{{Short description|Notation used in professional sumo wrestling}} {{Italic title|reason=:Category:Japanese words and phrases}} {{nihongo|'''{{tlit|ja|Kinboshi}}'''|金星||{{lit.}} gold star}} is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked ({{tlit|ja|maegashira}}) wrestler's victory over a ''{{tlit|ja|yokozuna}}''.
It is believed that the term stems from the usage of the terms {{tlit|ja|shiroboshi}} (lit: white star) to designate a bout victory, and {{tlit|ja|kuroboshi}} (black star) to designate a bout defeat. Thus, a "gold star" designates it as a special victory.
The word {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} first came into popular use in the Taishō era (1912–1926), and the system of monetarily awarding a {{tlit|ja|maegashira}} who defeated a {{tlit|ja|yokozuna}} in an official tournament began in January, 1930.
A {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} victory increases the balance in the {{tlit|ja|maegashira}}'s {{tlit|ja|mochikyūkin}} 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 {{tlit|ja|sekitori}}. 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 {{tlit|ja|sekitori}} career.
The record for most {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} earned is held by former {{tlit|ja|sekiwake}} Akinoshima who won 16 bouts against six different {{tlit|ja|yokozuna}} when ranked as a {{tlit|ja|maegashira}}.<ref>[http://www.sumo.or.jp/en/sumo_data/rikishi/profile?id=7 Akinoshima - goo Sumo<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606225237/http://www.sumo.or.jp/en/sumo_data/rikishi/profile?id=7 |date=2014-06-06 }}</ref>
==Restrictions==
{{tlit|ja|Kinboshi}} are not awarded to {{tlit|ja|san'yaku}} ranked wrestlers who defeat a {{tlit|ja|yokozuna}}, nor is it awarded if the {{tlit|ja|maegashira}} beats a {{tlit|ja|yokozuna}} with a default win (or {{tlit|ja|fusenshō}}). It is also not given if the {{tlit|ja|yokozuna}} is disqualified for using an illegal move (or {{tlit|ja|hansoku}}).
==Other uses==
{{tlit|ja|Ginboshi}} (銀星 or silver star) is also used informally to denote a {{tlit|ja|maegashira}} victory over an {{tlit|ja|ōzeki}}. However, there is no monetary bonus for such a win, nor are official {{tlit|ja|ginboshi}} records kept. The unofficial record holder for silver star victories is Aminishiki, with 47.
The term {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} is used outside sumo in informal language. It can mean a major victory, or (in slang) a beautiful woman.
==List of {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} records== Tables for both {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} earned (by {{tlit|ja|maegashira}}) and those conceded (by {{tlit|ja|yokozuna}}) are given below.<br />
The tables are up to date as of the end of the '''May 2026''' tournament. <!--The tables are '''updated daily''' for the ongoing '''May 2026''' tournament.-->
===List of top {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} earners=== <!-- PLEASE NOTE: KOMUSUBI, SEKIWAKE, and OZEKI are NOT awarded kinboshi for defeating a yokozuna, only MAEGASHIRA are. PLAYOFF bouts don't count either.-->
{{Col-begin}} {{Col-break}}
===={{tlit|ja|Kinboshi}} earned by active wrestlers==== This is a running list of the number of all {{Transliteration|ja|kinboshi}} 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx |title=Find Rikishi}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! {{Transliteration|ja|Kinboshi}} || Wrestler || Debut || First || Latest |- !8 | Tamawashi || 2004-1 || 2015-5 || 2025-7 |- !rowspan=2|6 | Takayasu || 2005-3 || 2013-3 || 2025-3 |- | Daieishō || 2012-1 || 2019-9 || 2026-3 |- !5 | Abi || 2013-5 || 2018-5 || 2025-7 |- !4 | Hakunofuji || 2023-1 || 2025-7 || 2026-1 |- !rowspan=5|3 | 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 || 2026-1 |- !rowspan=8|2 | Atamifuji || 2020-11 || 2026-1 || 2026-1 |- | Fujinokawa || 2023-1 || 2026-3 || 2026-3 |- | 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|| 2022-9 |- !rowspan=7|1 | Aonishiki || 2023-9 || 2025-7 || 2025-7 |- | Asanoyama || 2016-3 || 2019-9 || 2019-9 |- | Chiyoshōma || 2009-7 || 2025-3 || 2025-3 |- | 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 |} {{Col-break}}
====All time most {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} earned==== This is a list of the most {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} earned by historic {{tlit|ja|maegashira}} recorded since 1930. Dates for a wrestler's professional debut, as well as their first and latest gold star earned are given.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www8.ocn.ne.jp/~porco/sumou/kiroku.html |script-title=ja:歴代力士10傑記録 |access-date=June 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127110531/http://www8.ocn.ne.jp/~porco/sumou/kiroku.html |archive-date=November 27, 2007 |language=ja}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! {{Transliteration|ja|Kinboshi}} || Wrestler || Debut || First || Latest |- ! 16 | Akinoshima || 1982-3 || 1988-9 || 1999-7 |- !rowspan=2|12 | Takamiyama || 1964-3 || 1968-3|| 1978-9 |- | Tochinonada || 1996-1 || 1998-1 || 2008-7 |- ! 11 | Tosanoumi || 1994-3 || 1995-11 || 2003-11 |- !rowspan=5|10 | 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 || 1961-7 |- !rowspan=6|9 | 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 |- |} {{col-end}} ==={{tlit|ja|Kinboshi}} conceded=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-break}}
====Current lowest {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} ratio==== This is a running list of lowest {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} ratios for the two currently active {{tlit|ja|yokozuna}}.
{| class="wikitable" |- ! !Name !promoted to<br>{{tlit|ja|yokozuna}} !{{tlit|ja|kinboshi}}<br>conceded !bouts as<br>{{tlit|ja|yokozuna}} !{{tlit|ja|kinboshi}}<br>ratio |- !1 | Hōshōryū || 2025-1 || 15 || 89 || 16.85% |- !2 | Ōnosato || 2025-5 || 11 || 62 || 17.74% |- |} *''The most recent {{tlit|ja|yokozuna}} to retire, Terunofuji, ended his career on a {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} ratio of 14.86% with 22 gold stars conceded in 148 bouts at {{tlit|ja|yokozuna}} rank. A ratio of about 20% is considered average.'' {{Col-break}}
====All time lowest {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} ratio==== This is a list of the five lowest {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} ratios by historic {{tlit|ja|yokozuna}} recorded since 1930.
{| class="wikitable" |- ! !Name !promoted to<br>{{tlit|ja|yokozuna}} !{{tlit|ja|kinboshi}}<br>conceded !bouts as<br>{{tlit|ja|yokozuna}} !{{tlit|ja|kinboshi}}<br>ratio |- !1 | Tamanoumi ||1970-1||3|| 150 || 2.00% |- !2 | Hakuhō ||2007-5||26|| 1002 ||2.59% |- !3 | Tamanishiki ||1932-11||4|| 121 || 3.30% |- !4 | Taihō ||1961-9||28|| 716 || 3.91% |- !5 | Chiyonofuji ||1981-7||29|| 730 || 3.97% |} *''Tsunenohana's {{tlit|ja|yokozuna}} career ended the same year after official {{tlit|ja|kinboshi}} records came into effect in January 1930; therefore his record has not been included.''
{{col-end}}
==See also== *List of yokozuna *List of sumo top division champions *List of sumo top division runners-up *List of active special prize winners *List of sumo record holders *Glossary of sumo terms
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Sumo terminology Category:Lists of sumo wrestlers