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 kinboshi record is held by former sekiwake Akinoshima who won 16 bouts against 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 is Aminishiki, with 45 as of November 2014.

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.

Kinboshi(s)	Ring Name	Last achieved
8	Ichinojō	2019-7
7	Endō	2020-7
7	Hokutofuji	2020-1
6	Myōgiryū	2020-1
5	Shōhōzan	2018-5
4	Okinoumi	2016-9
4	Takayasu	2014-11
3	Chiyotairyū	2018-9
3	Daieishō	2021-9
3	Takakeishō	2017-11
3	Takarafuji	2017-11
3	Tamawashi	2019-5
2	Abi	2018-7
2	Mitakeumi	2017-1
2	Ōnoshō	2020-3
2	Tochinoshin	2017-7
2	Tomokaze	2019-9
1	Aoiyama	2013-9
1	Asanoyama	2019-9
1	Chiyonokuni	2017-5
1	Hakuhō	2004-11
1	Jōkōryū	2015-1
1	Nishikigi	2019-1
1	Sadanoumi	2015-5
1	Shōdai	2017-7
1	Tokushōryū	2020-3
1	Ura	2017-7

^[2]

All time kinboshi earned by wrestlers[]

This list includes the top kinboshi earners since records began, all of whom are currently inactive.

Kinboshi(s)	Name	Last Achieved	Status
16	Akinoshima	1999-7	oyakata
12	Takamiyama	1978-9	retired
12	Tochinonada	2008-7	oyakata
11	Tosanoumi	2003-11	oyakata
10	Kitanonada	1961-5	deceased
	Annenyama	1961-5	retired
	Tsurugamine	1961-7	deceased
	Dewanishiki	1963-3	deceased
	Ōzutsu	1986-3	retired
9	Mitsuneyama	1957-9	deceased
	Tamanoumi	1958-9	deceased
	Hasegawa	1974-3	retired
	Fujizakura	1981-1	retired
	Takatōriki	1998-7	expelled

^[3]

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	Hakuhō	26	1002	2.59%
2	Terunofuji	1	8	12.50%

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.

References[]

^ Akinoshima - goo Sumo Archived 2014-06-06 at the Wayback Machine
^ [1]
^ 歴代力士10傑記録 accessed June 24, 2007 Archived November 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

[1] Akinoshima - goo Sumo Archived 2014-06-06 at the Wayback Machine

[2] [1]

[3] 歴代力士10傑記録 accessed June 24, 2007 Archived November 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

[1]

[2]

[3]