F5 / Six divisions, one focus
Six divisions, one focus - and a salary cliff
Pro sumo runs from Jonokuchi (entry) up through Makuuchi (top division). This site only covers the top - 42 of 608 active rikishi (wrestlers), about 6.9% of the pyramid. The cliff is between Juryo and Makushita: the top two divisions are salaried sekitori earning monthly pay; everyone below earns a small per-basho stipend.
¥16.8M–¥36.0M/yr ≈ $112K–$240K USD
¥13.2M/yr ≈ $88K USD
¥0.99M/yr ≈ $6.6K USD
¥0.74M/yr ≈ $4.9K USD
¥0.59M/yr ≈ $3.9K USD
¥0.46M/yr ≈ $3.1K USD
BASE PAY ONLY (JSA OFFICIAL). YOKOZUNA TOP THE MAKUUCHI RANGE; MAEGASHIRA SET THE FLOOR.
ADD ¥10M (~$67K) YUSHO PRIZE, SPECIAL-PRIZE BONUSES (¥2M / ~$13K EACH), AND KENSHO (SPONSOR ENVELOPES, ~¥18K / ~$120 PER MATCH NET).
USD CONVERSIONS AT ~150 ¥/$.
608 ACTIVE RIKISHI · 6 DIVISIONS · ONLY 42 OF THEM ARE TOP-DIVISION SEKITORI