Maegashira

Maegashira ( Japanese 前頭 ) is the fifth highest rank in sumo .

Currently there are mostly 34 maegashira, but the number can vary slightly depending on the number of yokozuna , Ōzeki , sekiwake and komusubi . Together with these ranks, the maegashira form the makuuchi division, which always includes 42 sumōtori. If a maegashira achieves a kachi-koshi (more wins than losses in a tournament), he rises in the banzuke , if he reaches a make-koshi (more losses than wins in a tournament), he descends in the banzuke. A high-ranking maegashira can move up to komusubi or sekiwake with a kachi-koshi, a lower-ranking maegashira can be relegated to the jūryō division with a make-koshi .

Sumo wrestlers who have been maegashira for a long time include Terao , Higonoumi and Kotonowaka .