2026 Haru Basho: Day 12 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Haru Basho (spoilers).
Welcome all to another evening edition of Sumo Stomp!
We are now in the ‘business end’ of this basho, where every win and loss matters immensely. We have our small pack of leaders right now and it’s tight enough that any of them might end up as the last man standing.
If you’ve read this newsletter for a little while, you know I’ll be rooting for Kirishima down the stretch. This newsletter was born in 2023, the year he (as Kiribayama) won his two yusho and promotion to ozeki. He’ll always have a special place in my heart because of that.
Scroll down to see how my fave did last night, when he was matched up against his great rival Hoshoryu.
Our bonus gif today is Onosato, who looks like he’s up to something.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Takerufuji (6-6) def. Tobizaru (4-8) by oshidashi (frontal push out)*
Asanoyama (8-4) def. Kotoeiho (7-5) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Oshoumi (3-9) def. Fujiryoga (6-6) by sotogake (inside leg trip)*
Chiyoshoma (7-5) def. Roga (4-8) by oshidashi
Mitakeumi (6-6) def. Tokihayate (5-7) by yorikiri
Nishikifuji (6-6) def. Tamawashi (3-9) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Asakoryu (8-4) def. Ura (5-7) by oshidashi
Asahakuryu (8-4) def. Shodai (7-5) by yorikiri
Shishi (6-6) def. Oshoma (4-8) by oshidashi*
Kinbozan (7-5) def. Hakunofuji (3-5-4) by yorikiri
Takanosho (8-4) def. Fujiseun (8-4) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Fujinokawa (6-6) def. Churanoumi (3-9) by yorikiri*
Wakatakakage (7-5) def. Ichiyamamoto (6-6) by yorikiri
Kotoshoho (10-2) def. Yoshinofuji (5-7) by hatakikomi*
Abi (3-4-5) def. Wakamotoharu (2-10) by okuridashi (rear push out)
Oho (6-6) def. Atamifuji (7-5) by katasukashi (under shoulder swing down)
Hiradoumi (6-6) def. Takayasu (6-6) by yorikiri
Daieisho (5-7) def. Aonishiki (5-7) by tsukitoashi (frontal thrust down)*
Kotozakura (8-4) def. Gonoyama (9-3) by oshidashi*
Kirishima (11-1) def. Hoshoryu (9-3) by uwatenage (over arm throw)*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
S1e Kirishima: 11-1
M5w Kotoshoho: 10-2
Y1e Hoshoryu, M10e Gonoyama: 9-3
Analysis
*breathes deeply…
Kirishima has the yusho in his grasps. The former ozeki beat the 75th yokozuna Hoshoryu last night to secure his eleventh win of the tournament. That win put him in sole lead of the competition with three days left.
That win was also his 33rd win over the last three tournaments. That means he has a chance to return to the ozeki ranks for May, exactly two years after he lost that rank (due mostly to a persistent neck injury).
33 wins over three tournaments as a sekiwake or komusubi is the usual criteria for that promotion. Kirishima’s wins have come as sekiwake and maegashira 2. So there’s a chance he won’t get the nod for promotion. However, if he wins this tournament, I think they’ll have to give it to him.
Aonishiki was promoted to ozeki after 34 wins from maegashira 1, komusubi and sekiwake, which was punctuated with a yusho.
I’m delighted that Kirishima is close to a promotion back to ozeki and that he has this third career championship within reach.
He got here thanks to last night’s massive win.
Hoshoryu started this match with the same kachiage (elbow strike) fake to belt grab that he used on Wakamotoharu a couple of nights ago. He then used his left hand to try and block Kirishima from matching him with an inside right grip.
Kirishima couldn’t get through that defense, so he decided to utilize his outside left grip. He used that to rotate Hoshoryu and force him into a hop to stay on his feet. With Hoshoryu on one leg, Kirishima was able to aim him towards the straw. After that happened, Hoshoryu got both feet planted and was able to then drive Kirishima back.
As he moved Kirishima back, Hoshoryu tried to catch him with an outside trip.
Kirishima skipped over that tripping leg, though. He landed far back and immediately slid his right foot to the boundary to brace against Hoshoryu’s push.
He then used that foot to switch from defense to offense. With Hoshoryu pushing him back, Kirishima pressed off the straw and started to step off to the side.
Through inching along the straw, while twisting Hoshoryu’s upper half, Kirishima was able to get out from in front of Hoshoryu.
He then cranked on his outside grip, putting pressure on Hoshoryu’s elbow and shoulder. As he did that he planted his foot and bent his knee, creating an obstacle for Hoshoryu’s right leg.
Kirishima then summoned up all his strength to hoist Hoshoryu upwards and over, utilizing the tightness of his uwate (over arm) and the placement of that leg (which he raised a little to make even more difficult for Hoshoryu to evade).
Hoshoryu tried to kick his left leg into the air to prevent the throw, but that didn’t prevent him being put in a terrible position.
Kirishima turned his uwate over to complete the throw.
It was a beautiful move and it came from an extremely intelligent sequence from Kirishima. There’s a few wrestlers out there right now with records close to his, but no one’s sumo has been as good as his has this tournament. And I’m hoping that results in him lifting the cup on Sunday.
Despite getting dumped on his head last night, Hoshoryu is not out of this tournament. He’s 9-3 and if Kirishima stumbles at the last hurdle, he could swoop in to take the cup.
He’ll have a chance to beat Kotoshoho tomorrow and then on days fourteen and fifteen he has very winnable matches against Kotozakura and the faltering Aonishiki.
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Kotoshoho is 10-2 right now thanks to a big win over Yoshinofuji last night. He slapped away at Yoshinofuji and then picked the right time to step to the side. Kotoshoho is pretty good at this sequence. At this point in his career, he’s very battle-hardened, so he’s good at being able to scan for opportunities while also firing thrusts and getting hit in the face.
If he beats Hoshoryu tomorrow, and Kirishima wins, he’ll eliminate Hoshoryu from the competition.
Gonoyama is tied with Hoshoryu right now, but he could have been tied with Kotoshoho had he found a way past Kotozakura. Osaka’s only hope for a hometown yusho was able to get Kotozakura moving backwards off the tachiai, but he had no answers once Kotozakura used the straw (just like Kirishima did) to circle back to centre and then start pushing back.
That win gave Kotozakura his kachi-koshi.
Aonishiki is, to use a phrase from my English upbringing, ‘avin a ‘mare out there in Osaka. That’s “having a nightmare” for those of you who aren’t hip to the slang of my working class homeland.
He was pushed down and out by Daieisho last night. This included him landing right on his tailbone at the corner of the dohyo, before falling back on his head. Aonishiki needs this tournament to be over yesterday. The young man is starting to look a little defeated out there. I’m still a believer, though. I think this tournament is only going to mean good things for him in the long run.
Takayasu felt like a potential yusho winner through the first five days. But after winning all those bouts he’s now lost six of the last seven. Last night he got gaburi-yori’d (torso thrusted) by Hiradoumi.
Tonight’s crucial matches include Kirishima vs. Oho. Kirishima is 6-4 against Oho (who is currently 6-6 in this tournament). Oho won the last bout, but Kirishima won the three before that.
It’s a very winnable match-up for Kirishima, so long as he can use his yotsu-zumo (belt grappling). Oho is terrible when someone gets a hand on his mawashi.
If Kirishima wins he’ll have a 12-1 record. That would eliminate everyone with four losses of more from title contention.
That could be Hoshoryu if he loses to Kotoshoho and Gonoyama if he loses to Atamifuji.
Hoshoryu is 4-3 against Kotoshoho and he’s won the last three. Kotoshoho’s last win came when Hoshoryu was M16w in 2020. His others are from their time in juryo and makushita.
Gonoyama is 2-5 against Atamifuji.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 7
Tobi trample counter (rows): 4*
Ura flips: 2
Gyoji bumps: 2
*Tobizaru was bashed off the ring by Takerufuji (who was called up from juryo) last night. He went into the seats and cleared two rows with ease and then went half way into the third. I’m rounding up and increasing his trample counter from 1 to 4!
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loved how gently kinbozan set hajunofuji outside the tawara. that was really nice to see.
and i hope kirishima goes all the way, he's certainly looking great! and seemed pretty much exuberantly happy after his win (by sumo standards).
I can’t help but wonder how this version of Kirishima would fare against his kryptonite, Onosato.