2026 Hatsu Basho: Day 14 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 January Tournament (spoilers).
The penultimate day of the 2026 New Year tournament is in the books. And, wow, do we have a fantastic night ahead of us tonight to crown our first champion of the year.
I’m almost back to full strength here. Hopefully I’ll be able to watch the last bouts of the tournament without a sore head and throat tomorrow morning.
Scroll down to see what happened of Day 14 and read my analysis.
Bonus gif is Tokihayate getting set.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Kotoshoho (8-6) def. Mitakeumi (6-8) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Gonoyama (7-7) def. Hatsuyama (2-12) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Asahakuryu (7-7) def. Shodai (6-8) by yorikiri
Midorifuji (6-8) def. Kinbozan (4-10) by katasukashi (under shoulder swing down)*
Oshoma (7-7) def. Ryuden (6-8) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Fujinokawa (9-5) def. Asakorui (8-6) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)*
Oshoumi (10-4) def. Hiradoumi (9-5) by abisetaoshi (backward force down)*
Tobizaru (6-8) def. Onokatsu (7-7) by yorikiri*
Tamawashi (5-9) def. Tomokaze (4-10) by oshidashi
Churanoumi (8-6) def. Roga (6-8) by oshidashi
Chiyoshoma (6-8) def. Takanosho (4-10) by tottari (arm bar throw)
Wakatakakage (8-6) def. Daieisho (6-8) by hikiotoshi
Tokihayate (8-6) def. Ichiyamamoto (3-11) by oshidashi*
Yoshinofuji (7-7) def. Shishi (9-5) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Ura (3-11) def. Oho (4-10) by hatakikomi (slap down)*
Wakamotoharu (7-7) def. Asanoyama (9-5) by yorikiri*
Atamifuji (11-3) def. Kirishima (10-4) by yoritoashi*
Abi (10-4) def. Takayasu (8-6) by okuridashi (rear push out)*
Hoshoryu (9-5) def. Kotozakura (8-6) by uwatenage*
Onosato (10-4) def. Aonishiki (11-3) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
O1w Aonishiki, M4w Atamifuji: 11-3
Y1w Onosato, S1e Kirishima, M12w Abi, M16w Oshoumi: 10-4
Analysis
The table is set for a fascinating senshuraku (final performance) tonight. That’s thanks to how things broke last night, we now have a lot of things that could play out tonight and six wrestlers who have a shot at taking home the first title of the year.
Aonishiki is among that group. He still has a great chance to win this yusho. Things could have been a lot easier for him, though, if he had only managed to beat Onosato last night. No big deal, right? That’s only this generation’s most dominant rikishi and someone projected to break all kinds of records in the sport. And he’s also someone Aonishiki had never beaten before. Yes, Onosato is fighting hurt this month. But, he’s shown that he’s still one of the top wrestlers on the planet even at less than full strength.
Last night Onosato showed he’s still got an edge over the Blue Whirlwind. In their bout he planted a big hand under Aonishiki’s chin and drove him back to the straw. Aonishiki tried to circle away and find some space, but Onosato’s speed and power caught up to him and forced him down.
Aonishiki looked a little crestfallen after this bout. I like that, though. It shows that he had a lot of belief going into this one, despite the size of the obstacle that stood in his way. Onosato grimaced after the win, suggesting that big thrust caused his injured shoulder a lot of pain. This wasn’t just a moral victory for Onosato, though. The win means he’s still in with a chance to win the title tonight!
With Aonishiki losing, that means both Kirishima and Atamifuji are still in with a shot at the title. Had he won, he would have eliminated the loser from this bout — which was Kirishima.
Atamifuji has often looked nervous ahead of this match-up, or when he’s in a serious title race. He looked very calm last night, though. He steamrolled Kirishima off the tachiai, forcing Kirishima back despite conceding a moro-zashi (double inside position). That’s the hold Kirishma used to beat Hoshoryu. The fact Atamifuji was able to out muscle him in this position really shows how strong Atamifuji is in the clinch. Kirishima saved himself on the boundary once, but couldn’t do it a second time. Atamifuji won by a painful looking crush out. Kirishima looked as though he took the brunt of that fall.
Atamifuji heads into the final night with a lot of momentum now. Kirishima will need to draw on all his experience and skill if he wants to come back from that and be a factor tonight.
Abi is in the title hunt, too. He made himself part of the conversation by tagging Takayasu with his tsuppari (rapid palm strikes). After he forced Takayasu to turn he pushed him on the hip hard enough to force him into the seats.
Abi has looked great this month and I think everyone should be worried about him in a play-off scenario.
Oshoumi is the last, and least likely, member of our title chasing pack. He took Hiradoumi’s best shot, slammed on the breaks, and then responded with an epic burst of power to reverse the direction of the bout.
Oshoumi is the wildcard in this group. He likely won’t be the man to wind up on top, but stranger things have happened.
Shishi and Asanoyama could have gone into tonight with chances to win the cup, too. But they fell to Yoshinofuji and Wakamotoharu.
It was insignificant, but Hoshoryu landed a massive throw on Kotozakura last night. He used his injured knee as his standing leg and used the other to hook and elevate Kotozakura. It’s very rare to see Kotozakura moved through the air like that.
Tonight’s matches with title implications are as follows:
Hoshoryu vs. Onosato
Aonishiki vs. Kotozakura
Kirishima vs. Abi
Atamifuji vs. Oshoumi
Hoshoryu holds an 8-3 record over Onosato, though he lost the last bout and that was a big one (for the aki basho yusho).
Aonishiki is 3-1 against Kotozakura and has won their last three bouts, two of those wins came via the uchimuso (inner thigh propping twist down).
Kirishima has an 11-8 record against Abi and he’s won the last three bouts.
Atamifuji and Oshoumi are 1-1.
If Atamifuji loses and Aonishiki wins, Aonishiki is our champion. If Atamifuji wins and Aonishiki loses, Atamifuji will have his career first yusho.
If they both win, they will have a play-off for the cup. If they both lose, then they will be in a play-off against each other, Oshoumi, the winner of Kirishima vs. Abi and Onosato if he beats Hoshoryu.
So many possibilities! How can you not love this sport?
Juryo jolt!
Wakanosho can clinch the yusho with a win over Fujiryoga tonight, or if Fujiseun loses against Tohakuryu. If Wakanosho loses and Fujiseun wins, those two will have a play-off for the title.
Wakanosho helped himself towards the yusho by beating Kotoeiho last night.
Fujiseun is guaranteed a promotion to makuuchi no matter what happens tonight. Fujiryoga has likely done enough to go up already, too. Sadanoumi has been called up to makuuchi to fight Asahakuryu tonight. A win would give him a 10-5 record and mean that he likely switches divisions with Asahakuryu in March.
Makushita Minute!
Toshinofuji earned his spot in juryo by beating Hakuoyozan last night.
Tonight, Shimazuumi and Takakento will face juryo opponents. If they win, they’ll get promoted, too. Shimazuumi has Hidenoumi and Takakento has Hakuoyozan.
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i gotta say, one-armed onosato is a sight to behold! incredible how he handled aonishiki yesterday like it was nothing. wow.
also, i need a little ura doll! would be so cute with that face and smile. like a little japanese wooden doll but with ura's face. (i should probably check if they already exist, i can't be the first one to think of that!)
Great basho!