honbasho

A , or Grand Sumo Tournament in English, is an official professional sumo tournament. Only honbasho results matter in determining promotion and relegation for rikishi (sumo wrestlers) on the banzuke ranking. Before the 19th century, a wrestler's record at a tournament was of little consequence and the number of honbasho held every year varied, as did their length. Honbasho have been organized by the Japan Sumo Association since 1926, following the merger of the Tokyo and Osaka sumo associations. Since 1958, there are six tournaments held over 15 consecutive days in four locations every year. They are held every other month, with the first in January.

==Etymology== The term honbasho means "main (or real) tournament" and is used to distinguish these tournaments from unofficial tournaments which are held as part of sumo tours, between the six major tournaments. Such display tournaments may have prize money attached but a wrestler's performance has no effect on his ranking. This type of sumo is often called hana-sumo ( flower-sumo) as it is not taken as seriously by the wrestlers.