Kimarite (決まり手, "Deciding technique") are winning techniques in a sumo bout. For each bout in a Grand Sumo tournament (or honbasho), a sumo referee, or gyoji, will decide and announce the type of kimarite used by the winner. It is possible (although rare) for the judges to modify this decision later. Records of the kimarite are kept and statistical information on the preferred techniques of different wrestlers can be deduced easily. For example, a pie chart of the kimarite used by each sekitori in the past year can be found on the Japan Sumo Association webpage.
Since 2001, the Japan Sumo Association recognizes 82 types of kimarite (and 5 winning non-techniques), but only about a dozen are used regularly. For example, yorikiri, oshidashi and hatakikomi are frequent methods used to win bouts. In addition to kimarite, a bout can end in a disqualification if either wrestler makes a foul (禁手, kinjite), such as striking with a closed fist.
The following is a full list of kimarite. Literal translations of the Japanese are also given.
Kihonwaza 基本技[]
Basic techniques. These, with the exception of the rarely seen Abisetaoshi, are some of the most common kimarite in sumo.
- See Kihonwaza for more information.
Nagete 投げ手[]
Throwing techniques.
- See Nagete for more information.
Kakete 掛け手[]
Leg tripping techniques.
- See Kakete for more information.
Hinerite 捻り手[]
Twist down techniques.
- See Hinerite for more information.
Sorite 反り手[]
Backwards body drop techniques.
- See Sorite for more information.
Tokushuwaza 特殊技[]
Special techniques.
- See Tokushuwaza for more information.
Hiwaza 非技[]
Non-techniques. There are five ways in which a wrestler can win without employing a technique.
- See Hiwaza for more information.
Fusen 不戦[]
The opponent is absent for the scheduled bout (by default). There are also corresponding terms for winning by default (不戦勝, fusensho) and losing by default (不戦敗, fusenpai). Wins and losses by fusen are also visually recorded as black and white squares rather than the normal black and white circles.
- See Fusensho for more information.
Hansoku 反則[]
The opponent is disqualified (infraction). This can be as a result of a wrestler committing a foul (禁じ手, kinjite, "forbidden technique") or other violation, such as having their mawashi come undone.
- See Kinjite for more information.
Archaic kimarite and draws[]
The Japan Sumo Association did not attempt to start standardizing kimarite decisions until 1935 and has modified its official list several times since. As a result, databases containing sumo results from earlier periods may list kimarite that are no longer recognized.
Additionally, the Japan Sumo Association has, over time, phased out the use of various draw states in favor of rematches (取り直し, torinaoshi) and forfeitures. Similar to fusen, the various draw states were recorded visually in a different manner than normal victories and loses, employing white triangles for both wrestlers instead.
- See Abolished Sumo Systems/Rules for more information.