Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Makuuchi
The Makuuchi, or Makunouchi, is the top division in professional Sumo wrestling in Japan. The division comprises of just over 40 wrestlers who are ranked according to their ability, as defined as their performance in previous tounaments. At the top of the division are the titleholders, or champions comprising Yokozuna, Ozeki, Sekiwake and Komusubi. There are typically 8-12 wrestlers in these ranks with the remainder, called Maegashira, ranked in numerical order from 1 downwards.
The name Makuuchi literally means "inside the curtain", a reference to the early period of professional sumo, when the top ranked rikishi were able to sit in a curtained off area prior to appearing for their bouts.
10-26-2009 08:16:03
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The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details