2026 Hatsu Basho: Day 13 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 January Tournament (spoilers).
I’m still feeling under the weather here. And the weather is also especially terrible here around Toronto. I’m trying not to let that sap my enthusiasm for the 2026 hatsu basho, though.
It’s been a great tournament with lots of fantastic matches and some fascinating story lines. It all comes to a head on Sunday. I can’t wait. And I hope I feel better by then!
Scroll down for results, videos and my analysis (less detailed than usual, I’m afraid).
Bonus gif today is the Iron Man.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Asahakuryu (6-7) def. Kotoeiho (7-6) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Ryuden (6-7) def. Chiyoshoma (5-8) by yorikiri
Tokihayate (7-6) def. Tomokaze (4-9) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Roga (6-7) def. Tobizaru (5-8) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Gonoyama (6-7) def. Midorifuji (5-8) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Hatsuyama (2-11) def. Kinbozan (4-9) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)
Mitakeumi (6-7) def. Shodai (6-7) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Fujinokawa (8-5) def. Kotoshoho (7-6) by oshitaoshi*
Asakoryu (8-5) def. Oshoma (6-7) by tsukite (hand touch down)
Atamifuji (10-3) def. Abi (9-4) by tsukiotoshi*
Onokatsu (7-6) def. Hakunofuji (5-8) by fusen (default)
Wakatakakage (7-6) def. Churanoumi (7-6) by tsukiotoshi*
Takanosho (4-9) def. Ura (2-11) by hatakikomi
Daieisho (6-7) def. Yoshinofuji (6-7) by hatakikomi*
Ichiyamamoto (3-10) def. Tamawashi (4-9) by oshidashi
Wakamotoharu (6-7) def. Oshoumi (9-4) by yorikiri*
Hiradoumi (9-4) def. Oho (4-9) by yorikiri
Takayasu (8-5) def. Asanoyama (9-4) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Kirishima (10-3) def. Shishi (9-4) by yorikiri*
Onosato (9-4) def. Kotozakura (8-5) by yorikiri
Aonishiki (11-2) def. Hoshoryu (8-5) by uwatenage*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
O1w Aonishiki: 11-2
S1e Kirishima, M4w Atamifuji: 10-3
Y1w Onosato, M6e Hiradoumi, M12w Abi, M14e Shishi, M16e Asanoyama, M16w Oshoumi: 9-4
Analysis
Aonishiki maintained his lead at the top of this basho thanks to his win over Hoshoryu last night. Aonishiki is now 4-0 against the 74th yokozuna, with many of his victories looking quite similar to what we saw last night.
The key to Aonishiki’s success against Hoshoryu has always been rotation paired with disguised attacks to the lower body. In this bout, Aonishiki was able to sneak his left foot inside Hoshoryu’s right and then trip him as he wrenched on his outside grip.
This win saw Aonishiki eliminated Hoshoryu (and everyone else with five losses or more) from title contention this month.
Kirishima remains the best bet to pip Aonishiki to the post. He faced off with fellow high flyer Shishi last night, for the first time in his career. Shishi looked a little nervous in this bout. Kirishima was cool as ever and he quickly exploited Shishi’s yotsu-zumo (belt grappling) weakness and scoring a quick force out.
Kirishima is 10-3 now and, at the very least, has gotten off to a solid start in his latest ozeki run.
Atamifuji got to 10-3 after doing his best impression of a brick wall to stop Abi. Abi, who started this tournament really well, bounced off the heaviest man in the division and couldn’t keep on his feet.
Onosato made it to 9-4 to hold onto a mathematical shot at earning the yusho. He fought through the pain last night and managed to shuffle out Kotozakura. Onosato did a good job of keeping Kotozakura’s inside hand off his belt and then taking advantage when Kotozakura went for a desperation slap down.
Oshoumi is part of that group of 9-4 wrestlers who are still in with a slim shot at a yusho. He lost to Wakamotoharu last night, his best opponent to date. He showed his rawness in this bout, giving Wakamotoharu his preferred hidari-yotsu (left arm inside, right arm outside position) right off the tachiai. It didn’t take Wakamotoharu long to win after that.
Hiradoumi is another guy in that 9-4 pack. He earned his ninth win off Oho last night.
The penultimate night of the tournament brings us Aonishiki vs. Onosato in the main event slot. Aonishiki has never beaten Onosato (they have met three times). If he beats him tonight, his 12-2 record will eliminate everyone in the tournament who has four losses or more (which would include Onosato).
Kirishima and Atamifuji will fight tonight, staking their 10-3 records against each other. Kirishima has a 7-2 record over Atamifuji and he beat him to secure a yusho back in 2023. The winner will be 11-3 and, depending what happens with Aonishiki, will either be tied for the lead on the final day or needing a win and Aonishiki to lose to force a play-off.
Hiradoumi vs. Oshoumi will see the loser immediately eliminated from title contention. Both of these guys will be eliminated if Aonishiki wins, though. If Aonishiki loses, the winner of this bout will have a shot at getting the yusho (should Aonishiki and the winner Kirishima vs. Atamifuji lose their final bout on Sunday).
Asanoyama (who faces Wakamotoharu), Shishi (who meets Yoshinofuji) and Abi (who has Takayasu) all have the same prospects, should they win, as the winner of Hiradoumi vs. Oshoumi.
Juryo jolt!
Wakanosho pushed down Fujiseun to take a sole possession of the lead on a 10-4 record. That dropped Fujiseun to 9-5.
Nine other wrestlers are on 8-6 records and remain in with a mathematical chance of taking the championship. Those include Fujiryoga (November’s winner). He missed his chance to get a ninth win after getting pushed out by Nishonryu.
Others in that 8-5 group include Sadanoumi, Kayo and Kazuma.
Makushita Minute!
Nobehara beat Enho to win the makushita yusho yesterday (0:54 mark in the video). Enho had Nobehara on the ropes, briefly, but the larger man was able to turn the tables and then flatten Enho out, painfully, for the win. Nobehara is ranked all the way down at Ms54. That means his yusho will not come with an automatic promotion to juryo.
Enho’s teammate Toshinofuji will earn a juryo promotion if he beats Hakuyozan tomorrow.
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1) I predict Atamifuji will take the Emperor's Cup in this tournament.
2) I predicted a couple days ago that Butterball Kayo would get his K in Juryo. As that prediction has come true, I will now predict that this is the beginning of a stunning resurgence that will see Kayo become Yokozuna sometime in 2027.
It is possible that one or neither of these predictions will pan out.
Good Morning All
Good Morning Tim, so sorry your under the weather 🤢 here’s hoping you feel better soon!
I hope someone can lend me a tenner ! Because Aonishiki is on the cusp of delivering yet another spectacular performance 🎭
Only now can Kirishima stop him!
Bless his cute sweet little heart ❤️ but short of natural disaster I can’t see Atamifuji beating Kirishima today! it’s unlikely, but my dream this time for him to get to 10 was done, not to mention two Yokozuna wins extra exciting there, I will say Atamifuji has provided a lot of excitement into this basho, by and large just like me, most other [ particularly women] think of him as cute sweet and lovable , although he is embarrassed by this, he would like to be seen as Atamifuji the crusher , we have put a lot of prayer and love into him doing well and it’s helped him.
Now I did say in November Basho, whether Aonishiki can actually over throw Onosato because obviously Last November Onosato withdrew and so now is the test ! And again Onosato is injured and I would have to say, the only way a true win for Aonishiki is when Onosato is 💯 fit , he is very formidable
It is fair to say this basho for Hoshoryu has been an unmitigated disaster , somehow he went from being on top at one point two ahead of Onosato, to at the bottom just scrapping through so far on an eight win !! He must be internally panicking about the future and his roll in it ! We accept he’s injured and for the life of me I have no idea why both Yokozuna are still competing? They both at times look in utter agony !
Takayasu did a good job eliminating Asanoyama helping the Aonishiki cause !
I had hoped we would see Takayasu 8-5 and Wakatakakage 7-6 throwing their hats into the ring for Ōzeki run but so far not going to plan.
The JSA are obviously desperate for Aonishiki to win, they need an exciting player at Yokozuna level going forward to Paris, it seems extremely important to the JSA that everything is successful and exciting in Paris ?
So far we have just been getting unhappy rumblings from the JSA about performances and how the two Yokozuna look so what’s coming at the end of the?