Sumo, which prides itself on a long history as Japan’s national sport.
Beyond the intense bouts fought in the ring, the words left behind by wrestlers are filled with deep appeal.
The resolve to compete, the dedication to training, and their philosophies of life—quotes from yokozuna and other renowned rikishi resonate even with those who aren’t sumo fans.
In this article, we introduce a collection of memorable sayings related to sumo.
From grand champions to uniquely charismatic wrestlers, please enjoy these carefully chosen words worth engraving in your heart.
- Heart-stirring sports quotes that make your chest tighten—words packed with effort and passion
- Quotes from professional baseball players: words that pierce the heart, filled with effort and passion
- Words that resonate in athletes’ hearts! A collection of short yet brilliant quotes
- Heartfelt! Inspiring Quotes Left by Great Figures of Japan
- Olympic quotes that pierce the heart! Words of tears and inspiration
- Trivia you’ll want to share once you know it! A quiz collection of surprising, little-known facts about sumo
- [Quotes and Sayings About Horses] Words that resonate with the heart. Deep, profound lines spoken by great figures and jockeys.
- [Sota Fujii] A collection of cool quotes from the young genius of the shogi world: heartfelt thoughts on competition that linger in the heart
- One-line Quotes from Great Figures That Strike the Heart | A Collection of Words That Leave a Deep Impression
- Maybe powerful words can give you strength? A collection of uplifting short quotes
- It stirs the heart before you know it! A collection of famous quotes from the timeless masterpiece Fist of the North Star
- Cool quotes from historical figures! A collection of great sayings by luminaries that resonate across the ages
- [Heart-Touching] Quotes That Keep You Going Anytime! Fiery Words That Push You Forward
[Sumo Quotes] Gems left by Yokozuna and great rikishi. Passionate words etched in the ring (1–10)
It is, after all, a Japanese person’s happiness to spend one’s life not for oneself but for others.Kōji Takanohana
Life isn’t something that stands on its own.
We move forward supported by others, encouraging one another, and sometimes clashing along the way—that’s life, isn’t it? The presence of others is indispensable to it.
Takanohana is known not only for his achievements as a yokozuna but also for his work as a stablemaster nurturing his disciples.
His long-standing contributions to the sumo world and his dedication, staking his life on his calling, are proof of a life lived for others.
It’s a wonderful saying that teaches us that the existence of others—and doing something for them—is what leads to our own happiness.
Because there was a humiliating defeat, my determination to absolutely win next time grew stronger.Kitanoumi Toshimitsu
Yokozuna Daishi Wajima and Toshimitsu Kitanoumi, who built the “Wajima-Kitanoumi era” in the 1970s and captivated many sumo fans.
In 2015, Kitanoumi said the following in a conversation published in Shukan Shincho.
It was about “the most memorable bout for the two of us,” their match on the final day of the Nagoya tournament in 1974.
At the time, Kitanoumi, then an ozeki, lost in a decisive bout where a win would have promoted him to yokozuna.
His words reflect the belief he held as a strong yokozuna: turning the bitterness of defeat into fuel and transforming it into a relentless drive for the next victory.
It begins with courtesy and ends with courtesy. More than the joy of victory, we value honoring the defeated. That is the way of sumo.Chiyonofuji Mitsugu
Chiyonofuji says that those who are called first-rate should be humble.
His words may well be a saying that leads to such a way of thinking.
When we seize victory, anyone would be filled with joy.
But even then, we must not forget compassion and courtesy toward the defeated.
A match is decided in an instant; it wouldn’t be strange for either side to win or lose.
And those standing on the dohyo are people who love the same sumo.
It is precisely when we win that we should act humbly, praise the loser’s valiant effort, and express our gratitude.
Practice as if it were the real tournament; treat the real tournament as if it were practice.Futabayama Sadaji
When you practice, strive as if it were a match where a single loss ends it.
And when you’re in an actual match, treat it like practice and perform as you normally do.
Isn’t this what the words aim to teach—a lesson for winning? Futabayama lost sight in his right eye in childhood and, at age eleven, lost his right little finger in an accident.
Yet he built up extraordinary effort and set the monumental record of 69 consecutive wins.
These are the words he imparted to his disciples.
In teaching not technique but mindset, you can sense his sincerity and warmth as a person.
A sumo wrestler can only forge his spirit in the ring.Taihō Kōki
The grand yokozuna of the Showa era, Taiho, and the grand yokozuna of the Heisei era, Hakuho.
These are the words of Mr.
Koki Naya (Taiho) from a 2011 conversation between the two yokozuna: “What matters is what you learn from the plain, round dohyo.
It’s fine to meet and talk with various people, but if your own heart is not prepared, no matter how much you listen, you won’t be able to absorb anything beyond that.” In budo and sports, there is a teaching that when the three elements of mind, technique, and body are well balanced, one can exert maximum power.
Sumo is something you learn by losing. There’s no sumo you learn by winning anywhere.Asashōryū Akinori
Because these are the words of Asashoryu—who holds a top-division record of 596 wins, 153 losses, and 76 absences—they truly resonate.
Winning is something to be proud of, but perhaps what we really need when we reexamine ourselves and break out of our shell is “defeat.” It’s precisely because we feel the sting of losing that we gain lessons, and it’s those lessons that enable us to grow.
Even when you win, rather than simply rejoicing, ask yourself if there wasn’t more you could have done… By thinking that way, your victories, too, may become invaluable experiences.
Rather than staking my life on sumo, it is within sumo that my very life exists.Kōji Takanohana
These are words left by Takanohana after he retired and became a stablemaster.
When we see someone working earnestly and giving their all, we may be tempted to say they are “risking their life,” but this quote conveys that, for the person themselves, it isn’t necessarily so.
For him, sumo itself was like life… that’s how closely his life and sumo were intertwined.
These are words that could only come from someone who has felt positive change and joy through sumo.
I, too, would like to find something in life that I can express in this way.
A professional never makes excuses, no matter what.Chiyonofuji Mitsugu
There may be many people who make excuses when they lose.
They don’t want to be blamed or disappoint others because of their defeat, so they’re tempted to pin the cause of the loss on something other than themselves.
But Chiyonofuji voiced a firm resolve that professionals are not allowed to do that.
By eliminating excuses—external conditions, health, judges’ decisions—he focused all his energy on action.
And when he lost, he accepted the facts and confronted his own shortcomings.
He called this mindset a philosophy of personal responsibility, and stated that it leads to true strength.
Sweat you shed never liesChiyonofuji Mitsugu
When does sweat run down our bodies? You might break out in a sweat due to changes in temperature or from fear, but if we’re talking about a sumo wrestler’s sweat, it’s surely the sweat shed during training.
Sumo is a world of competition—matches are often decided in an instant.
To rise to that decisive moment and demonstrate their true worth, wrestlers must train not only their bodies but also their minds to the utmost.
Chiyonofuji’s famous quote seems to say that tireless effort becomes one’s confidence and can, in turn, become the certainty of victory.
Practice with a view to three years ahead. Be patient, thinking about five or ten years down the road.Taihō Kōki
Having a clear vision of the future is important in life.
By keeping the big picture in mind, you won’t be swayed by small failures, and you may come to see what you truly need.
From Taihō’s words as well, the message is not to just practice, but to practice what you personally need; and when times are tough, to endure by believing that your ideal self awaits beyond that hardship.
People tend to be overwhelmed by what’s right in front of them, but those who succeed are likely the ones who act with a view that extends years into the future.