Sumo wrestling is one of the most exciting and entertaining sports in the world, with some of the biggest athletes in history.
It is one of the most popular sports in Japan.
The wrestlers, who are known as rikishi, are considered a symbol of Japanese culture and are treated like celebrities.
Quick Read
- The heaviest Sumo wrestler is Ōrora Satoshi that weighs 645 lbs or 292 kg
- The average weight of a Sumo wrestler is approximately 336 pounds
- Sumo athletes are not just really strong and heavy, they are very quick on their feet and maintain great balance and core
They are so large that they can be easily identified on the street by their broad shoulders and barrel chests.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the 25 biggest sumo wrestlers of all time.
Table of Contents
25 Biggest Sumo Wrestlers
Sumo wrestlers are a class of their own. The sport demands strength, agility, and stamina beyond anything else in the world.
Not only do they have to be strong enough to lift their opponent off the ground and throw them out of the ring, but they also need to be quick enough to dodge attacks and agile enough to avoid being thrown themselves.
The average sumo wrestler in Japan is around 6 feet tall and weighs over 336 pounds, with some reaching heights of 7’0″ and weights of nearly 500 pounds.
Today, we’ll take a look at the 25 heaviest sumo wrestlers of all time.
1. Orora Satoshi
- Born: April 26, 1983, Zaigrayevo, Buryat ASSR, Soviet Union
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 292.6 Kg
One of the biggest sumo wrestlers in history, Orora Satoshi, was born in 1983.
Orora had always been incredibly large.
When he was eight years old, he saw sumo for the first time on television and was immediately inspired to pursue a career as a sumo wrestler.
At the age of 16, he moved to St. Petersburg with his family to study sumo. He was the first Russian professional sumo wrestler.
Orora weighed 190 kilograms (419 pounds) when he made his debut in March 2000, and in 2017, he became the heaviest professional sumo wrestler in history, weighing 288 kilograms (635 pounds).
Orora joked about his weight that the record had not been his goal, but he would at least be remembered in history.
He retired from professional sumo wrestling in September 2018.
2. Yamamotoyama Ryuta
- Born: May 8, 1984, Saitama, Japan
- Height: 6’4”
- Weight: 272 kg
Yama is a retired Japanese sumo wrestler from Saitama, Saitama Prefecture. He entered the top makuuchi division in January 2009 after making his professional debut in January 2007.
He joined the Onoe stable and began competing in professional sumo. In 2007, he set a new record for the heaviest new recruit, weighing in at 233 kg.
Yama retired from professional sumo wrestling in April 2011.
3. Konishiki Yasokichi
- Born: December 31, 1963, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.
- Height: 6 ft 1⁄2 in
- Weight: 287 kg
Konishiki Yasokichi, also known as “Konishiki” or “The Dump Truck,” is one of the biggest sumo wrestlers of all time.
He was born in Hawaii in 1963 and became a professional sumo wrestler in Japan in 1982. Konishiki was known for his massive size, weighing in at over 600 pounds at his heaviest.
During his career, Konishiki reached the rank of Ozeki, the second-highest rank in sumo wrestling, and won a total of 7 championships. He was also the first foreign-born wrestler to reach the rank of Ozeki in the history of sumo.
Konishiki retired from sumo wrestling in 1997 and has since become a television personality and entertainer.
He is still widely regarded as one of the most dominant and impressive sumo wrestlers of all time, and his legacy in the sport lives on.
4. Kenho Mitsuo
- Born: February 10, 1989 Osaki, Miyagi, Japan
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 250 Kg
Kenho Mitsuo is another one of the biggest sumo wrestlers in history.
He went on to win many competitions, including three tournaments in a row between 2011 and 2013.
Kenho achieved his highest ranking as an active wrestler, Makushita 59, which is quite impressive.
He also had an incredible ability to use his weight as leverage in order to flip or throw his opponents easily during competition.
Kenho’s skills and fighting abilities place him among the best sumo wrestlers.
5. Amakaze Koichi
- Born: July 7, 1991, Kagawa, Japan
- Height: 6’1”
- Weight: 176.6 kg
Amakaze Kichi is a professional sumo wrestler from Kotohira, Kagawa, Japan.
In March 2007, he joined the Oguruma stable and made his professional debut. In September 2016, he attained the top makuuchi division.
His career took off quickly after that—Amakaze quickly rose to become one of the best sumo wrestlers in Japan during his career.
Maegashira 13 was his highest rank.
In March 2013, he ascended to the top of the makushita division, where he was about to be promoted to elite sekitori status but fell short with a 1-6 record.
After attempting to lose weight, his results began to improve, and he was promoted to the jry division following the January 2015 tournament.
6. Tominohana
- Born: February 15, 1972, Keelung City, Taiwan
- Height: 6’1”
- Weight: 241.5 kg
Tominohana is a former professional sumo wrestler from Keelung City in Taiwan.
His first match was in May 1988, and his last match was for the Takadagawa stable.
Tominohana weighed 144 kg when he first began competing in professional sumo (317 Ib).
During his sumo career, he gained a lot of weight, and at his heaviest, he weighed 241.5 kg (532 Ib), making him one of the heaviest sumo wrestlers of all time.
After the January 1992 tournament, he announced his retirement. He retired with the rank of jonidan 31.
7. Susanoumi Yoshitaka
- Born: August 30, 1972 Chita, Aichi, Japan
- Height: 6’0”
- Weight: 240 kg
Born in Japan, Susanoumi Yoshitaka is one of the biggest names in sumo wrestling today.
He started his career as a sumo wrestler in 1988.
Susanoumi Yoshitaka went on to become a very successful sumo wrestler, winning many matches and earning himself a reputation as one of the best wrestlers in Japan’s history.
He was the heaviest Japanese-born sumo wrestler until Yamamotoyama surpassed him.
He won 1 Sandanme Championship in July 1992 and also won two Makushita Championships in July 1996 and 1997.
Yoshitaka retired from professional sumo wrestling in March 2003.
8. Musashimaru Koyo
- Born: May 2, 1971, American Samoa
- Height: 6’2”
- Weight: 235 kg
Musashimaru Koyo was a former professional sumo wrestler from American Samoa.
With a weight of about 235 kg, Musashimaru is one of the biggest sumo wrestlers ever.
He moved to Japan at the age of 18 and made his professional sumo debut in 1989, eventually reaching the top makuuchi division in 1991.
During his career, Musashimaru won over 700 top-division bouts and twelve top-division tournament championships.
Musashimaru was known for his immense size, strength, and technique. He was also popular among sumo fans for his jovial personality and friendly demeanor.
His massive 235 kg (518 lb) weight combined with his height of 1.92 m made him a formidable opponent, and he was remarkably consistent and injury-free for the majority of his career.
Koyo retired from professional sumo wrestling in November 2003.
9. Takaryu Naoya
- Born: March 18, 1992, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 212 kg
Takaryu is one of the biggest sumo wrestlers in the world, weighing in at 467 lb and standing 1.80 meters.
Takaryu has been overweight since he was a child, and he suffers from severe atopic dermatitis. His doctor told him that doing sumo would strengthen his immune system and metabolism, curing his atopic dermatitis.
As a result, Takaryu began doing sumo at a local dojo during his first year of elementary school, and his atopic dermatitis was cured a year later.
He continued to practice sumo and compete in national tournaments while attending Kanazawa Shiritsu Seinanbu Junior High School.
Takaryu announced his retirement following the May 2021 tournament after sitting out.
By 2021, he had dropped to 188 kg.
10. Akebono Taro
- Born: May 8, 1969, Waimānalo, Hawaii, United States
- Height: 6’8”
- Weight: 233 kg
Akebono Taro, born in 1969 and standing at over 6 feet tall and weighing in at over 500 pounds, is one of the biggest sumo wrestlers of all time.
He joined sumo in 1988 and reached the top division in 1990.
After winning two consecutive championships in 1992 and 1993, Akebano was promoted to yokozuna (the highest rank in sumo), which made him the first foreign-born wrestler to be awarded this title.
Akebono won eight more tournament championships during his eight years as a yokozuna, for a career total of eleven.
He became a citizen of Japan in 1996.
As a result of health issues, he retired from professional wrestling in 2017.
After retiring in 2001, Akebono worked as a coach at the Azumazeki stable before leaving the Sumo Association in 2003.
11. Onokuni Yasushi
- Born: October 9, 1962 Memuro, Hokkaidō, Japan
- Height: 6’2”
- Weight: 203 kg
Ōnokuni made his professional debut in 1978 (at the age of 15) and advanced to the top division in 1983. He won his first ysh, or tournament championship, in 1987.
Onokuni has been known for his tremendous strength.
He received his first special prize and three gold stars in November 1983 while ranked as maegashira 3. This earned him the rank of sekiwake (third-highest rank in professional sumo wrestling).
Ōnokuni retired in 1991 and was elected to the board of directors of the Japan Sumo Association in 2018.
12. Toyonoumi Shinji
- Born: September 22, 1965 Buzen, Fukuoka, Japan
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 225 kg
Toyonoumi Shinji is a retired sumo wrestler who competed in professional sumo in Japan from 1991 to 1999.
He was known for his powerful physique, which helped him to win several tournaments and achieve the rank of Jūryō, which is the second-highest division.
He had been a wrestler for 19 years and had never missed a match in his entire career, fighting 1316 matches in a row.
Toyonoumi was one of the heaviest sumo wrestlers of his time, weighing in at around 225 kilograms (496 pounds) during his peak.
However, he was sometimes criticized for being ungainly and slow-moving.
Toyonoumi died on November 20, 2021, at the age of 56, from an unspecified illness.
13. Gagamaru Masaru
- Born: February 23, 1987, Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
- Height: 6’1”
- Weight: 199 kg
Gagamaru Masaru, also known as Gaga, is a retired professional sumo wrestler from Georgia.
He was one of the biggest wrestlers in the sport, weighing in at over 600 pounds during his prime.
Gagamaru was known for his size and strength, and he competed at the highest levels of professional sumo in Japan for many years. He won three championships (Jūryō, Makushita, Jonokuchi) and went on to compete in the top division of sumo for several more years.
Despite his impressive size and strength, Gagamaru was also known for his quickness and agility, and he was able to use his size to his advantage in the ring. He retired from professional sumo in 2020 after a long and successful career.
Overall, Gagamaru was one of the biggest and most impressive sumo wrestlers of his time, and he will be remembered as one of the greats of the sport.
14. Ryutei Weifu
- Born: June 2, 1986, Laiyang, Shandong, China
- Height: 6’1”
- Weight: 212 kg
Ryutei Weifu is a retired Chinese sumo wrestler from Laiyang, Shandong.
He made his debut in March 2004 and announced his retirement in January 2013.
Ryutei was one of the heaviest new recruits in sumo history, weighing 212 kg.
He had a losing record in his debut, but he bounced back with an impressive 6-1 record in July 2004. In January 2005, he was promoted to the sandanme division (fourth highest), continuing his impressive Performance by producing two more winning records.
Ryutei weighed 212 kg at his heaviest, making him the 23rd heaviest sumo wrestler in sumo history.
15. Daiki Susumu
- Born: July 16, 1973, Kailua, Hawaii, U.S.A.
- Height: 6 ft 3.5 inch
- Weight: 221 kg
Daiki Susumu was a professional American sumo wrestler from Waikane, Oahu, Hawaii.
He debuted in November 1991 and advanced to the juryo division in September 1995.
His career record stood at 153 wins and 119 losses.
Daiki’s maximum weight was 224 kg (494 lbs). His highest rank, Juryo 10, was attained in November 1995.
Due to appendicitis and knee injuries, he retired from sumo in 1998.
16. Masura Maeta
- Born: June 24, 1982 Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 213 kg
Maeta is another biggest sumo wrestler from Japan. He used to compete in amateur sumo for Nihon University.
He started out playing football and swimming in elementary school, but as his weight increased (he was already over 100 kg by third grade), he switched to sumo.
In March 2005, he made his professional debut under the ring name Maeta.
Throughout his career, Maeta was known for his enormous size and strength, and he was one of the heaviest sumo wrestlers of all.
He won the sandanme yusho in March 2006 with a perfect 7-0 record and was promoted to makushita.
Maeta continued to make impressive progress, reaching makushita 6 in January 2007.
In 2018, he announced his retirement.
After retiring from sumo, Maeta became a sumo coach and also appeared on various Japanese television shows.
He had been coaching students at a sumo dojo in Tairadate High School in Hachimantai, Iwate, on August 26, 2020, when suddenly, at approximately 7:30 PM, Maeta collapsed.
Despite receiving aid from an automated external defibrillator, he did not regain consciousness. He was then transported to Hachimantai City Hospital, where his official cause of death was recorded as a myocardial infarction.
Maeta was 38 years old at the time of his passing.
17. Ichinojo Takashi
- Born: April 7, 1993, Arkhangai, Mongolia
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 212 kg
Ichinojo Takashi is a professional sumo wrestler from Mongolia who competes in the highest division of professional sumo in Japan.
He is known for his massive size and strength, standing at 6’3″ (190 m) tall and weighing over 450 pounds.
At his heaviest, he weighed 482 pounds (219 kg), making him one of the largest sumo wrestlers in history.
He’s not just massive, though—he’s also very fast and agile, making him a formidable opponent on the mat.
Despite his size, Ichinojo is also known for his agility and technical skill and has achieved impressive results in professional sumo since his debut in 2014.
18. Kushimaumi Keita
- Born: August 6, 1965, Wakayama, Japan
- Height: 6’1.5”
- Weight: 203 kg
Kushimaumi Keita is one of the biggest sumo wrestlers from Japan.
As a successful amateur, his highest professional sumo rank was maegashira 1.
He began sumo at the age of four, inspired by his father’s love of the sport.
He won the All Japan Sumo Championships in 1985, becoming the first person to achieve the amateur yokozuna title while still in high school (he already weighed 160 kg at the time.)
Kushimaumi was known for his large size and powerful physique, which helped him to win many matches throughout his career.
Unfortunately, Kushimaumi’s career was cut short due to injuries, and he retired from sumo in March 1999.
After retiring, he joined the Japan Sumo Association as an elder and founded the Tagonoura stable.
However, in February 2012, he passed away at the age of 46 due to heart failure.
His death was a great loss to the sumo world, and he is remembered as a talented and dedicated wrestler.
19. Takamiyama Daigorō
- Born: June 16, 1944, Maui, Territory of Hawaii, U.S.A.
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 204
Takamiyama Daigorō was the biggest sumo wrestler in history. He achieved great success in the sport during the 1960s and 1970s.
He is notable for being the first foreign-born wrestler to win a top-division championship in sumo and for popularizing the sport in his home country of the United States.
Takamiyama began his sumo career in Japan in 1964, joining the Azumazeki stable. He quickly rose through the ranks.
In 1972, after becoming the first foreign-born wrestler to win a top-division championship, he went on to win a total of three championships in his career.
Takamiyama was known for his large size and powerful physique, as well as his charismatic personality and showmanship in the ring. He was a fan favorite in Japan and became a household name in the country, appearing on television shows and in advertisements.
He announced his retirement in May 1984 after twenty years in the sumo.
20. Sadanofuji Akihiro
- Born: December 25, 1984 Kazusa, Nagasaki, Japan
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 205.8 kg
At 6’3″ and 440 pounds, Sadanofuji is another heaviest sumo wrestler in history.
He made his debut in January 2003 when he was 19 years old.
With a 14-1 record, he won his first ysh or tournament championship in November 2012.
He also won eight consecutive tournaments in the top division.
Sadanofuji announced his retirement following the May 2017 tournament. He stated that his sumo had deteriorated due to the poor condition of his right hip joint.
Currently, he is a coach at Sakaigawa stable.
21. Aoiyama Kōsuke
- Born: June 19, 1986, Elhovo, Bulgaria
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 192 kg
Aoiyama is one of sumo’s heaviest competitors, weighing in at around 200 kg for most tournaments.
He debuted professionally in 2009 and advanced to the top division two years later.
In addition to one technique award and one kinboshi for defeating a yokozuna, Aoiyama has received four Fighting Spirit awards.
He has also finished second in a tournament twice.
Sekiwake was his highest rank.
22. Kaisei Ichirō
- Born: December 18, 1986, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Height: 6’5”
- Weight: 190 kg
Kaisei Ichirō is a Japanese Brazilian sumo wrestler.
In childhood, he was more interested in grappling sports like judo. When he was sixteen, a father’s friend suggested that his already large stature would be ideal for sumo.
Kaisei began sumo training and went on to win the All-Brazil amateur sumo championship in the free weight division.
He debuted in September 2006 and advanced to the top makuuchi division in May 2011.
He finished second twice: once in the July 2013 tournament and again in the March 2018 tournament.
Kaisei has also won three Fighting Spirit awards.
Sekiwake was his highest rank.
He retired from professional sumo wrestling in September 2022.
23. Akua Shōma
- Born: November 6, 1990 Ōarai, Ibaraki
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 164 kg
Akua Shma is an Ibaraki Prefecture professional sumo wrestler.
In November 2020, he rose to the top makuuchi division after making his debut in November 2010.
Akua’s fighting style relies on brute strength and speed, which makes him an excellent fighter in his weight class.
By winning his eighth bout on the fourteenth day, he established a winning record in his first appearance in the top division.
Akua is well known for his oshi-sumo specialist style, which he uses to fight his opponents.
Oshi-sumo is a style of sumo wrestling that involves pushing your opponent out of the ring or forcing him to step outside the ring with his own feet or legs. It’s a style that requires a lot of strength and balance, and Shōma had both in spades.
Maegashira 10 is Akua’s highest rank.
24. Daieishō Hayato
- Born: November 10, 1993, Asaka, Saitama Prefecture
- Height: 5 ft 11.5 inch
- Weight: 164 kg
Daieishō Hayato is a professional sumo wrestler from Japan, known for his impressive size and strength.
At 1.82 meters tall and weighing over 160 kilograms, he is one of the biggest sumo wrestlers in the sport today.
Hayato began his professional career as an eighteen-year-old in 2012 and advanced to the top makuuchi division in September 2015.
He received four gold stars, five special awards for Outstanding Performance, and one special award for technique.
He made history in January 2021 when he became the first wrestler from Saitama Prefecture to take home the top-division title.
Despite his size and strength, Daieishō is known for his agility and speed on the sumo dohyo, or ring. He is particularly skilled at using his quick reflexes to dodge his opponent’s attacks and then counterattack with his own power moves.
In addition to his impressive sumo skills, Daieishō is also known for his cheerful personality and positive attitude.
As one of the biggest sumo wrestlers in the sport, Daieishō is a force to be reckoned with.
He continues to dominate his opponents and climb the ranks of sumo, making him a fan favorite and a rising star in the sport.
25. Ōnoshō Fumiya
- Born: July 4, 1996 Nakadomari, Aomori, Japan
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 155 kg
Ōnoshō Fumiya, known as Fumiya Utetsu, is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler.
He began practicing sumo wrestling in elementary school and continued to do so through high school. After graduating from high school, he joined the Ōnomatsu stable and began his professional sumo career.
In March 2013, at the age of sixteen, Fumiya made his professional debut in the Osaka tournament.
He advanced quickly through the lower divisions, eventually reaching the third-highest makushita division in November of the same year.
In May 2017, he made his top makuuchi debut.
Fumiya has received three special awards: one for Outstanding Performance, one for the fighting Spirit, and two kinboshi for defeating yokozuna.
His highest rank was komusubi (a top division of professional sumo).
Today, Fumiya is considered one of the rising stars in the world of sumo wrestling. He is known for his impressive size and strength, as well as his quick reflexes and agility in the ring.
Despite his young age and relatively short career, he has already achieved more than many other sumo wrestlers.
His determination, resilience, and dedication to the sport have made him a beloved figure in the sumo world and a role model for aspiring wrestlers.
Conclusion
So, there you have it – the 25 Biggest Sumo Wrestlers.
While it takes years of training and dedication to become a successful sumo wrestler, these 25 biggest sumo wrestlers have certainly made their mark on the sport.
From their sheer size and strength to their impressive agility and technique, these athletes are a testament to the power and grace of sumo wrestling.
However, it’s worth noting that being big doesn’t necessarily equate to success in sumo wrestling, as there are many technical and strategic aspects involved in the sport.
We hope you enjoyed our list of the 25 biggest sumo wrestlers.
Let us know if you have any other favorites in the comments below!
