Rikishi Career Income

[ronnie 221]

Hakuho's career income (from salary, prize money and basho bonus!) matches the cost of Christiano Ronaldo's most recent haircut.

Ball games aren't popular with Islam.

Cricket.

[yorikiried by fate 2,010]

More money has been earned.

Career Income from Salary, Basho Bonus and Prize Money ● Until Natsu 2014
Name	Rank Income ¥	Basho Bonus ¥	Prize Money ¥	Sum ¥	Appr. $	Appr. €
Hakuho	299.394.000	139.360.000	294.000.000	732.754.000	7.290.170	5.729.404
Harumafuji	236.982.000	36.610.000	82.400.000	355.992.000	3.541.764	2.783.501
Wakanosato	252.367.178	47.482.000	28.600.000	328.449.178	3.267.741	2.568.144
Kyokutenho	250.900.766	42.510.000	22.000.000	315.410.766	3.138.022	2.466.197
Kotooshu	255.550.000	33.586.000	18.600.000	307.736.000	3.061.665	2.406.188
Aminishiki	230.552.000	38.642.000	20.000.000	289.194.000	2.877.191	2.261.208
Kisenosato	198.784.000	24.842.000	18.500.000	242.126.000	2.408.912	1.893.183
Kotoshogiku	193.088.000	19.996.000	16.000.000	229.084.000	2.279.157	1.791.208
Asasekiryu	180.002.000	23.740.000	10.200.000	213.942.000	2.128.509	1.672.812
Baruto	160.126.000	18.620.000	30.800.000	209.546.000	2.084.773	1.638.440
Kakuryu	160.448.000	15.502.000	28.300.000	204.250.000	2.032.083	1.597.031
Takekaze	177.588.000	20.640.000	6.000.000	204.228.000	2.031.864	1.596.859
Toyonoshima	160.948.000	19.856.000	22.300.000	203.104.000	2.020.682	1.588.070
Tokitenku	156.654.000	17.348.000	4.600.000	178.602.000	1.776.911	1.396.489
Homasho	127.310.000	16.234.000	16.300.000	159.844.000	1.590.288	1.249.820
Goeido	124.972.000	14.008.000	19.400.000	158.380.000	1.575.723	1.238.373
Yoshikaze	133.406.000	14.262.000	6.400.000	154.068.000	1.532.823	1.204.658
Tochiozan	126.924.000	14.578.000	10.300.000	151.802.000	1.510.278	1.186.940
Toyohibiki	109.298.000	11.608.000	10.200.000	131.106.000	1.304.374	1.025.118
Tochinoshin	92.518.000	9.856.000	8.500.000	110.874.000	1.103.085	866.924
Kitataiki	97.622.000	10.590.000	2.000.000	110.212.000	1.096.499	861.748
Tamaasuka	89.432.000	10.970.000	5.000.000	105.402.000	1.048.644	824.138
Tamawashi	89.334.000	9.124.000	2.500.000	100.958.000	1.004.431	789.391
Aran	82.370.000	9.050.000	6.100.000	97.520.000	970.226	762.509
Shotenro	79.954.000	8.952.000	6.000.000	94.906.000	944.220	742.070
Wakakoyu	80.932.000	8.630.000	2.300.000	91.862.000	913.935	718.269
Kimurayama	79.184.000	7.670.000	4.000.000	90.854.000	903.906	710.387
Okinoumi	74.182.000	7.590.000	4.500.000	86.272.000	858.320	674.561
Gagamaru	66.652.000	6.948.000	6.600.000	80.200.000	797.910	627.084
Hochiyama	63.364.000	6.104.000	2.400.000	71.868.000	715.015	561.936
Myogiryu	50.094.000	5.062.000	14.500.000	69.656.000	693.008	544.640
Sagatsukasa	59.220.000	5.266.000	2.500.000	66.986.000	666.444	523.764
Tosayutaka	59.444.000	5.704.000	1.800.000	66.948.000	666.066	523.466
Kaisei	54.866.000	5.242.000	6.000.000	66.108.000	657.708	516.898
Satoyama	58.128.000	5.266.000	2.500.000	65.894.000	655.579	515.225
Shohozan	52.702.000	4.886.000	5.200.000	62.788.000	624.678	490.939
Sadanofuji	55.300.000	4.890.000	2.000.000	62.190.000	618.728	486.264
Takayasu	51.490.000	5.478.000	4.500.000	61.468.000	611.545	480.618
Daido	54.754.000	5.274.000	300.000	60.328.000	600.203	471.705
Takarafuji	51.156.000	4.766.000	300.000	56.222.000	559.353	439.600
Tochinowaka	51.156.000	4.838.000	0	55.994.000	557.084	437.817
Masunoyama	47.992.000	4.432.000	2.300.000	54.724.000	544.449	427.887
Oiwato	50.274.000	4.122.000	0	54.396.000	541.186	425.322
Fujiazuma	48.104.000	4.464.000	0	52.568.000	522.999	411.029
Aoiyama	44.182.000	4.422.000	2.800.000	51.404.000	511.418	401.928
Yoshiazuma	41.006.000	4.464.000	0	45.470.000	452.381	355.530
Chiyonokuni	39.046.000	3.672.000	2.200.000	44.918.000	446.889	351.214
Ikioi	37.086.000	3.500.000	4.000.000	44.586.000	443.586	348.618
Chiyotairyu	35.560.000	3.870.000	4.000.000	43.430.000	432.085	339.579
Tokushinho	39.368.000	3.144.000	500.000	43.012.000	427.926	336.311
Tenkaiho	39.046.000	3.480.000	300.000	42.826.000	426.076	334.856
Sotairyu	37.842.000	3.186.000	100.000	41.128.000	409.182	321.580
Kotoyuki	35.882.000	3.168.000	2.000.000	41.050.000	408.406	320.970
Kyokushuho	33.264.000	2.930.000	2.200.000	38.394.000	381.982	300.203
Takanoyama	33.810.000	3.278.000	0	37.088.000	368.989	289.991
Asahisho	33.264.000	2.958.000	500.000	36.722.000	365.347	287.129
Ryuo	33.264.000	2.950.000	0	36.214.000	360.293	283.157
Tokushoryu	31.738.000	2.758.000	400.000	34.896.000	347.180	272.852
Jokoryu	28.686.000	2.594.000	2.900.000	34.180.000	340.057	267.253
Chiyootori	28.574.000	2.534.000	2.200.000	33.308.000	331.381	260.435
Nionoumi	27.482.000	2.500.000	0	29.982.000	298.291	234.429
Towanoyama	25.176.128	2.710.000	1.000.000	28.886.128	287.388	225.861
Takanoiwa	23.884.000	2.042.000	2.300.000	28.226.000	280.820	220.699
Homarefuji	25.410.000	2.190.000	500.000	28.100.000	279.567	219.714
Akiseyama	24.864.000	2.064.000	600.000	27.528.000	273.876	215.241
Daikiho	21.266.000	1.804.000	500.000	23.570.000	234.498	184.294
Sadanoumi	20.720.000	1.702.000	800.000	23.222.000	231.036	181.573
Masuraumi	20.720.000	1.664.000	500.000	22.884.000	227.673	178.930
Shironoryu	18.648.000	1.588.000	0	20.236.000	201.328	158.225
Kitaharima	18.648.000	1.496.000	0	20.144.000	200.413	157.506
Kagamio	17.668.000	1.522.000	0	19.190.000	190.921	150.047
Azumaryu	17.668.000	1.344.000	0	19.012.000	189.150	148.655
Tanzo	16.576.000	1.324.000	1.000.000	18.900.000	188.036	147.779
Kimikaze	15.050.000	1.252.000	2.500.000	18.802.000	187.061	147.013
Endo	12.544.000	1.152.000	4.000.000	17.696.000	176.058	138.365
Osunaarashi	11.998.000	1.056.000	600.000	13.654.000	135.844	106.761
Dairaido	12.432.000	1.078.000	100.000	13.610.000	135.406	106.417
Oniarashi	10.360.000	1.020.000	500.000	11.880.000	118.194	92.890
Kotoyutaka	10.360.000	960.000	500.000	11.820.000	117.597	92.421
Terunofuji	8.834.000	758.000	2.000.000	11.592.000	115.329	90.638
Tochihiryu	10.360.000	824.000	400.000	11.584.000	115.249	90.575
Chiyomaru	8.834.000	734.000	2.000.000	11.568.000	115.090	90.450
Seiro	10.360.000	826.000	300.000	11.486.000	114.274	89.809
Arawashi	10.360.000	948.000	0	11.308.000	112.503	88.417
Chiyoo	10.360.000	826.000	0	11.186.000	111.290	87.463
Kotokuni	8.288.000	1.070.000	500.000	9.858.000	98.077	77.080
Chiyoarashi	8.288.000	642.000	300.000	9.230.000	91.829	72.169
Amuru	6.216.000	624.000	500.000	7.340.000	73.026	57.391
Yotsuguruma	6.216.000	606.000	500.000	7.322.000	72.847	57.251
Higonojo	6.216.000	482.000	400.000	7.098.000	70.618	55.499
Dewaotori	6.216.000	484.000	100.000	6.800.000	67.653	53.169
Masakaze	6.216.000	480.000	0	6.696.000	66.619	52.356
Sensho	4.144.000	436.000	800.000	5.380.000	53.526	42.066
Kaonishiki	4.144.000	436.000	100.000	4.672.000	46.482	36.530
Kotomisen	4.144.000	402.000	0	4.546.000	45.228	35.545
Hitenryu	4.144.000	360.000	0	4.504.000	44.810	35.217
Kizenryu	2.072.000	160.000	700.000	2.932.000	29.170	22.925
Toyonokuni	2.072.000	180.000	500.000	2.752.000	27.380	21.518
Keitenkai	2.072.000	160.000	500.000	2.732.000	27.181	21.362
Ryuden	2.072.000	160.000	500.000	2.732.000	27.181	21.362
Dewanosato	2.072.000	270.000	0	2.342.000	23.301	18.312
Sakigake	2.072.000	164.000	0	2.236.000	22.246	17.483
Hishofuji	2.072.000	160.000	0	2.232.000	22.206	17.452

[yorikiried by fate 2,010]

Here it goes again. Our exclusive tax authority special service:

Career Income from Salary, Basho Bonus and Prize Money ● Until Nagoya 2014
Name	Rank Income ¥	Basho Bonus ¥	Prize Money ¥	Sum ¥	Appr. $	Appr. €
Hakuho	305.034.000	144.990.000	304.000.000	754.024.000	7.501.785	5.895.714
Harumafuji	242.622.000	38.334.000	82.400.000	363.356.000	3.615.029	2.841.081
Wakanosato	254.439.178	48.174.000	28.600.000	331.213.178	3.295.240	2.589.756
Kyokutenho	253.518.766	43.216.000	22.000.000	318.734.766	3.171.092	2.492.187
Kotooshu	255.550.000	33.586.000	18.600.000	307.736.000	3.061.665	2.406.188
Aminishiki	233.170.000	39.336.000	20.000.000	292.506.000	2.910.142	2.287.104
Kisenosato	203.478.000	25.570.000	18.500.000	247.548.000	2.462.855	1.935.578
Kotoshogiku	197.782.000	20.516.000	16.000.000	234.298.000	2.331.031	1.831.976
Asasekiryu	182.074.000	24.144.000	10.200.000	216.418.000	2.153.143	1.692.172
Kakuryu	166.088.000	16.142.000	28.300.000	210.530.000	2.094.563	1.646.134
Baruto	160.126.000	18.620.000	30.800.000	209.546.000	2.084.773	1.638.440
Takekaze	180.206.000	21.036.000	6.000.000	207.242.000	2.061.851	1.620.425
Toyonoshima	163.566.000	20.344.000	22.300.000	206.210.000	2.051.583	1.612.356
Tokitenku	159.272.000	17.674.000	4.600.000	181.546.000	1.806.201	1.419.508
Goeido	128.358.000	14.466.000	21.400.000	164.224.000	1.633.865	1.284.067
Homasho	129.928.000	16.650.000	16.300.000	162.878.000	1.620.473	1.273.543
Yoshikaze	136.792.000	14.612.000	6.400.000	157.804.000	1.569.992	1.233.869
Tochiozan	130.310.000	15.058.000	10.300.000	155.668.000	1.548.741	1.217.168
Toyohibiki	111.916.000	11.950.000	10.200.000	134.066.000	1.333.823	1.048.262
Kitataiki	100.240.000	10.910.000	2.000.000	113.150.000	1.125.729	884.720
Tochinoshin	92.518.000	9.856.000	9.000.000	111.374.000	1.108.060	870.833
Tamaasuka	91.504.000	11.318.000	5.000.000	107.822.000	1.072.721	843.060
Tamawashi	91.952.000	9.422.000	2.500.000	103.874.000	1.033.442	812.191
Aran	82.370.000	9.050.000	6.100.000	97.520.000	970.226	762.509
Shotenro	82.026.000	9.270.000	6.000.000	97.296.000	967.998	760.757
Wakakoyu	83.004.000	8.918.000	2.300.000	94.222.000	937.415	736.722
Kimurayama	79.184.000	7.670.000	4.000.000	90.854.000	903.906	710.387
Okinoumi	76.800.000	7.940.000	4.500.000	89.240.000	887.849	697.768
Gagamaru	69.270.000	7.268.000	6.600.000	83.138.000	827.140	650.056
Myogiryu	52.712.000	5.438.000	14.500.000	72.650.000	722.795	568.050
Hochiyama	63.364.000	6.104.000	2.400.000	71.868.000	715.015	561.936
Tosayutaka	61.516.000	5.908.000	1.800.000	69.224.000	688.710	541.262
Kaisei	57.484.000	5.520.000	6.000.000	69.004.000	686.521	539.542
Satoyama	60.200.000	5.486.000	2.500.000	68.186.000	678.383	533.146
Sagatsukasa	59.220.000	5.078.000	2.500.000	66.798.000	664.573	522.294
Shohozan	55.320.000	5.206.000	5.200.000	65.726.000	653.908	513.912
Sadanofuji	57.372.000	5.098.000	2.000.000	64.470.000	641.412	504.091
Takayasu	54.108.000	5.854.000	4.500.000	64.462.000	641.332	504.028
Daido	56.826.000	5.212.000	300.000	62.338.000	620.201	487.421
Takarafuji	53.774.000	5.040.000	300.000	59.114.000	588.125	462.212
Tochinowaka	53.774.000	5.098.000	0	58.872.000	585.718	460.320
Masunoyama	50.610.000	4.692.000	2.300.000	57.602.000	573.082	450.390
Fujiazuma	50.176.000	4.664.000	0	54.840.000	545.603	428.794
Oiwato	50.274.000	4.122.000	0	54.396.000	541.186	425.322
Aoiyama	46.800.000	4.730.000	2.800.000	54.330.000	540.529	424.806
Ikioi	39.704.000	3.774.000	6.000.000	49.478.000	492.257	386.868
Yoshiazuma	43.078.000	4.718.000	0	47.796.000	475.522	373.717
Chiyonokuni	41.664.000	3.912.000	2.200.000	47.776.000	475.323	373.561
Chiyotairyu	38.178.000	4.242.000	4.000.000	46.420.000	461.833	362.958
Tokushinho	41.440.000	3.322.000	500.000	45.262.000	450.312	353.904
Tenkaiho	41.118.000	3.680.000	300.000	45.098.000	448.680	352.621
Kotoyuki	37.954.000	3.380.000	2.000.000	43.334.000	431.130	338.829
Sotairyu	39.914.000	3.188.000	100.000	43.202.000	429.817	337.796
Kyokushuho	35.882.000	3.170.000	2.200.000	41.252.000	410.416	322.549
Takanoyama	35.882.000	3.496.000	0	39.378.000	391.772	307.897
Asahisho	35.336.000	3.158.000	500.000	38.994.000	387.951	304.894
Tokushoryu	34.356.000	3.012.000	400.000	37.768.000	375.754	295.308
Jokoryu	31.304.000	2.836.000	2.900.000	37.040.000	368.511	289.616
Chiyootori	31.960.000	2.790.000	2.200.000	36.950.000	367.616	288.912
Ryuo	33.264.000	2.950.000	0	36.214.000	360.293	283.157
Takanoiwa	26.502.000	2.292.000	2.300.000	31.094.000	309.354	243.124
Homarefuji	27.482.000	2.384.000	500.000	30.366.000	302.111	237.432
Nionoumi	27.482.000	2.500.000	0	29.982.000	298.291	234.429
Akiseyama	26.936.000	2.232.000	600.000	29.768.000	296.162	232.756
Towanoyama	25.176.128	2.710.000	1.000.000	28.886.128	287.388	225.861
Daikiho	23.338.000	1.984.000	500.000	25.822.000	256.903	201.902
Sadanoumi	20.720.000	1.942.000	800.000	23.462.000	233.423	183.449
Masuraumi	20.720.000	1.664.000	500.000	22.884.000	227.673	178.930
Kagamio	19.740.000	1.770.000	0	21.510.000	214.003	168.187
Azumaryu	19.740.000	1.536.000	0	21.276.000	211.675	166.357
Endo	15.162.000	1.412.000	4.000.000	20.574.000	204.691	160.868
Shironoryu	18.648.000	1.588.000	0	20.236.000	201.328	158.225
Kitaharima	18.648.000	1.496.000	0	20.144.000	200.413	157.506
Tanzo	16.576.000	1.324.000	1.000.000	18.900.000	188.036	147.779
Kimikaze	15.050.000	1.252.000	2.500.000	18.802.000	187.061	147.013
Osunaarashi	14.616.000	1.304.000	600.000	16.520.000	164.357	129.170
Terunofuji	11.452.000	1.000.000	2.000.000	14.452.000	143.783	113.000
Chiyomaru	11.452.000	976.000	2.000.000	14.428.000	143.544	112.813
Arawashi	12.978.000	1.188.000	0	14.166.000	140.938	110.764
Seiro	12.432.000	994.000	300.000	13.726.000	136.560	107.324
Dairaido	12.432.000	1.078.000	100.000	13.610.000	135.406	106.417
Chiyoo	12.432.000	1.000.000	0	13.432.000	133.635	105.025
Oniarashi	10.360.000	1.020.000	500.000	11.880.000	118.194	92.890
Tochihiryu	10.360.000	824.000	400.000	11.584.000	115.249	90.575
Amuru	8.288.000	876.000	500.000	9.664.000	96.147	75.563
Higonojo	8.288.000	644.000	400.000	9.332.000	92.844	72.967
Chiyoarashi	8.288.000	642.000	300.000	9.230.000	91.829	72.169
Dewaotori	6.216.000	484.000	100.000	6.800.000	67.653	53.169
Masakaze	6.216.000	480.000	0	6.696.000	66.619	52.356
Sensho	4.144.000	436.000	800.000	5.380.000	53.526	42.066
Kaonishiki	4.144.000	436.000	100.000	4.672.000	46.482	36.530
Kotomisen	4.144.000	402.000	0	4.546.000	45.228	35.545
Hitenryu	4.144.000	360.000	0	4.504.000	44.810	35.217
Sakigake	4.144.000	330.000	0	4.474.000	44.512	34.982
Ichinojo	2.072.000	160.000	2.000.000	4.232.000	42.104	33.090
Kizenryu	2.072.000	160.000	700.000	2.932.000	29.170	22.925
Toyonokuni	2.072.000	180.000	500.000	2.752.000	27.380	21.518
Keitenkai	2.072.000	160.000	500.000	2.732.000	27.181	21.362
Ryuden	2.072.000	160.000	500.000	2.732.000	27.181	21.362
Dewanosato	2.072.000	270.000	0	2.342.000	23.301	18.312
Hishofuji	2.072.000	160.000	0	2.232.000	22.206	17.452

[Benevolance 2,484]

I see these lists and I think it's interesting and a little dismaying at how many of these professional wrestlers will have to find another job after their sports career finishes. I mean, those that can put away 1 to 2 million dollars might be able to retire, if they invest carefully and live frugally, without having to hunt for other work. But for most of them?

[Asashosakari 19,110]

*

I see these lists and I think it's interesting and a little dismaying at how many of these professional wrestlers will have to find another job after their sports career finishes.

Oh, the horror. ;-) In any case, most of those in the upper half of that table will have a job for life in the Kyokai if they wish.

[Benevolance 2,484]

Athletes and artists typically have a very short window in which to earn their career income. Most forgo a formal education in order to excel at their vocation, so when they're 'done' they have little to fall back on. I don't know whether these are before- or after-tax figures, and the fact they get cost of living paid should be a consideration.

Take Takanoyama. He spent a reasonable number of tournaments in the top division. That's turned into ~30,000 a year since he started in sumo. I'll admit, I don't know how those salaries hold up relative to other jobs in Japan, but as a North American comparison, he could have earned as much as a retail employee at a department store and moderately less working full time at a fast food joint.

Maybe some of these guys had no prospects when they joined sumo, so they really aren't forgoing much other income. So, take it all with a handful of salt. But if you're going to pursue a career in something, you can see why a lot of the other candidates end up falling into sumo as a last resort.

[Asashosakari 19,110]

Take Takanoyama. He spent a reasonable number of tournaments in the top division. That's turned into ~30,000 a year since he started in sumo. I'll admit, I don't know how those salaries hold up relative to other jobs in Japan, but as a North American comparison, he could have earned as much as a retail employee at a department store and moderately less working full time at a fast food joint.

By that notion, why would anyone pursue any type of vocation that doesn't pay by the hour? Among those who try their hand at professional sumo and stay in for a reasonably long amount of time (let's say, 3+ years, counting anyone from Hakuho to Moriurara-types), about 7% end up getting a comfortable living out of it, as in 5+ years as sekitori. What's the rate for sports like football, baseball, golf, tennis, boxing? (Let alone people who work in acting and music.) I dare say it's much lower. There's more money in those activities, but the competition for it is also a lot more fierce.

Also, as in many sports, top sumotori have the opportunity to make quite a bit of money on the side. There are no endorsements in Ozumo, of course, but I bet not much has changed since the 1980s, in that a steady sekitori with enough people skills to get along with his koenkai members never has to spend a single yen of his regular salary.

That said, there's a lot more that the Kyokai can do to help its younger members achieve a decent education alongside their training, which is an area where they're still lagging behind other sports. But on the other hand the number of new recruits who have finished high school on their own is rather high these days - and I really don't think a kid who goes into Ozumo at 18 and washes out at 23 is any worse off than a kid who goes into Yakyu at 18 and washes out at 23. That's just the price to pay for pursuing a career in pro sports; some make it, many don't.

Last not least, Takanoyama really isn't who I'd think of for a particularly successful Ozumo career. He's a late-bloomer who's got the equivalent of maybe 2 MLB seasons at the minimum salary - that's $1 million (pre-tax). Takanoyama's $400k don't look too bad to me compared to that. There are Takanoyama-equivalents in dozens of other sports who don't make nearly that much and who only survive as semi-pro athletes or with governmental assistance.

[yorikiried by fate 2,010]

My parents have just returned from a trip to Georgia. By their accounts, Tochinoshin will return with enough wealth not only to lead a more than decent live by himself, but also with a little extra to take care of his extended family.

[Treblemaker 254]

Perhaps someone with time on their hands (and no life, apparently) can average out what Hakuho has earned and given the average time spent on the dohyo over a 15-bout period, and come up with just how much the Big Guy earns per hour during a tournament.

I figure 15 bouts x 8 seconds/bout x 6 annual tournaments x years of earned income divided by hour or some such calculation.

And yes, this is not taking into account the time practicing, doing keiko, etc etc.... Just the bouts, ma'am, just the bouts.

[Gurowake 4,031]

That's like counting an accountant's hours by how long it takes him to fill in the data on your tax return and not counting all the research into tax law and pouring over the records of your business that went into coming up with all the figures for it. There's no way you can be in the ring without doing the work outside of it.

[Rusev 10]

Well i think out of the top 10 in the list, other guys will not have as much money. I am from Bulgaria, so when i look at Aoyama numbers, he can easily surpass this salary working as a bouncer in night club for example, but we still need to consider other things. I dont know if they pay for food, they dont pay for accomodation (which will be necessary if he works here in Bulgaria as he is from small town where he wont be able to make more than 300E).

So if he has no expences eg clothes, food, flat, if this is the clean amount that he can put aside, its pretty good number. Also you need to consider that people who do sumo are not there for the money, they are competitors, they want success.

[yorikiried by fate 2,010]

Bulgarian bouncers earn 10.000€ per month (i.e. Maegashira salary)?!

Who would have thunk...

[Asameshimae 220]

Asashosakari said above "There are no endorsements in Ozumo." By endorsements we mean appearing in print and TV for products for money? Sure they do, not nearly as often as other celebrities but they do.

Anyway, in several posts above "room and board" being paid was mentioned. It is my understanding that most wrestlers, upon evidence that they have some staying power in the sekitori ranks, tend to move out to their own place, coming in only for practice. So I guess if they stick around for chanko after practice they save some money, but other meals and certainly rent, must be paid. I mean, except for the most gregarious, who would want to live in a communal dorm their whole life if they didn't have to? And yes a lot of these guys do get married, most especially after becoming a sekitori (some even in upper makushita when things are looking good) and I doubt their wives would put up with them living in the heya. There are exceptions. I heard Musashimaru never bothered to move out of his heya.

Another factor is sekitori are expected to go everywhere with their tsukebito and yes, in many cases they are paid for, but certainly not all. In these cases they are expected to pay for their tsukebito, and these are often expensive places. I have heard one of the reasons some wrestlers go into pro wrestling is they have no other viable way to support themselves after retiring, which means they didn't save up enough money. Of course, as was mentioned, many go into jobs working for the kyokai. I wouldn't doubt if many would rather do something else (a lot of them don't look like very much fun), but you gotta pay the bills.

Edited June 10, 2014 by Asameshimae

[Asameshimae 220]

To be honest, I have had a little trouble interpreting these numbers. So these figures are how much a rikishi has earned to date, correct? And the periods in the number are substitutes for commas? So, Hakuho has earned 754 million yen and change, correct?

[kuroimori 1,634]

To be honest, I have had a little trouble interpreting these numbers. So these figures are how much a rikishi has earned to date, correct? And the periods in the number are substitutes for commas? So, Hakuho has earned 754 million yen and change, correct?

When in doubt about dots/commas in numbers:

If you find at least two dots or commas in a seven-digit or even bigger number, then you should wonder why you are still wondering ;-)

[Asameshimae 220]

Well, I guessed that, but I worried that the last zeroes might possibly superfluous zeroes that got left over in the process. I am always the one in the room who is never afraid to ask the stupid question just in case. My friends call it one of my charm points. (In jonokuchi...)

Edited June 10, 2014 by Asameshimae

[Asashosakari 19,110]

Asashosakari said above "There are no endorsements in Ozumo." By endorsements we mean appearing in print and TV for products for money? Sure they do, not nearly as often as other celebrities but they do.

I was thinking more in terms of equipment sponsorship, which is the financial backbone for many rank-and-file athletes in other individual sports. Major endorsements for products unrelated to sport tend to be limited to superstars.

Anyway, in several posts above "room and board" being paid was mentioned. It is my understanding that most wrestlers, upon evidence that they have some staying power in the sekitori ranks, tend to move out to their own place, coming in only for practice. So I guess if they stick around for chanko after practice they save some money, but other meals and certainly rent, must be paid. I mean, except for the most gregarious, who would want to live in a communal dorm their whole life if they didn't have to?

Sekitori do get a personal room. As far as I know it's partially a question of individual heya culture - technically any sekitori is free to move out of the heya even if he's unmarried, but in some stables it's more frowned upon than in others. Edited June 10, 2014 by Asashosakari

[Asameshimae 220]

Yeah, I was going to mention sekitori get their own room (they're big boys now!). Hard to imagine (or maybe funny to imagine) Musashimaru (in the past) tucked in his futon with young wrestlers snoring on the tatami next to him.

[Gurowake 4,031]

And the periods in the number are substitutes for commas?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thousands_separator (actually goes to decimal mark, but whatever)

Different countries have different rules about how to separate digits in large numbers. It is especially annoying when trying to copy tables of such numbers into Excel because I've not found out a way to tell Excel that it should treat commas and periods in the data differently than normal.

edit: I've now read that French Canadians follow the French style and English Canadians follow the English style, so one might say that if you're writing numbers accompanying English text, you should follow the English style for writing numbers. But I'm sure most people will just say the way they originally learned is clearly the correct way.

Edited June 11, 2014 by Gurowake

[yorikiried by fate 2,010]

I would have never suspected that the number format might be considered cumbersome. (But then again, I had never given it any thought whatsoever...)

It is certainly true that English texts should be accompanied by English style numbers and I seem to remember that I tried to do so at other places in the past.

Nevertheless, because I'm used to my own language's style, the flood of commas in the English format makes my eyes bleed. So I'm undecided.

More importantly, if it is not clear what these tables are about, it might be a good idea to refer to the very first post of this thread.

[Asameshimae 220]

I have seen the system of using periods where my language/country would use commas. I was just confirming. Go on as you have done it. No worries.

[Asashosakari 19,110]

Different countries have different rules about how to separate digits in large numbers. It is especially annoying when trying to copy tables of such numbers into Excel because I've not found out a way to tell Excel that it should treat commas and periods in the data differently than normal.

Somewhere in Excel's settings ("International" or whatever it's called in current versions) you can switch the delimiters/separators.

[Gurowake 4,031]

Thank you! I switched the delimiters in the options, pasted in a bit of the table, and the data was read as being numbers correctly; I just had to switch back to make it display "proper" for me.

[Afrozuna 8]

Also has to do with the strength of ones home currency and the cost of living. In my country (South Africa) many of the rikishis with more than $300000 would be able to live reasonably well if their mortgages etc are already paid up. A 3 bedroom house in a decent surburb costs around $60 000.

That is precisely why some Britons/Americans go to Asian countries (particularly Thailand) to retire because the cost of living is usually much lower than in London/New York and the strength of the British pound renders them wealthy in the currencies of their chosen retirement country.

[Mihasan 13]

To bad this tread went cold..., does anyone have any new data about the rikishi carrier earnings?