ozeki

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 大関.

Noun

ozeki (plural ozekis or ozeki)

1. (sumo) A sumo wrestler ranking below yokozuna and above sekiwake; champion.
   • 2015 May 27, “Terunofuji promoted to ozeki after victory”, in Japan Times‎^[1]:

     Terunofuji is the first in 64 years to be promoted to ozeki after spending two tournaments as a komusubi or sekiwake and the first since the season went to six meets in 1958.

   • 2006 June 25, “Former ozeki Hokutenyu dies at 45”, in Japan Times‎^[2]:

     Former ozeki Hokutenyu, who held sumo’s second-highest rank for 44 tournaments […] died of kidney cancer at a Tokyo hospital on Friday at the age of 45.