2026 Hatsu Basho: Day 1 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 January Tournament (spoilers).
We are off and running in the first Grand Sumo tournament of the year, the 2026 hatsu basho. Huzzah! I’ve had a wonderful Christmas break, but I am very ready for sumo to be back in my life.
Day 1 of the New Year tournament went down last night in Tokyo and we were treated to some wild matches in the top division. Scroll down to see what went down and watch videos of all the most important bouts. You’ll also find my analysis.
These tournament updates are totally free and I don’t plan on changing that any time, soon. Still… if you’d like to contribute to the blog that would be super cool.
Bonus gif today is Ichiyamamoto, who might be trying out for Japan’s national speed walking team.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Asahakuryu def. Hatsuyama by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Oshoumi (1-0) def. Asanoyama (0-1) by uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Ryuden (1-0) def. Asakoryu (0-1) by hansoku (disqualification due to hair pull)
Shishi (1-0) def. Mitakeumi (0-1) by oshidashi*
Tobizaru (1-0) def. Tomokaze (0-1) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Abi (1-0) def. Midorifuji (0-1) by uwatenage
Nishikifuji (1-0) def. Chiyoshoma (0-1) by oshidashi
Tokihayate (1-0) def. Kotoshoho (0-1) by oshidashi
Roga (1-0) def. Gonoyama (0-1) by oshidashi*
Shodai (1-0) def. Kinbozan (0-1) by oshidashi
Oshoma (1-0) def. Fujinokawa (0-1) by kotenage (armlock throw)*
Hiradoumi (1-0) def. Onokatsu (0-1) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Churanoumi (1-0) def. Tamawashi (0-1) by shitatedashinage (pulling underarm throw)*
Daieisho (1-0) def. Atamifuji (0-1) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Hakunofuji (1-0) def. Oho by uwatenage*
Takayasu (1-0) def. Takanosho (0-1) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Kirishima (1-0) def. Wakatakakage (0-1) by oshidashi
Aonishiki (1-0) def. Ura (0-1) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)*
Kotozakura (1-0) def. Yoshinofuji (0-1) by okuridashi (rear push out)*
Onosato (1-0) def. Ichiyamamoto (0-1) by oshidashi
Hoshoryu (1-0) def. Wakamotoharu (0-1) by yoritaoshi*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
Too early!
Analysis
Our top four rikishi all started 2026 with wins last night.
Hoshoryu, with his lovely midnight blue mawashi, dealt a loss to Wakamotoharu. In the last basho Wakamotoharu hit Hoshoryu with a henka. That was revenge for Hoshoryu pulling the same move on Wakatakakage in September. This time around, though, both men would collide chest to chest. Hoshoryu was very quick off the line. He got his right arm to the inside position, immediately. That erased Wakamotoharu’s chances of getting his favourite hidari-yotsu (left arm inside, right arm outside grip). Hoshoryu knew that once he denied that position he could do what he wanted to Wakamotoharu. He chose to rotate Wakamotoharu this time and used the moro-zashi (double inside position) on route to a crush out over the north side of the dohyo.
Hoshoryu would have savoured this win. Despite that, I didn’t see him doing anything extra spicy in this sequence. This win stretched Hoshoryu’s commanding head-to-head record over the senior Waka Bros. to 18-5.
Hoshoryu’s rotational movement in this bout might be a sign that his knee injury is something he can effectively fight through.
Onosato quickly beat Ichiyamamoto last night. That’s despite looking a little sluggish in the tachiai. Ichiyamamoto was able to get two hands square on Onosato’s chest. But that still wasn’t enough to move the 75th yokozuna. Onosato simply dug in his heels and then responded with a much bigger shove.
This bout was a good sign for Onosato fans. He is reportedly suffering from a shoulder injury. The effects of that will be more noticeable should we see Onosato drawn into a yotsu-zumo (belt grappling) battle, though.
Aonishiki won on his ozeki debut. Though, he didn’t have any easy time with Ura. The Peach Prince gave the Blue Whirlwind a workout, denying his attempts to clinch with furious tsuppari (rapid palm strikes). Ura eventually ran out of room, though, and when Aonishiki managed to sling his arm around him he was able to force them both out of the ring and make sure he landed last.
That’s only the second time these two have met each other. Aonishiki has won them both.
And Kotozakura, my pick to win this tournament, beat Yoshinofuji and looked great while doing so. I think Yoshinofuji will do well this month, but I think he was shocked to see how well Kotozakura moved last night. Kotozakura’s nifty feet gave me hopes that he might be returning to his 2024 form.
The bout of the night was Hakunofuji vs. Oho. The newly named Hakunofuji pulled off an incredible feat of strength, using his calves and his core to stay in on the straw for a very long time. He survived long enough that, when Oho gave him an inch of space, Hakunofuji was able to respond with a great push of his own, before transitioning to the beautiful uwatenage.
Asanoyama’s return to the top division didn’t go as planned. The former ozeki started strong, but didn’t have quite enough gas to get Oshoumi over the line. Oshoumi was able to hang in there and then topple over the tired Asanoyama.
Other bouts worth checking out include Oshoma pancaking Fujinokawa after a back and forth slap fest and Asakoryu getting called for the hair pull over Ryuden. Shishi also won a very fun bout against Mitakeumi.
Tonight’s top bouts include Onosato vs. Oho. Onosato is 6-3 against Oho. Hoshoryu will meet Ichiyamamoto. Ichiyamamoto actually has a 3-1 record against Hoshoryu. He poses the same kind of problem Abi has for the current yokozuna, so watch out for that quick push back and pull down combo.
Aonishiki will face Yoshinofuji. He’s winless against him in three bouts.
Juryo jolt!
Don’t get too excited, because I don’t know if I’ll have the time and energy to do a juryo recap every day.
The second division has a number of interesting characters this month. That includes former top division champ Takerufuji (whose back is covered in cupping marks right now). He lost to Tamashoho on Day 1 after being suckered into a full out dive.
November’s juryo champ started off with a loss this month. Fujiryoga came in with a lot of strapping around his right knee and he moved very gingerly. Shirokma, who seems to have two healthy legs under him, was able to out-muscle him in the clinch for the win.
If Meisei can stay healthy, he’s my pick to win juryo this month. He looked good last night and not just because of his new metallic mawashi. He went moro-zashi on Kitanowaka for the force out.
Other former makuuchi veteran Nishikigi looked very poor last night. He pulled up before being barged out by Kyokukaiyu. It feels like a retirement announcement might be coming soon from the former komusubi.
Tsurugisho was also bested by a youngster on Day 1. Wakanosho was able to thrust him over the line. Tsurugisho looks like either knee might disintegrate under him at any moment. He still fought with a lot more fight than Nishikigi, did though.
Makushita winner Kazuma lost his juryo debut last night. The 427 lbs behemoth looked very raw in losing to Hakuoyozan.
Lastly, if you’re able to track down juryo footage please watch Asasuiryu henka himself to gift a win to Tochitaikai.
Makushita Minute!
Makushita, too?! Don’t get used to it.
Here’s the JSA’s pick of makushita matches from last night.
In the first bout Arashifuji defeats Ryusho with an okuridashi. Oitekaze’s Ryusho was the makushita runner-up in November. The 21 year-old Arashifuji is another Miyagino recruit who was absorbed into Isegahama.
In the second bout, Miyanokaze (who is built like a brick you know what) dragged down Kurohimeyama.
In the third bout former makuuchi man Shimazuumi, who looked pretty good before injuries bounced him down the divisions, blasted through Mienofuji. That’s the new name of Tenshoho (another recently renamed Miyagino refugee at Isegahama).
Next up in the video is Fukuzaki and Takakento brawling it out until the slick backed Fukuzaki was able to push out the former juryo mainstay. Fukuzaki is just 19 years-old.
Lastly, the video shows Tochimusashi throw over Himukamaru.
That’s all!
See ya tomorrow (probably without the juryo and makushita round-up).
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Nice to be back! And I always appreciate the intro gifs you start with. They make me chuckle.