Kinboshi

Kinboshi (金星; lit. gold star) is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked (maegashira) wrestler's victory over a yokozuna.

It is believed that the term stems from the usage of the terms shiroboshi (lit: white star) to designate a bout victory, and kuroboshi (black star) to designate a bout defeat. Thus, a "gold star" designates it as a special victory.

The word kinboshi first came into popular use in the Taishō period (1912–1926), and the system of monetarily awarding a maegashira who defeated a yokozuna in an official tournament began in January, 1930.

A kinboshi victory increases the balance in the maegashira's mochikyūkin account by 10 yen. This balance is converted using a multiplier, presently 4,000, and added to the wrestler's bonus in every subsequent tournament in which he competes as a sekitori. With six tournaments a year, this one victory corresponds to a pay increase of 240,000 yen per annum for the remainder of the wrestler's sekitori career.

The record for most kinboshi earned is held by former sekiwake Akinoshima who won 16 bouts against six different yokozuna when ranked as a maegashira.^[1]

Restrictions

Kinboshi are not awarded to san'yaku ranked wrestlers who defeat a yokozuna, nor is it awarded if the maegashira beats a yokozuna with a default win (or fusenshō). It is also not given if the yokozuna is disqualified for using an illegal move (or hansoku).

Other uses

Ginboshi (銀星 or silver star) is also used informally to denote a maegashira victory over an ōzeki. However, there is no monetary bonus for such a win, nor are official ginboshi records kept. The unofficial record holder for silver star victories is Aminishiki, with 47.

The term kinboshi is used outside sumo in informal language. It can mean a major victory, or (in slang) a beautiful woman.

List of kinboshi records

Tables for both kinboshi earned (by maegashira) and those conceded (by yokozuna) are given below.
Kinboshi appearing in individual wrestlers' records before they began to be awarded in January, 1930 are unofficial and retrospectively conferred.

List of top kinboshi earners

Kinboshi earned by active wrestlers This is a running list of the number of all kinboshi earned by all currently active wrestlers.[2] Kinboshi Wrestler Last achieved 8 Tamawashi July 2025 7 Endō July 2020 6 Takayasu March 2025 5 Abi July 2025 4 Daieishō March 2022 3 Ōhō July 2025 Takanoshō July 2024 Takarafuji November 2017 Tobizaru January 2025 2 Meisei March 2024 Mitakeumi January 2017 Nishikigi July 2023 Shōdai January 2024 Tomokaze September 2019 Ura September 2022 Wakamotoharu July 2025 1 Aonishiki July 2025 Asanoyama September 2019 Chiyoshōma March 2025 Hakuōhō July 2025 Ichiyamamoto March 2025 Kotoshōhō July 2025 Sadanoumi May 2015

All time kinboshi earned by wrestlers This list includes the top kinboshi earners since records began.[3] Kinboshi Wrestler Last achieved Status 16 Akinoshima July 1999 Oyakata 12 Takamiyama September 1978 Retired Tochinonada July 2008 Oyakata 11 Tosanoumi November 2003 Oyakata 10 Dewanishiki March 1963 Deceased Haguroyama May 1961 Deceased Kitanonada May 1961 Deceased Ōzutsu March 1986 Retired Tsurugamine July 1961 Deceased 9 Fujizakura January 1981 Retired Hasegawa March 1974 Retired Ichinojō July 2022 Retired Mitsuneyama September 1957 Deceased Takatōriki July 1998 Expelled Tamanoumi September 1958 Deceased

Kinboshi conceded

Active yokozuna kinboshi ratio This is a running list of kinboshi ratio conceded by the currently active yokozuna. Name kinboshi conceded bouts as yokozuna percentage of kinboshi 1 Ōnosato 4 15 26.67% 2 Hōshōryū 8 28 28.57%

All time lowest kinboshi ratio This list has the top five yokozuna who have conceded the lowest ratio of kinboshi since official records began. Active yokozuna are listed in bold. Name kinboshi conceded bouts as yokozuna percentage of kinboshi 1 Tamanoumi 3 150 2.00% 2 Hakuhō 26 1002 2.59% 3 Tamanishiki 4 121 3.30% 4 Taihō 28 716 3.91% 5 Chiyonofuji 29 730 3.97% Tsunenohana's yokozuna career ended very shortly after official kinboshi records came into effect in January 1930; therefore his record has not been included.

See also

• List of sumo top division champions
• List of sumo record holders
• Glossary of sumo terms