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 era (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.

The tables are up to date as of the end of the September 2025 tournament.

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 Hakuōhō September 2025 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 Ichiyamamoto March 2025 Kotoshōhō July 2025 Sadanoumi May 2015

All time kinboshi earned by wrestlers This is a list of most kinboshi earneed by historic maegashira recorded since 1930.[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

Current lowest kinboshi ratio This is a running list of lowest kinboshi ratios for the two currently active yokozuna. Name kinboshi conceded bouts as yokozuna kinboshi ratio 1 Ōnosato 5 30 16.67% 2 Hōshōryū 8 43 18.60% The most recent yokozuna to retire, Terunofuji, ended his career on a kinboshi ratio of 14.86% with 22 gold stars conceded in 148 bouts at yokozuna rank. A ratio of about 20% is considered avarage.

All time lowest kinboshi ratio This is a list of the five lowest kinboshi ratios by historic yokozuna recorded since 1930. Name kinboshi conceded bouts as yokozuna kinboshi ratio 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 the same year 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 top division runners-up
• List of active special prize winners
• List of sumo record holders
• Glossary of sumo terms

References

1. Akinoshima - goo Sumo Archived 2014-06-06 at the Wayback Machine
2. "Find Rikishi".
3. 歴代力士10傑記録 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 27, 2007. Retrieved June 24, 2007.