is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked () wrestler's victory over a in a grand sumo tournament ().
It is believed that the term stems from the usage of the terms to designate a bout victory, and to designate a bout defeat. Thus a "gold star" designates a special victory.
The word first came into popular use in the Taishō era (1912–1926), and the system of monetarily awarding a who defeated a in an official tournament began in January 1930.
A victory increases the balance in the 's account by 10 yen. This balance is converted using a multiplier, presently 4,000, and added to the wrestler's bonus in every subsequent tournament in which he competes as a . With six tournaments a year, this one victory corresponds to a pay increase of 240,000 yen per annum for the remainder of the wrestler's career.
The record for most earned is held by former Akinoshima who won 16 bouts against six different when ranked as a .Akinoshima - goo Sumo
Restrictions
are not awarded to ranked wrestlers who defeat a , nor is it awarded if the beats a with a default win (or ). It is also not given if the is disqualified for using an illegal move (or ).
Other uses is also used informally to denote a victory over an . However, there is no monetary bonus for such a win, nor are official records kept. The unofficial record holder for silver star victories is Aminishiki at 47, followed by Toyonoshima at 35 and Fujinishiki at 33.
List of records Tables for both earned (by ) and those conceded (by ) are given below.
The tables are up to date as of the end of the September 2026 tournament.
List of top earners
earned by active wrestlers This is a running list of the number of all earned by all currently active wrestlers. Dates for a wrestler's professional debut, as well as their first and latest gold star earned are given.
Wrestler Debut First Latest 8 Tamawashi 2004-1 2015-5 2025-77 Takayasu 2005-3 2013-3 2026-96 Daieishō 2012-1 2019-9 2026-35 Abi 2013-5 2018-5 2025-7 Hakunofuji 2023-1 2025-7 2026-74 Fujinokawa 2023-1 2026-3 2026-73 Ōhō 2018-1 2024-3 2025-7 Takanoshō 2010-3 2022-5 2024-7 Tobizaru 2015-1 2022-9 2025-1 Wakamotoharu 2011-11 2024-1 2025-11 Yoshinofuji 2024-5 2025-11 2026-12 Atamifuji 2020-11 2026-1 2026-1 Meisei 2011-5 2023-5 2024-3 Mitakeumi 2015-3 2017-1 2017-1 Nishikigi 2006-3 2019-1 2023-7 Shōdai 2014-3 2017-7 2024-1 Tomokaze 2017-5 2019-7 2019-9 Ura 2015-3 2017-7 2022-91 Aonishiki 2023-9 2025-7 2025-7 Asanoyama 2016-3 2019-9 2019-9 Chiyoshōma 2009-7 2025-3 2025-3 Gōnoyama 2021-3 2026-7 2026-7 Ichiyamamoto 2017-1 2025-3 2025-3 Kotoshōhō 2017-11 2025-7 2025-7 Sadanoumi 2003-3 2015-5 2015-5 Wakatakakage 2017-3 2026-3 2026-3
All time most earned This is a list of the most earned by historic recorded since 1930. Dates for a wrestler's professional debut, as well as their first and latest gold star earned are given.
Wrestler Debut First Latest 16 Akinoshima 1982-3 1988-9 1999-712 Takamiyama 1964-3 1968-3 1978-9 Tochinonada 1996-1 1998-1 2008-7 11 Tosanoumi 1994-3 1995-11 2003-1110 Dewanishiki 1940-5 1949-10 1963-3 Haguroyama 1950-1 1955-5 1961-5 Kitanonada 1940-1 1954-3 1961-5 Ōzutsu 1971-5 1979-9 1986-3 Tsurugamine 1947-6 1955-9 1961-79 Fujizakura 1963-3 1973-9 1981-1 Hasegawa 1960-3 1965-9 1974-3 Ichinojō 2014-1 2014-9 2022-7 Mitsuneyama 1937-5 1944-5 1957-9 Takatōriki 1983-3 1990-11 1998-7 Tamanoumi 1937-5 1953-5 1958-9
conceded
Current lowest ratio This is a running list of lowest ratios for the two currently active .
Namepromoted toconcededbouts asratio1 Ōnosato 2025-5 14 92 15.22%2 Hōshōryū 2025-1 17 102 16.67% The most recent to retire, Terunofuji, ended his career on a ratio of 14.86% with 22 gold stars conceded in 148 bouts at rank. A ratio of about 20% is considered average.
All time lowest ratio This is a list of the five lowest ratios by historic recorded since 1930.
Namepromoted toconcededbouts asratio1 Tamanoumi 1970-13 150 2.00%2 Hakuhō 2007-526 1002 2.59%3 Tamanishiki 1932-114 121 3.30%4 Taihō 1961-928 716 3.91%5 Chiyonofuji 1981-729 730 3.97% Tsunenohana's career ended the same year after official records came into effect in January 1930; therefore his record has not been included.
See also List of active special prize winners List of sumo record holders List of sumo top division champions List of sumo top division runners-up List of List of active sumo wrestlers List of past sumo wrestlers Glossary of sumo terms
References