This is a list of all professional sumo wrestlers who have finished runner-up for the championship for the top division at a Japanese grand sumo tournament since 1909, when the current championship system was established.
Top division runners-up 1958 to present The table lists all runners-up () since 1958, the advent of the bimonthly tournament schedule. The runner-up is determined by the wrestler(s) with the second highest win–loss score after fifteen bouts, held at a rate of one per day over the duration of the 15-day tournament. In the event of a tie for first place, a play-off is held between the wrestlers concerned.
Below a wrestler's ring name () their rank and win–loss score that tournament are given. –P indicates an additional bout fought in a . Number of are given in parentheses. (x) marks a singular career runner-up. † marks a before a name change. ‡ marks a after a name change. Names in italics mark a by a , a wrestler ranked outside of the privileged ranks.