Juryo

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Juryo (十両) is the second highest division in professional sumo wrestling in Japan. The name derives for ten ryo, which was in olden times the income a wrestler ranked in this division could expect to receive.

Sumo wrestlers ranked in the divisions below Juryo are considered to be in training and receive a small allowance instead of a salary. Juryo wrestlers, like those in the top Makuuchi division receive a regular monthly salary as well as other perks associated with having become a sekitori, or a member of the two upper divisions in sumo.

Juryo wrestlers, along with their Makuuchi counterparts, are the only professional sumo wrestlers who compete in a full fifteen bouts per honbasho or grand sumo tournament. In the case of injuries with Makuuchi wrestlers pulling out, Juryo wrestlers near the top of the division may find themselves in the occasional matchup with a top-division wrestler. Such Juryo-Makuuchi matchups are also not uncommon towards the end of a grand sumo tournament, in order to better establish promotions and demotions between the two divisions.

Juryo matches, along with the rest of the lower-ranked divisions, can be viewed starting at 2pm on NHK's satellite channels.

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