Amateur Sumo

In addition, Sumo is an amateur sport, with participants in college, high school and grade school in Japan. In addition to college and school tournaments, there are also open amateur tournaments. The sport at this level is stripped of most of the ceremony. The most successful amateur wrestlers in Japan (usually college champions) can be allowed to enter professional sumo at Makushita (third division) rather than from the very bottom of the ladder. This rank is called Makushita Tsukedashi, and is currently between Makushita 15 and 16. Many of the current Makuuchi rikishi entered professional Sumo by this route.

There is also an International Sumo Federation, who encourage the sports development worldwide, including holding international championships. A key aim of the federation is to have Sumo recognised as an Olympic sport.