There have been 75 officially recognized yokozuna in sumo history, and currently there is 1 active yokozuna, Terunofuji Haruo, as of mid‑2025.

What “how many yokozuna” means

When people ask “how many yokozuna are there,” it can mean two things:

  • How many have ever existed (historical total)
  • How many are active right now in professional sumo

Both numbers are unusually small given that the rank has existed for centuries, which is part of what makes yokozuna status so special.

Total number in history

  • The yokozuna rank was systematized over time, and an official list was eventually fixed by the Japan Sumo Association.
  • Since then, promotions have continued very slowly, reaching a total of 75 wrestlers who have ever held the rank by around 2025.
  • This means only a tiny fraction of all professional sumo wrestlers ever reach yokozuna status.

In other words, if you look at all of recorded sumo history, the answer to “how many yokozuna are there” is: 75 in total so far.

How many yokozuna are active now?

  • In recent years, the active yokozuna lineup has fluctuated as older champions retired.
  • As of May 2025, Terunofuji Haruo is listed as the sole active yokozuna at the top of the banzuke (ranking sheet).
  • That means that right now there is just one active yokozuna in professional sumo.

Why the number stays so low

  • Promotion criteria are extremely strict: in modern sumo, a wrestler usually needs two consecutive top-division championships (or an equivalent dominant performance) while ranked ōzeki to be considered.
  • A yokozuna cannot be demoted; if performance or dignity drops, retirement is expected instead of dropping back to a lower rank.
  • These standards help keep the total number of yokozuna historically low and preserve the rank’s aura of excellence.

Quick recap

  • Historical total: 75 yokozuna have ever been promoted to the rank.
  • Currently active: 1 yokozuna (Terunofuji).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.