Kinboshi
' is a notation used in professional sumo wrestling to record a lower-ranked wrestler's victory over a [yokozuna (sumo)|]''.
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 it as a special victory.
The word first came into popular use in the Taishō era, 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.
Restrictions
are not awarded to ranked wrestlers who defeat a, nor is it awarded if the beats a with a default win. It is also not given if the is disqualified for using an illegal move.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, with 47.The term is used outside sumo in informal language. It can mean a major victory, or a beautiful woman.
List of records
Tables for both earned and those conceded are given below.The tables are up to date as of the end of the January 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 | 2025-7 |
| 6 | Takayasu | 2005-3 | 2013-3 | 2025-3 |
| 5 | Abi | 2013-5 | 2018-5 | 2025-7 |
| 5 | Daieishō | 2012-1 | 2019-9 | 2026-1 |
| 4 | Hakunofuji | 2023-1 | 2025-7 | 2026-1 |
| 3 | Ōhō | 2018-1 | 2024-3 | 2025-7 |
| 3 | Takanoshō | 2010-3 | 2022-5 | 2024-7 |
| 3 | Tobizaru | 2015-1 | 2022-9 | 2025-1 |
| 3 | Wakamotoharu | 2011-11 | 2024-1 | 2025-11 |
| 3 | Yoshinofuji | 2024-5 | 2025-11 | 2026-1 |
| 2 | Atamifuji | 2020-11 | 2026-1 | 2026-1 |
| 2 | Meisei | 2011-5 | 2023-5 | 2024-3 |
| 2 | Mitakeumi | 2015-3 | 2017-1 | 2017-1 |
| 2 | Nishikigi | 2006-3 | 2019-1 | 2023-7 |
| 2 | Shōdai | 2014-3 | 2017-7 | 2024-1 |
| 2 | Tomokaze | 2017-5 | 2019-7 | 2019-9 |
| 2 | Ura | 2015-3 | 2017-7 | 2022-9 |
| 1 | Aonishiki | 2023-9 | 2025-7 | 2025-7 |
| 1 | Asanoyama | 2016-3 | 2019-9 | 2019-9 |
| 1 | Chiyoshōma | 2009-7 | 2025-3 | 2025-3 |
| 1 | Ichiyamamoto | 2017-1 | 2025-3 | 2025-3 |
| 1 | Kotoshōhō | 2017-11 | 2025-7 | 2025-7 |
| 1 | Sadanoumi | 2003-3 | 2015-5 | 2015-5 |
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 | 1999-7 |
| 12 | Takamiyama | 1964-3 | 1968-3 | 1978-9 |
| 12 | Tochinonada | 1996-1 | 1998-1 | 2008-7 |
| 11 | Tosanoumi | 1994-3 | 1995-11 | 2003-11 |
| 10 | Dewanishiki | 1940-5 | 1949-10 | 1963-3 |
| 10 | Haguroyama | 1950-1 | 1955-5 | 1961-5 |
| 10 | Kitanonada | 1940-1 | 1954-3 | 1961-5 |
| 10 | Ōzutsu | 1971-5 | 1979-9 | 1986-3 |
| 10 | Tsurugamine | 1947-6 | 1955-9 | 1961-7 |
| 9 | Fujizakura | 1963-3 | 1973-9 | 1981-1 |
| 9 | Hasegawa | 1960-3 | 1965-9 | 1974-3 |
| 9 | Ichinojō | 2014-1 | 2014-9 | 2022-7 |
| 9 | Mitsuneyama | 1937-5 | 1944-5 | 1957-9 |
| 9 | Takatōriki | 1983-3 | 1990-11 | 1998-7 |
| 9 | Tamanoumi | 1937-5 | 1953-5 | 1958-9 |
conceded
Current lowest ratio
This is a running list of lowest ratios for the two currently active.| Name | promoted to | conceded | bouts as | ratio | |
| 1 | Ōnosato | 2025-5 | 9 | 58 | 15.52% |
| 2 | Hōshōryū | 2025-1 | 13 | 72 | 18.06% |
- ''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.| Name | promoted to | conceded | bouts as | ratio | |
| 1 | Tamanoumi | 1970-01 | 3 | 150 | 2.00% |
| 2 | Hakuhō | 2007-05 | 26 | 1002 | 2.59% |
| 3 | Tamanishiki | 1932-11 | 4 | 121 | 3.30% |
| 4 | Taihō | 1961-09 | 28 | 716 | 3.91% |
| 5 | Chiyonofuji | 1981-07 | 29 | 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.''