Rank ladder

One ladder. East of a rank is listed slightly above west of the same rank. They are not conferences — see how to read a banzuke.

1. 1. Yokozuna 横綱

   Grand champion. Never demoted — they retire. A losing basho here is intai talk, not a drop.

2. 2. Ozeki 大関

   Champion. Two losing basho and they fall to sekiwake. Kadoban is the warning after the first.

3. 3. Sekiwake 関脇

   Named rank below ozeki. A strong basho here is the ozeki run.

4. 4. Komusubi 小結

   The lowest named rank. Often a brutal schedule against sanyaku.

5. 5. Maegashira 前頭

   Numbered top-division ranks. M1 sits above M16.

6. 6. Juryo 十両

   Second division. Salaried. Promotion to makuuchi is the prize.

7. 7. Makushita 幕下

   The upper unsalaried division. The joi can still make juryo.

The named ranks at the top of the sheet: yokozuna, ozeki, sekiwake, and komusubi. All terms.