2026 Haru Basho: Day 13 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Haru Basho (spoilers).
We are almost at the end of our 2026 March Grand Sumo tournament! The whole thing wraps up on Sunday and, by now, we know this yusho can only go to a small handful of guys.
Kirishima, Kotoshoho, Hoshoryu and Gonoyama were the only wrestlers with a mathematical shot at landing the title this month.
Scroll down to see if that changed after yesterday’s action.
I’ve got full results for the top division, plenty of videos and my analysis of what went down.
Our bonus gif today is Hoshoryu celebrating a win in typical expressive fashion.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Ryuden (7-6) def. Fujiryoga (6-7) by katasukashi (under shoulder swing down)*
Kinbozan (8-5) def. Asanoyama (8-5) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Nishikifuji (7-6) def. Asakoryu (8-5) by yorikiri
Chiyoshoma (8-5) def. Oshoumi (3-10) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Tobizaru (5-8) def. Shishi (6-7) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
Mitakeumi (7-6) def. Roga (4-9) by yorikiri
Asahakuryu (9-4) def. Tokihayate (5-8) by yorikiri
Fujiseiun (9-4) def. Shodai (7-6) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*
Kotoeiho (8-5) def. Ura (5-8) by kotenage (armlock throw)*
Tamawashi (4-9) def. Hakunofuji (3-6-4) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Churanoumi (4-9) def. Oshoma (4-9) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Ichiyamamoto (7-6) def. Fujinokawa (6-7) by oshidashi*
Yoshinofuji (6-7) def. Hiradoumi (6-7) by sukuinage
Wakatakakage (8-5) def. Abi (3-5-5) by oshitaoshi
Atamifuji (8-5) def. Gonoyama (9-4) by oshidashi
Daieisho (6-7) def. Wakamotoharu (2-11) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Takanosho (9-4) def. Takayasu (6-7) by tsukiotoshi*
Kirishima (12-1) def. Oho (6-7) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)*
Aonishiki (6-7) def. Kotozakura (8-5) by yorikiri*
Hoshoryu (10-3) def. Kotoshoho (10-3) by hatakikomi (slap down)*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
S1e Kirishima: 12-1
Y1e Hoshoryu, M5w Kotoshoho: 10-3
Analysis
Kirishima won last night to improve his record to 12-1 and give him a great buffer over his closest challengers. He is firmly in the driving seat of this tournament and now odds-on favourite to win his third yusho (and a likely promotion back to the rank of ozeki).
He put himself in this position with a win over Oho last night. It was a little hairy at times, though, for the versatile Mongolian.
Oho is a big pusher/thruster who, when he’s on his game, can do a lot of damage with his reach and size. He’s not a consistent threat, but on his day, he can beat anyone.
Oho started this match well, getting through Kirishima’s defense and landing a stiff nodowa (throat thrust). Before Kirishima knew it, he was getting hit again, with a hand on each side of his head.
Kirishima stayed calm throughout that, though. He parried Oho’s next barrage and then responded with a nodowa of his own. He used that to get Oho all the way to the straw and almost over.
Oho showed great agility and speed to get off the straw and bring the fight back to Kirishima. The ensuing melee got a little wild, with both men being in danger of throwing themselves off of their feet.
I think Kirishima might have sensed that he was getting a little out of control and he was smart enough to recognize that Oho had the advantage in a chaotic thrust-fest. To counter that he slowed things down and got close, knowing his yotsu-zumo (belt grappling) was far superior to Oho’s.
He was able to get a hidari-yotsu (left arm inside position) and from there was able to shuffle a tired Oho back and out.
This was another smart and confident win from Kirishima, who has looked a step ahead of the rest of the division all month.
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The only men who can say their sumo has been close to Kirishima’s are Hoshoryu and Kotoshoho. They faced off against each other last night.
Hoshoryu got the victory in that bout. And he needed it. A loss would have eliminated him from title contention.
Kotoshoho posed a similar threat to Hoshoryu as Oho did to Kirishima, both men have a lot of size and a lot of power in their strikes. Hoshoryu was able to completely mitigate that threat, though, with an extremely good tachiai.
He came off the line very quickly last night and was able to get right in Kotoshoho’s kitchen before the pusher/thruster could extend his hands and land a strike.
After they were clinched up, Hoshoryu felt Kotoshoho’s forward momentum and was able to artfully glide back and away to get the quick hatakikomi.
That tied their records at 10-3, putting them both two wins behind Kirishima with two days left.
Gonoyama was the only other rikishi with a chance of getting the title prior to last night. Unfortunately for him, and his hometown fans in Osaka, he lost to Atamifuji. That dropped his record to 9-4, making it impossible for him to catch Kirishima.
This was another oshi-zumo (pushing thrusting) vs. yotsu-zumo match-up. Gonoyama gave it his all, but his pushes and thrusts weren’t quite strong enough to get Atamifuji (the heaviest man in the division) over the line.
Aonishiki managed to save himself from a make-koshi (losing record) last night with a win over Kotozakura. It was a close one, though. Kotozakura was able to turn his fellow ozeki at one point and then send him sprawling with a big shove. Aonishiki managed to keep his footing, though, and turn himself back into the fight. After recovering, Aonishiki hit Kotozakura with an arm drag and then ducked down into his favourite pose for the force out.
Fujiseun is one of the surprises of this tournament. He’s now 9-4, in his debut makuuchi tournament, after he beat Shodai last night. He did it with style, too, throwing Shodai past him along the boundary.
Takayasu looked like a title contender early on in this tournament. Now he’s at risk of a make-koshi. Takanosho slammed him down last night to give the former ozeki a 6-7 record.
Tonight’s matches could determine the yusho.
If Kirishima beats Aonishiki, he’s our spring basho champ. Kirishima is 1-3 against Aonishiki and won in their last meeting. Aonishiki has looked a shell of his former self in this tournament (which could have been his yokozuna coronation). This is really the best time to face Aonishiki, who seems shook after so many opponents have targeted, and thus highlighted, his main weakness (how beatable he is when standing up straight).
Kirishima has been in this position before and he seems like a very confident dude. His form this month, along with that experience, make it feel very likely that he seals the deal tonight.
Kirishima can win the yusho even if he loses tonight, though. If both Hoshoryu and Kotoshoho lose, then they will drop to 10-4 records, making it impossible to surpass Kirishima (who, at worst, can finish with a 12-3 record).
Hoshoryu has Kotozakura tonight. He’s 16-10 against Kotozakura and has won the last five. This is a must win bout for Hoshoryu and he might have a very motivated opponent. Kotozakura may have his kachi-koshi (winning record) already. However, he’s got his teammate Kotoshoho to look out for. If Kotoshoho wins earlier in the night, and Kirishima loses, Kotozakura will know he can clear out one potential obstacle for Kotoshoho by beating Hoshoryu.
Kotoshoho has to beat Atamfuji to stay in the title hunt. He’s 2-3 against him. They haven’t fought since November, a bout which Kotoshoho won. Atamifuji is 8-5, so he’s only playing for pride.
It feels, to me, like Kirishima is going to settle things tonight. That might be some wishful thinking, though. Should he lose, though, there is the potential for chaos and a three-way play-off on the final day — which will be fun for those of you who aren’t admitted Kirishima stans.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 7
Tobi trample counter (rows): 5*
Ura flips: 2
Gyoji bumps: 3**
*Tobi won a fun bout against Shishi last night. He threw down the Ukrainian, but took himself off the ring in the process. He just barely rolled into the first row. My rule is: if he touched a person then that counts. So our counter is up to five now.
**Yoshinofuji hasn’t had a great tournament this month. But he did throw Hiradoumi into a gyoji last night. That counts for something (1 on my gyoji bump counter)
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I saw that cute Kirishima slap on Oho's backside at the very end! 😄😘
I’m thinking (and hoping) Kirishima settles the bout Day 14. He’s one of my favorites too. Aonoshiki, he’ll need to get past that standing him up thing. I think he will. That Yokozuna pressure must have gotten to him. I would imagine so.