Sansho are the three special prizes awarded at the end of each grand sumo tournament, separate from the championship: the Shukun-sho (Outstanding Performance Award), Kanto-sho (Fighting Spirit Award) and Gino-sho (Technique Award). Only wrestlers below the titled ranks who finish with a winning record can win.
Three prizes, not one. Sansho are the Shukun-sho (Outstanding Performance), Kanto-sho (Fighting Spirit) and Gino-sho (Technique), handed out at the close of every grand tournament alongside the championship.
Lower ranks only. They go to maegashira and the junior san’yaku ranks of komusubi and sekiwake. A yokozuna or ozeki cannot win one, because strong results from them are already expected.
A winning record is required. A wrestler must finish with a kachikoshi to be eligible. No matter how memorable a single upset, a losing record disqualifies him.
Each prize rewards a different quality. The Shukun-sho rewards a standout result, the Kanto-sho rewards grit over the whole basho, and the Gino-sho rewards skillful technique.
A committee decides, with room for nuance. A selection committee chooses the winners near the end of the tournament. A prize can be shared by more than one wrestler, or go unawarded if no one clearly qualifies. Each carries prize money.
What sansho means
Sansho (三賞, “three prizes”) are the three special awards handed out at the close of every grand sumo tournament. They sit apart from the yusho, the tournament championship. While the yusho goes to whoever wins the most bouts, the sansho honor wrestlers who stood out in a way the win-loss column alone does not capture — a giant-killing upset, relentless drive over the whole tournament, or technique worth watching for its own sake.
The three prizes are:
- Shukun-sho (殊勲賞) — the Outstanding Performance Award
- Kanto-sho (敢闘賞) — the Fighting Spirit Award
- Gino-sho (技能賞) — the Technique Award
Each one carries prize money. A selection committee chooses the winners near the end of the tournament, and the awards are presented at its close.
Who can win a sansho
Sansho are reserved for the strivers, not the established elite. They go only to wrestlers ranked below the titled ranks — that is, maegashira and the junior san’yaku ranks of komusubi and sekiwake. A yokozuna or ozeki, the sport’s two highest ranks, cannot receive one. The logic is simple: those wrestlers are already expected to dominate, so a special prize for a strong showing would mean little.
There is one hard requirement. A wrestler must finish the tournament with a kachikoshi, a winning record. No matter how memorable a single upset is, a losing record disqualifies a wrestler from any sansho.
The three prizes side by side
Each award points at a different quality. In broad terms:
| Prize | Japanese | Rewards | Classic case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shukun-sho | 殊勲賞 | A standout result | Beating the tournament champion or a yokozuna |
| Kanto-sho | 敢闘賞 | Fighting spirit and a strong showing | A lower-ranked wrestler who battled hard across the whole tournament |
| Gino-sho | 技能賞 | Skillful technique | Clean, varied winning moves that show craft |
Shukun-sho — Outstanding Performance Award
The Shukun-sho rewards a standout result. Classically it goes to a wrestler who beats the eventual tournament champion, or who topples a yokozuna along the way. It is the prize most tied to a specific, headline achievement rather than a body of work over the tournament.
Kanto-sho — Fighting Spirit Award
The Kanto-sho honors grit and a strong overall showing. It often lands with a wrestler, sometimes a newcomer or a lower-ranked maegashira, who fights hard across the whole basho and posts an impressive record against the odds.
Gino-sho — Technique Award
The Gino-sho is for craft. It goes to the wrestler whose skill on the clay stood out — varied, clean technique rather than brute strength. A wrestler known for sharp footwork, sophisticated throws or precise belt work is a natural candidate.
How the prizes are decided
A selection committee meets near the end of the tournament to settle on the winners. The process leaves room for nuance:
- A prize can go unawarded. If no wrestler clearly qualifies in a given tournament, that prize is simply not handed out.
- A prize can be shared. More than one wrestler may receive the same award in the same tournament.
- Money is attached. Each of the three prizes carries prize money for its winner.
The sansho should not be confused with the cash envelopes a wrestler collects for winning individual bouts that carry sponsorship — that is kensho, a separate stream of money decided bout by bout, not an end-of-tournament honor.
Why sansho matter to follow
For a fan, the sansho are a shortcut to the stories beneath the standings. The champion’s name is obvious, but the sansho point you to the wrestler who fought above his rank, the one who handed the leader a rare loss, and the one whose technique was worth watching on its own. Track who collects them over several tournaments and you start to see which lower-ranked names are pushing toward the titled ranks.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three sansho in sumo?
The three sansho are the Shukun-sho (Outstanding Performance Award), the Kanto-sho (Fighting Spirit Award) and the Gino-sho (Technique Award). They are awarded at the end of each grand tournament, separately from the championship. Each carries prize money.
Can a yokozuna or ozeki win a sansho?
No. Sansho go only to wrestlers ranked below the titled ranks — maegashira, komusubi and sekiwake. Yokozuna and ozeki, the two highest ranks, are not eligible, since strong results from them are already expected.
Do you need a winning record to receive a sansho?
Yes. A wrestler must finish the tournament with a kachikoshi, a winning record, to be eligible for any of the three prizes. A losing record disqualifies a wrestler no matter how notable a single result was.
What is the difference between sansho and the yusho?
The yusho is the tournament championship, won by the wrestler with the most victories. The sansho are three separate special prizes that recognize standout performance, fighting spirit or technique among lower-ranked wrestlers, regardless of who took the title.
Can a sansho be shared or not awarded at all?
Yes to both. A selection committee decides the winners near the end of the tournament. A single prize can be shared by more than one wrestler, and any prize can go unawarded in a tournament if no one clearly qualifies.
Which sansho is given for beating a champion or yokozuna?
That is typically the Shukun-sho, the Outstanding Performance Award. It rewards a standout result, classically defeating the eventual tournament champion or a yokozuna during the tournament.
