00:00Makuchi or Makunuchi is the name of the first division in the sumo wrestlers' ranking system.
00:05It is the division immediately above the Juryo division.
00:08Makuchi literally means "inside the curtain," referring to the time when wrestlers of this era
00:13divisions had a place to prepare before their battle.
00:16The Makuchi division comprises 42 wrestlers.
00:19At the top of this division are the champion categories, called Sanyaku, which include Yokozuna, Oseki, Sekiwake, and at least two
00:26wrestlers, and Komusubi, at least two.
00:28There are usually between 8 and 12 Sanyaku wrestlers.
00:31The other wrestlers in the division are called Maegashira and are ranked numerically, with rank 1 being the most important.
00:38In addition to this, the wrestlers are classified sometimes as easterly, Higashi, sometimes as westerly, Nishi, from Banzuke,
00:44the ranking.
00:45According to sumo tradition, a Maegashira is ranked higher than the West Maegashira bearing the same rank number.
00:50Makuchi wrestlers, like those in the second division, the Jurio, receive a monthly salary for being
00:56a Sekitori, a member of the first two divisions.
