2026 Haru Basho: Day 11 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Haru Basho (spoilers).
Good evening all.
It’s another late night edition of Sumo Stomp! (which is the only time I have to write them on days like this).
I’m still very busy with school, field placement and my regular job. I am so close to being done with most of that, though. I have 29 days left until I have completed my college program. After that I will be a licensed social service worker here in Ontario. I can’t wait to be done school and I also can’t wait to get out there and start working in my community.
In the meantime, though, I’ve got some awesome sumo to write about!
Check out the results, videos and analysis for day eleven of the 2026 haru basho below.
The bonus gif today is our forlorn Aonishiki.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Kinbozan (6-5) def. Nishikifuji (5-6) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Chiyoshoma (6-5) def. Nishinoryu (4-7) by okuridashi (rear push out)
Tobizaru (4-7) def. Kotoeiho (7-4) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Asanoyama (7-4) def. Mitakeumi (5-6) by oshidashi (frontal push out) after mono-ii (judges’ review) overturns gyoji (referee) decision
Fujiseun (8-3) def. Oshoumi (2-9) by oshidashi
Fujiryoga (6-5) def. Shishi (5-6) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Asakoryu (7-4) def. Shodai (7-4) by oshidashi
Ura (5-6) def. Asahakuryu (7-4) by yorikiri*
Tokihayate (5-6) def. Hakunofuji (3-4-4) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Roga (4-7) def. Oshoma (4-7) by yorikiri
Ichiyamamoto (6-5) def. Tamawashi (3-8) by oshidashi
Fujinokawa (5-6) def. Abi (2-4-5) by hikiotoshi
Yoshinofuji (5-6) def. Churanoumi (3-8) by uwatenage
Wakatakakage (6-5) def. Hiradoumi (5-6) by uwatenage*
Atamifuji (7-4) def. Daieisho (4-7) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Oho (5-6) def. Wakamotoharu (2-9) by yorikiri
Kirishima (10-1) def. Gonoyama (9-2) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*
Kotozakura (7-4) def. Takanosho (7-4) by oshidashi
Kotoshoho (9-2) def. Aonishiki (5-6) by hatakikomi (slap down)*
Hoshoryu (9-2) def. Takayasu (6-5) by hikiotoshi*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
S1e Kirishima: 10-1
Y1e Hoshoryu, M5w Kotoshoho, M10e Gonoyama: 9-2
Analysis
Hoshoryu and Takayasu provided a lot of entertainment last night before their bout. The pair got into a staring contest before returning to their corners for one last spot clean with their little towels. We’ve seen this from Hoshoryu before. He takes the intimidation aspect of this game very seriously. Takayasu seemed like he wanted to show his junior that he wasn’t going to scare him like that.
There is some bad blood in this match-up, too. Takayasu is a mentor to Onosato and, in recent tournaments, he has — in my opinion — let that affect his performances. I think I’ve seen him go a little easy in his bouts with Onosato and then do the opposite when he meets Hoshoryu, as if he’s trying to clear a path for his friend. He’s not doing anything that’s against the rules, but I can understand why this would annoy Hoshoryu.
The match between Hoshoryu and Takayasu itself was a bit of a let down last night. After the long stare we saw Takayasu go for a hidari-yotsu (left arm inside position), but then get caught when Hoshoryu quickly triggered a slap down, while moving away from Takayasu’s grasping hand. Takayasu hit the dirt with a thud. Hoshoryu stood to admire his work before strutting back to the east side of the ring.
The win must have felt good for Hoshoryu, given who it was over. However, there was more than pride on the line in this bout. The victory put Hoshoryu at 9-2, which means he is still very much in the title race this month.
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Hoshoryu is trailing his old judo clubmate Kirishima. Kirishima beat Gonoyama last night with another deft inashi (side-step) to pull down combo. He’s landed this throughout the tournament and, right now, looks like he can’t lose. This is sumo, though. That can change quickly.
Kirishima was smart in this bout, too. He knew that Gonoyama’s best weapon is a line drive right towards his opponent. To counter that Kirishima forced Gonoyama to move laterally, so he could never build up a head of steam. Kirishima also showed great reflexes to stabilize himself when his feet started to slip out from under him.
Kirishima’s win dropped Gonoyama to 9-2, tied with Hoshoryu and Kotoshoho.
Kotoshoho earned his ninth win last night with a confident slap down on Aonishiki. Aonishiki is looking a little broken in this tournament after missing out on a yokozuna promotion. It feels like he needs this tournament to end as soon as possible so he can rest, assess what has happened and then figure out what he’s going to do next.
Kotoshoho has now won his last two bouts over Aonishiki. His early win clinched him the 2025 Nagoya basho.
I’ve not mentioned Kotozakura much this tournament. He’s been very under-the-radar this month, other than that spectacular throw he hit on Churanoumi last week. He’s 7-4 now after he beat Takanosho last night. That means he’s just a win away from securing his ozeki status for at least another two tournaments.
Wakatakakage got a nice win last night, flipping over Hiradoumi. Both these guys have been beat up a little in this tournament, thanks to their placement in the joi. Wakatakakage, at 6-5, has a kachi-koshi in his sights, though. If he is able to cement that in the next few days he’ll likely replace his brother as komusubi for the next tournament.
We had three henka last night! That’s good news for my counters. Fujinokawa send Abi sprawling to the dirt. That’s a pretty rare move for him. Chiyoshoma used a henka to dispatch of juryo call-up Nishinoryu. That’s a pretty common move for him.
And Mitakeumi tried a henka on Asanoyama. However, the sumo gods decided to make an example out of him. Mitakeumi was given the gunbai initially, but a mono-ii determined that Asanoyama was able to push him out before his tummy touched down.
Tonight we’ve got a big bout in store for us. Hoshoryu vs. Kirishima is a pivotal bout in this basho. If Kirishima wins, he’ll be 11-1 and Hoshoryu will be 9-3. With three days left to play, it would be pretty hard for Hoshoryu to catch up if that were the case.
Hoshoryu has a 13-11 record against Kirishima, but these two always have close and competitive bouts. They know each other’s sumo inside and out and they understand how to counter and mitigate what each other is best at. That often leads to a thrilling exchange of chain wrestling between the pair until someone does something unexpected.
This is the match-up I look forward to every basho. So having this happen with title implications is a real dream for me.
Gonoyama will try and keep pace with those two when he meets Kotozakura. It’s going to be tough for him, though. He’s 1-8 against the ozeki and Kotozakura can clinch his kachi-koshi with a win. This might be Kotozakura’s best chance to get that win, with matches against Aonishiki and Hoshoryu waiting for him.
Kotoshoho has an interesting match-up tonight. He’s got Yoshinofuji, who is sitting on a 5-6 record. They are 1-1 against each other. I think Kotoshoho should have been given a tougher match here. I know Yoshinofuji is better than his record, but we have Atamifuji (7-4), Takayasu (6-5) and even Fujiseun (8-3). I think any of those would have made more sense.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 7 (!)
Tobi trample counter (rows): 1*
Ura flips: 2
Gyoji bumps: 2
*Tobizaru got a good win last night against Kotoeiho. He hopped off the dohyo with his win, but was able to stop just short of the front row.
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Gonoyama is going to fall by the wayside. He is not up to the top level.
This basho is Kirishima's to lose, and I will be thrilled to see him take it. He has not been my first choice, but when I came into this sport he was on his way up. I've seen his rise, I've seen his fall, and I'm rooting for him to rise again. He is Yokozuna material. It's there for you, brother! Go take it!
also came across the term "gambarize" today!
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gambarize