2026 Hatsu Basho: Day 11 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 January Tournament (spoilers).
I’m getting to my newsletter late tonight, since there was a big event at my field placement today (which went rather well). And I’m moving pretty slow right now. I think I might have caught my first bug of the year. It’s been a while, but when you have a kindergartner you can never go too long without being laid out by something.
So this newsletter might be sparse on details and perhaps have a few more spelling mistakes than I usually let through the net. I’ll do my best, though, since we have some truly awesome sumo to talk about.
The Pudding Man gets the bonus gif treatment today.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Tobizaru (4-7) def. Hatsuyama (1-10) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Abi (9-2) def. Shishi (8-3) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*
Midorifuji (5-6) def. Ryuden (4-7) by katasukashi (under shoulder swing down)*
Oshoumi (8-3) def. Nishikifuji (6-5) by sotogake (outside leg trip)*
Asakoryu (6-5) def. Chiyoshoma (4-7) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
Tokihayate (6-5) def. Asahakuryu (5-6) by shitatenage (underarm throw)
Mitakeumi (5-6) def. Gonoyama (4-7) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Shodai (5-6) def. Tomokaze (4-7) by hikiotoshi
Roga (4-7) def. Oshoma (6-5) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)*
Asanoyama (8-3) def. Hiradoumi (7-4) by yorikiri (frontal force out)*
Churanoumi (7-4) def. Kotoshoho (6-5) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Kinbozan (4-7) def. Tamawashi (4-7) by yorikiri
Atamifuji (9-2) def. Fujinokawa (7-4) by okuridashi (rear push out)*
Onoaktsu (5-6) def. Daieisho (4-7) by tsukiotoshi
Ichiyamamoto (2-9) def. Wakatakakage (5-6) by hikiotoshi
Wakamotoharu (5-6) def. Ura (1-10) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Yoshinofuji (6-5) def. Oho (4-7) by uwatenage*
Aonishiki (9-2) def. Hakunofuji (5-6) by shitatenage
Takanosho (2-9) def. Kotozakure (7-4) by yorikiri
Onosato (7-4) def. Kirishima (8-3) by yorikiri*
Hoshoryu (8-3) def. Takayasu (7-4) by tottari (arm bar throw)*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
O1w Aonishiki, M4w Atamifuji, M12w Abi: 9-2
Y1e Hoshoryu, S1e Kirishima, M14e Shishi, M16e Asanoyama, M16w Oshoumi: 8-3
Analysis
Aonishiki is now sharing the lead at the hatsu basho. How he got there, though, was a big bummer Hakunofuji hit hard off the tachiai, like he’s done all tournament long. But after a little tussling he went down in a heap. It looked like his knee folded out underneath him. I seriously hope this isn’t a serious injury and something that could, yet again, set Hakunofuji’s development back as a top rikishi.
Aonishiki is one of three guys who emerged from the pack last night. The other two were Atamifuji and Abi.
Atamifuji had the little monster Fujinokawa last night. He proved simply too strong for the hyper-aggro fan favourite.
Atamifuji has been in this position before. But each time he’s fluffed his lines at the crucial moment. Can he finally break through here and see a great tournament through to the very end?
I don’t have official video of it to share, but Abi took his place in the lead with a henka and an emphatic thrust down on poor Shishi, who seems likely to fade down the stretch.
Hoshoryu is lurking behind the leaders. He got his eighth win over the tournament over the hard charging Takayasu. The last time these two met was especially spicy, with Takayasu being extra aggressive with his hands. He was likely trying to help clear a path for his friend Onosato. Hoshoryu didn’t take kindly to that. He hit him with his Blue Steel after his win. This time around Hoshoryu didn’t even look at Takayasu after forcing him to dive bomb into the first row (the little glare came after he’d picked up his stacks of cash). That nonchalance felt very Hakuho like from the 74th yokozuna.
Onosato keeps coming out for more punishment. Last night he was able to dent Kirishima’s yusho chances, despite Kirishima pretty obviously targeting his banged up shoulder off the tachiai.
Onosato is still off the pace and I’m still puzzled over the point of having him continue competing. Sumo gonna sumo, though.
Kotozakura slipped on a banana peel last night. He was forced out by Takanosho!
Kotozakura has shown moments of brilliance in this basho, but he's still striving for the kind of consistency that saw him win the 2024 November basho with a 14-1 record (probably the best fifteen day effort I’ve seen in the last three years).
Asanoyama is still threatening to challenge for the yusho. Last night he had a yotsu-zumo duel with Hiradoumi. His weight and power gave him the edge in that one. Nice to see that knee not effecting him after that scare a few days ago.
Tonight Onosato is due to meet Takayasu. That’s a weird match-up, given their fondness for each other. Takayasu is Onosato’s dew sweeper and has been a mentor for him in Grand Sumo. With Onosato banged up, I’m having trouble imagining Takayasu giving this bout his all.
I get my favourite match-up tonight. Hoshoryu vs. Kirishima. It’s a meeting of old judo club mates and modern day frenemies. Hoshoryu has the slight edge in their head-to-head match-ups (13-10). Sadly it’s been a while since they met when both were at full health. When they’re both on their games, though, this is a match-up for serious sumo technique heads. Watch out for grip switches, trip attempts and throws blocked by throws here.
Atamifuji vs. Aonishiki is a massive match-up tonight. Aonishiki was won their only two meetings, but Atamifuji is looking like a different animal this month.
Abi will try and stay in the lead by beating Kotozakura. That could be tough, though. He’s got a 6-13 record against the ozeki.
Tonight will also include first time meetings for Oho and Shishi and Asanoyama and Fujinokawa.
Juryo jolt!
We have a three-way lead in juryo right now between the veteran Sadanoumi and the middling Fujiseun and the upstart Wakanosho.
Sadanoumi missed his chance to retain sole possession of the lead by losing to Wakanosho.
Takerufuji won last night, pushing out Daiseizan. He’s still got little to no chance of getting promoted this month, too. Same goes for Daiseizan, who had a great chance to debut in juryo if he could only manage something like a 9-6 record. He’s stuck on 5-6 now.
Makushita Minute!
Here’s your top five makushita bouts. I’m struggling so I won’t go through each. Just know that Enho is now 6-0 after he took down Tochimaru. He’s going to fight Nobehara for the yusho. That still might not be enough to get him to juryo. He needs everyone ranked above him to really under perform between now and then. We can still dream, though.
Ok, I need some water and some sleep. Hopefully I’m in better shape tomorrow. The last thing I want to do is go kyujo from The Stomp!
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"He hit him with his Blue Steel after his win." Like a laser show.
fingers crossed for fighting off that bug!