts in each basho). I think the Old and Respectable Institution may be getting at him ("do this", "don't do that", "be that way", "soon you'll be an oyakata" etc) trying to put a lot of pressure over him ("you are the best yokozuna, but we're your elders!") and all.

[orandashoho 720]

I don't think Hakuho will take on Japanese citizenship and become oyakata.