2026 Haru Basho: Day 2 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Haru Basho (spoilers).
Happy Monday everyone. I hope you’re enjoying these early days of spring sumo action. Here’s your day two update from the 2026 haru basho. Scroll down for all the top divison results, some great videos and my analysis.
The bonus gif today is a bloodied Rising Dragon.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Fujiryoga (1-1) def. Sadanoumi (1-1) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Asahakuryu (1-1) def. Kotoeiho (1-1) by oshidashi
Mitakeumi (2-0) def. Kinbozan (1-1) by yorikiri (frontal force out)*
Chiyoshoma (1-1) def. Tobizaru (0-2) by oshidashi
Nishikifuji (2-0) def. Fujiseun (1-1) by yorikiri*
Asakoryu (2-0) def. Shishi (1-1) by oshidashi*
Asanoyama (1-1) def. Oshoumi (0-2) by oshidashi
Gonoyama (2-0) def. Tokihayate (1-1) by yorikiri*
Roga (1-1) def. Tamawashi (0-2) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Ura (20) def. Oshoma (1-1) by oshidashi
Shodai (1-1) def. Hakunofuji (0-2) by fusen (default)
Ichiyamamoto (2-0) def. Abi (0-2) by oshidashi
Kotoshoho (2-0) def. Onokatsu (0-2) by fusen
Hiradoumi (2-0) def. Daieisho (0-2) by oshidashi*
Takanosho (2-0) def. Oho (0-2) by yorikiri
Churanoumi (1-1) def. Kirishima (1-1) by oshidashi
Takayasu (2-0) def. Fujinokawa (0-2) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
Yoshinofuji (1-1) def. Aonishiki (1-1) by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*
Kotozakura (2-0) def. Wakamotoharu (0-2) by oshidashi*
Hoshoryu (2-0) def. Wakatakakage (1-1) by okuridashi (rear push out)*
Atamifuji (1-1) def. Onosato (0-2) by yorikiri*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
Too early!
Analysis
Onosato lost to Atamifuji last night. This is only the second time Onosato has lost his first two bouts of a tournament. The last time this happened was in July, 2024, when he was a sekiwake. He finished that tournament with an 9-6 record (his all-time low mark in a pro tournament).
He has fought tough opposition over these past two nights (Wakatakakage and Atamifuji), but even so, I think this is a pretty good sign that Onosato is still dealing with a bum shoulder. And it’s also a sign, already, that the 75th yokozuna might end up being a non-factor in this tournament.
In the match last night Onosato wasn’t able to move Atamifuji back off the tachiai. In the belt battle that ensued, Onosato could not get comfortable. He struggled to keep his inside hand on the belt. Whereas Atamifuji’s outside grip was solid. Atamifuji was able to move Onosato around, causing Onosato to go for a badly timed slap down (on the second straight night).
Atamifuji was forced into a flat out dive due to the slap down attempt and that pushed Onosato over the straw. Onosato jumped to try and make himself land second. However, he of all people should know that the judges aren’t going to give you anything if you leave your feet.
Onosato cut a grim figure as he walked back up to the ring. He doesn’t look like he’s enjoying his sumo very much. He stayed in the tournament in January and finished with a good record. I’m not sure if he will decide to work through the injury or whether he’ll take the first absences of his young career. The absences would be better for him, in the long term.
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Onosato’s struggles open the door for the rest of the field this month. So far, Hoshoryu — his closest rival — seems like the man best placed to take advantage of that. He’s looked great so far.
Last night he scooped out Wakatakakage after deftly side-stepping him along the boundary. Given his record against Onosato, Hoshoryu must be feeling pretty comfortable with a two win lead on the other yokozuna. However, it is still very early in the basho.
Hoshoryu is also benefitting from an early wobble from Aonishiki. The young man on his rope run suffered a loss to Yoshinofuji last night. He’s now just 1-4 against the relative newcomer.
Yoshinofuji was a brute in this match. He stood Aonishiki up with a moroto tsuki (two handed thrust) off the tachiai. That’s one of the best approaches with Aonishiki, who is near unstoppable once he adopts his favoured leaned over posture. Aonishiki was able to fight through some thrusts to get his favourite position, though.
Once this happens (above), it’s usually a wrap for Aonishiki’s opponents. Yoshinofuji was prepared for this, though.
Above is the moment when Aonishiki dropped his left arm looking for his famous uchimuso (inner thigh propping twist down). Yoshinofuji prevented Aonishiki chopping his knee, though, by keeping his right knee well back and also harassing that left arm with his own right arm.
After avoid the uchimuso attempts, Yoshinofuji went on the offensive.
He stepped up, quickly, and broke Aonishiki’s posture, forcing him to stand chest-to-chest with him. He wasn’t able to budge Aonishiki with gaburi-yori (torso thrusting), though. The fact Aonishiki was able to prevent that shows how incredibly strong he is. This forced Yoshinofuji to try something else.
He broke and turned from Aonishiki, which is something we usually see Aonishiki do.
Aonishiki has freakish balance, so he was able to stay upright. He kicked out his left leg and planted it, solidly, to get square to Yoshinofuji. As this happened, though, Yoshinofuji locked on a solid outside grip on Aonishiki’s belt.
With Aonishiki flat-footed, Yoshinofuji stepped forwards and wrenched up on the belt. This again forced Aonishiki to fight standing straight up, which he hates.
Aonishiki tried to escape out the side, but Yoshinofuji’s outside grip was too strong. He was able to resist Aonishiki’s lateral movement and keep him in front of him enough to ensure that he would go down first.
That’s an epic win and it might have massive implications for this tournament. But, again, I know it’s very early. Yoshinofuji has outstanding athleticism, but this match showed he has some intelligence, too. I think he broke and swung Aonishiki around just so he could re-establish the chest-to-chest position. It didn’t look like he was angling for a throw (which would have probably been the wrong move).
The other ozeki on the banzuke is 2-0 after last night. Kotozakura, for the second straight night, showed off some great footwork to get around his opponent. He also used powerful thrusts to prevent Wakamotoharu locking on his favourite hidari-yotsu (left arm inside position).
Side note: I think this is Manhattan from the Netflix series Love Village.
Kirishima’s ozeki-run took a hit last night. He lost to Churanoumi. This was a battle between two guys who love the mae-mitsu (front of belt grip). Churanoumi went for that twice early, but Kirishima’s defensive swipes (some of the best in the sport) kept him off there. Churanoumi’s not a one-trick-pony, though, he kept his feet moving and brought his hands up to Kirishima’s chest for the push out.
I’m really hoping Kirishima doesn’t look back on this one as a bout he really needed to win to get to 11. Churanoumi is very good, but he’s a level below a lot of the other wrestlers Kirishima will meet over the next thirteen days.
Fujinokawa’s adventure against the big names continued last night. He threw everything he had at Takayasu, but just couldn’t move that big ol’ grizzy bear. He’s 0-2, with even harder matches still waiting for him.
Ura is 2-0, much to the delight of his hometown fans in Osaka. He smashed through Oshoma last night.
Last night it was confirmed that both Hakunofuji and Onokatsu are out, likely for the remainder of the tournament. Hakunofuji was confirmed to be suffering from the foot injury he sustained in the last tournament. It seems Onokatsu might have sprained his ankle, which is a lot better than the torn ACL I diagnosed him with yesterday.
Tonight we’ve got some incredible matches on tap.
Hoshoryu vs. Yoshinofuji will be fascinating. They have a 1-1 record against each other. Yoshinofuji won in January with a force out. In their first meeting, in September, Hoshoryu threw him down — hard.
Little Fujinokawa has Onosato tonight. It’s probably the best time to fight Onosato, but that’s still a mammoth task for the 21 year-old.
And Aonishiki has Wakatakakage. He’s 3-2 against him. Wakatakakage’s most recent win over Aonishiki was a henka.
Keeping count!
Here’s something fun I want to do this tournament.
Henka counter: 1
This is just for the makuuchi. The one henka on the board is Wakamotoharu’s missed one on Hoshoryu on day one.
Tobi trample counter (rows): 1
Tobizaru was shrugged off the ring by Chiyoshoma last night. He didn’t get past the first row, though.
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I'm getting tired of the Waka brothers and their Henkas. I know it has a place in the sport, but day 1? Really?
I like the idea of counting Tobizaru's rows cleared in the audience ;) Poor Tobizaru. And Fujinokawa is finding the top level guys are both bigger and more experienced to avoid falling for his tactics.