2026 Haru Basho: Day 10 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Haru Basho (spoilers).
Hi everyone,
It’s March break at the moment and, with Mini Sumo Stomp! home, it’s hard to get these out early in the day. For that reason, expect Sumo Stomp! After Dark to be the norm as we finish out this basho.
Last night we were treated to some more great matches as our mix of big names and plucky underdogs try and keep pace with each other while we head to the business end of the basho.
Scroll down to see where we stand after day ten’s bouts. I’ve got full makuuchi results, videos and my analysis.
Bonus gif today is one of our Osaka mans.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Kotoeiho (7-3) def. Chiyoshoma (5-5) by shitatenage (underarm throw)
Nishikifuji (5-5) def. Wakanosho (8-2) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Mitakeumi (5-5) def. Tobizaru (3-7) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Asanoyama (6-4) def. Fujiryoga (5-5) by yorikiri
Kinbozan (5-5) def. Shishi (5-5) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Asahakuryu (7-3) def. Oshoumi (2-8) by uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Gonoyama (9-1) def. Asakoryu (6-4) by hatakikomi (slap down)*
Fujiseun (7-3) def. Roga (3-7) by kirikaeshi (twisting backward knee trip)
Tamawashi (3-7) def. Oshoma (4-6) by oshidashi
Hakunofuji (3-3-4) def. Ura (4-6) by uwatenage*
Ichiyamamoto (5-5) def. Tokihayate (4-6) by yorikiri after mono-ii (judges’ review) upholds gyoji (referee) decision
Shodai (7-3) def. Kotoshoho (8-2) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)
Wakatakakage (5-5) def. Fujinokawa (4-6) by oshidashi
Abi (2-3-5) def. Yoshinofuji (4-6) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Atamifuji (6-4) def. Churanoumi (3-7) by oshidashi
Kirishima (9-1) def. Takanosho (7-3) by hikiotoshi*
Oho (4-6) def. Takayasu (6-4) by yorikiri after torinaoshi (rematch)*
Aonishiki (5-5) def. Hiradoumi (5-5) by uwatenage*
Kotozakura (6-4) def. Daieisho (4-6) by hatakikomi
Hoshoryu (8-2) def. Wakamotoharu (8-2) by yoritoashi*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
S1e Kirishima, M10e Gonoyama: 9-1
Y1e Hoshoryu, M5w Kotoshoho: 8-2
M4w Takanosho, M8w Shodai, M13w Fujinokawa, M16e Asahakuryu, M17w Kotoeiho: 7-3.
Analysis
Hoshoryu capped off last night’s action with a win over one of his nemeses. He and Wakamotoharu have had some spicy matches recently, including when Wakamotoharu pulled off a gravity defying henka a few tournaments ago. That move was in response to Hoshoryu taking out his little brother, Wakatakakage, with a henka.
I thought Wakamotoharu would go henka again in this match, to try and avoid notching his eighth loss of the tournament. But he played it straight up. And that didn’t go very well for him.
Hoshoryu came in very hard and fast on the tachiai and immediately secured a migi-yotsu (right arm inside position). By doing this, he eliminated the chances of Wakamotoharu securing his favourite hidari-yotsu (left arm inside position). Once Hoshoryu had his favourite hold he stepped on the gas and had Wakamotoharu out in no time.
Hoshoryu got his right arm on the inside by faking a kachiage (elbow strike) on the tachiai…
and then swimming that right arm down and inside towards the belt…
so that he could then bring it up and perform a shitate (underhook).
That’s lovely.
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Hoshoryu still trails is frenemy Kirishima, though. Kirishima continues to look like he’s doing sumo in the Matrix this month. He side-stepped Takanosho, with ease, last night. I might have to start calling him El Matador, with all these slap-down to side-step combinations he’s hitting this tournament.
Kirishima is tied at 9-1 with Gonoyama. Gonoyama slapped down his fellow Osakan Asakoryu last night.
Kotoshoho is tied with Hoshoryu on 8-2. He could have been part of the 9-1 group, though, had he not lost to Shodai last night. Shodai, who has been decent this month, got a hidari-yotsu on Kotoshoho and quickly drove him back and out.
Aonishiki got his best win of the tournament last night. He had to struggle through some adversity against Hiradoumi. Hiradoumi tried to get in tight on Aonishiki and use gaburi-yori (torso thrusting) to keep him upright (a very good tactic against the Ukrainian). Aonishiki was able to resist that and then get his hips back into his favourite stance. From his leaned in position, Aonishiki triggered a gorgeous uwatenage, with the kind the high leg kick you see captured in classic sumo art.
That’s a nice reminder of what Aonishiki can do (if you’re not able to force him to fight standing up).
Fujinokawa’s tour of the big names continued last night. This time he faced Wakatakakage for the first time in his career. Fujinokawa came in strong, but soon learned this was not an opponent who would be overwhelmed by aggression alone. Wakatakakage was able to gather Fujinokawa and then shrug him off the ring. Wakatakakage’s lack of size worked against Fujinokawa, here. The Little River Monster is great at getting inside and almost underneath his bigger opponents, but he was mostly nose-to-nose against the former sekiwake.
Tonight is headlined by Hoshoryu vs. Takayasu. Their bouts have been as spicy as Hoshoryu and Wakamotoharu’s lately. Takayasu has recently seemed to put in extra effort to take out Hoshoryu in order to clear a path for his friend Onosato. And Hoshoryu seems to have taken exception to that. Onosato isn’t a factor in this tournament, but I think the bad blood between these two will remain.
Kirishima and Gonoyama will face each other tonight. That means we will have a single 10-1 wrestler in the tournament with four days left. These two have an even head-to-head record after eight bouts. Kirishima has won the last two meetings, though.
Kotoshoho will try and keep pace with the leaders by beating Aonishiki. Kotoshoho is 1-1 against the ozeki. The last time they met was on day fifteen in Nagoya, when Kotoshoho won to secure his shock maiden yusho.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 4
Tobi trample counter (rows): 1
Ura flips: 2
Gyoji bumps: 2
Was really hoping for more action on these things…
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Kirishima's win was a thing of beauty. He made it look effortless.
you can always add a counter for "no action on any of the counters" ;-)