2026 Haru Basho: Day 1 results and analysis

Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Haru Basho (spoilers).

Mar 09, 2026

And we are off an running at the 2026 haru basho! Boy, does it feel great to wake up to new sumo. It’s also great, for me, to return to writing these daily updates. I really love breaking down the tournament across the 15 days and sharing that with all of you.

Today’s is a rather Spartan newsletter, though. I’ve been very busy this weekend, for all good reasons. Tomorrow is my birthday, so I’ve been with family all day and haven’t had a lot of time to write sumo. I’m stuck in classes all day tomorrow, though, so that will give me plenty of time (don’t tell my instructor!).

Scroll down below for my report on the first day of the tournament. You’ll find full results for the top division as well as videos and my analysis (which is brief, today).

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Bonus gif today are fans of the one and only Fury-nokawa.

SPOILERS BELOW

Results

Kotoeiho (1-0) def. Ryuden (0-1) by yoritoashi (frontal frush out)
Kinbozan (1-0) def. Fujiryoga (0-1) by oshidashi (frontal push out)*
Mitakeumi (1-0) def, Asahakuryu (0-1) by oshidashi
Nishikifuji 1-0) def. Chiyoshoma (0-1) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Fujiseun (1-0) def. Asanoyama (0-1) by oshidashi
Asakoryu (1-0) def. Tobizaru (0-1) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Shishi (1-0) def. Oshoumi (0-1) by yoritoashi*
Gonoyama (1-0) def. Roga (0-1) by oshidashi
Tokihayate (1-0) def. Tamawashi (0-1) by yorikiri
Ura (1-0) def. Shodai (0-1) by oshidashi*
Oshoma (1-0) def. Hakunofuji (0-1) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Ichiyamamoto (1-0) def. Onokatsu (0-1) by oshitoashi (frontal push down)
Kotoshoho (1-0) def. Abi (0-1) by oshidashi
Takanosho (1-0) def. Daieisho (0-1) by oshidashi
Hiradoumi (1-0) def. Oho (0-1) by yorikiri*
Takayasu (1-0) def. Churanoumi (0-1) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)*
Kirishima (1-0) def. Fujinokawa (0-1) by uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Kotozakura (1-0) def. Yoshinofuji (0-1) by uwatenage*
Aonishiki (1-0) def. Wakamotoharu (0-1) by yorikiri
Wakatakakage (1-0) def. Onosato (0-1) by yorikiri
Hoshoryu (1-0) def. Atamifuji (0-1) by yorikiri*

*Must see bouts!

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Too early!

Analysis

Hoshoryu got a tough test on day one in the form of Atamifuji. Hoshoryu came into this one with a 4-6 record against Atamifuji and a bit of a reputation for dropping his day one matches.

Atamifuji had a good start to this bout, pushing Hoshoryu back and getting his preferred migi-yotsu (right arm inside position). Hoshoryu dug deep to halt and then push back Atamifuji, then. Atamifuji defended that push to the straw and tried to get his outside hand on Hoshoryu’s belt. Hoshoryu’s little hip wiggles prevented that, though. Hoshoryu shaped for a throw, but Atamifuji blocked it and then went for the slap down. Hoshoryu blocked that and then stuck his head into Atamifuji’s chest and managed to power him back and out. He then added a little extra shove off the ring.

That’s a fantastic start to the basho for Hoshoryu against someone who has spoiled a couple of tournaments for him in the past.

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Hoshoryu’s win put him ahead of his rival Onosato on day one. Before Hoshoryu beat Atamifuji, Onosato dropped his opening bout to Wakatakakage. This one was over quickly. Wakatakakage used ottsuke (forearm blocking) to prevent Onosato getting his favorite right arm inside position and was able to capitalize when Onosato went for an ill-timed slap down attempt. It’s very easily, but how good Onosato’s slap downs are are usually a pretty good barometer for whether or not he’s going to have a good tournament.

Wakatakakage is a very good rikishi, but this loss suggests that Onosato might still be far from one hundred percent healthy.

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Aonishiki got off to a winning start in Osaka. Wakamotoharu tried to henka him last night, but didn’t do a very good job of it. After that missed attempt Aonishiki was able to get one of his crab claws on Wakamotoharu’s belt and force him off the ring.

Aonishiki is now 4-1 against Wakamotoharu and has beaten him in the last three meetings.

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Kotozakura picked up a nice win on day one. He out-foxed Yoshinofuji with his belt-grappling (not for the first time).

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Fujinokawa had his first bout with an elite opponent last night. He threw himself into Kirishima with plenty of gusto, but the sekiwake was able to gather him up and eventually wrestle him over the line.

That’s one win down and ten to go for Kirishima and his quest to return to ozeki.

Ura, who hails from Osaka, will be the most popular man in the building every night of this tournament. He gave the opening night fans plenty to cheer about when he charged out Shodai.

It’s been three years since Ura last got a kachi-koshi (winning record) in his hometown. He’s gotta be due, right?

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There were two potentially very bad injuries on the dohyo last night. Hakunofuji went down painfully against Oshoma, clutching his foot. He suffered ligament damage in his foot at the last tournament. From the looks of how much pain he was in last night, he might night significant time off to deal with this injury. That’s another blow to the once so promising career of the former Ochiai and Hakuoho.

Onokatsu went down in the match immediately following that. He was being pushed backwards by Ichiyamamoto when his left knee seemed to buckle. He went down in a heap and stayed there for some time, much to the horror of Ichiyamamoto. The way his knee shaped before he went down, to me it looked like he might have suffered an ACL injury. If that’s true, then we won’t see Onokatsu again for a very long time.

Down in juryo I’m keeping an eye on the debuting Toshinofuji. The 6’ 6” Mongolian was recruited into sumo by Hakuho and brought into the now defunct Miyagino stable. He has since been absorbed into Isegahama. Toshinofuji’s father and great grandfather are former bokh champions. His great grandfather also coached Hakuho’s father in bokh.

On day one Toshinofuji looked pretty good. He beat the experienced Nishikigi.