2026 Hatsu Basho: Day 3 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 January Tournament (spoilers).
Oh my goodness.
Last night produced some high octane sumo in the makuuchi. There were some wild bouts and some thrilling, and controversial, endings to matches involving some very big names.
Scroll down and watch those and read my analysis of what happened.
Bonus gif is Onokatsu (or is that Triple H?) getting pumped up.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Oshoumi (2-1) def. Hatsuyama (0-3) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Asahakuryu (3-0) def. Ryuden (1-2) by okuridashi (rear push out)
Asanoyama (2-1) def. Mitakeumi (1-2) by yorikiri
Asakoryu (1-2) def. Tomokaze (1-2) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Shishi (3-0) def. Tobizaru (1-2) by oshidashi*
Abi (3-0) def. Nishikifuji (2-1) by uwatedashinage (pulling overarm throw)
Chiyoshoma (2-1) def. Midorifuji (0-3) by yorikiri
Kotoshoho (1-2) def. Roga (1-2) by yorikiri
Gonoyama (1-2) def. Tokihayate (1-2) by oshidashi
Fujinokawa (2-1) def. Kinbozan (1-2) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Oshoma (3-0) def. Shodai (2-1) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)*
Onokatsu (1-2) def. Churanoumi (2-1) by yorikiri*
Hiradoumi (2-1) def. Tamawashi (1-2) by yorikiri
Atamifuji (1-2) def. Takanosho (0-3) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Wakatakakage (2-1) def. Oho (0-3) by yorikiri
Takayasu (2-1) def. Daieisho (1-2) by kainahineri (two handed arm twist down)*
Kirishima (3-0) def. Hakunofuji (2-1) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down) after torinaoshi (immediate rematch)*
Aonishiki (3-0) def. Ichiyamamoto (0-3) by yorikiri
Kotozakura (3-0) def. Wakamotoharu (0-3) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw) after mono-ii (judges’ review) upheld gyoji (referee) decision*
Onosato (3-0) def. Ura (0-3) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down) after torinaoshi*
Yoshinofuji (1-2) def. Hoshoryu (2-1) by yorikiri*
*Must see bouts!
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Analysis
Hoshoryu has suffered the first stumble of the 2026 hatsu basho!
Last night he lost to Yoshinofuji, whose tachiai is among the most powerful in the sport right now. His opening move had Hoshoryu on his back heels and desperate to latch on. When he did get a hold of Yoshinofuji he went for one of his trusty throws (a kubinage — headlock throw, in this case). But Yoshinofuji untangled his left leg from Hoshoryu’s hooking leg and took away both the leverage and the support structure Hoshoryu needed to complete the move. As the move failed, Yoshinofuji continued surging forwards and that forced Hoshoryu to step out of the ring.
In doing so, his right leg got straightened out and then crunched. This isn’t the leg with the reported meniscus tear, but it still has me worried about a possible injury.
Hoshoryu now sits at 2-1. I think he should have been joined at that marker by Onosato. That didn’t happen, though.
Onosato and Ura had to fight twice to settle their bout. In the first bout Ura did what Ura does, become flubber. He stuck and moved and changed levels and thoroughly confused Onosato. After Onosato missed on a slap down, Ura head faked and wrapped up one of Onosato’s knees. They both went down and the gunbai (fan) was pointed to Onosato. On first viewing I thought Ura should have won this, due to Onosato clearly touching down first.
A mono-ii was called, thankfully. The replay made it even more clear that Onosato’s hands touched down before Ura’s butt hit the dirt (all as a result of something Ura did). However, the decision was then made to replay the bout — not reverse the decision. Onosato then steamrolled a tired and let down Ura.
I’m not big into conspiracy theories. But this was a pretty bad look, given that Onosato has now been on the fortunate side of a number of close decisions over the last six months. It also doesn’t help that his stable master Kisenosato was one of the judges who deliberated on this.
Onosato is joined at 3-0 by both Aonishiki and Kotozakura.
Aonishiki had to use perseverance, again, last night. Ichiyamamoto got a great start to their bout and was winning the pushing/thrusting battle. But when Aonishiki got a firm grip on his belt, and his head on his chest, it was all over. Aonishiki’s ability to switch from the thrusting game to the grappling game is what sets him apart from most other wrestlers, including Ichiyamamoto (even with Ichiyamamoto’s recent commitment to improving his grappling).
Kotozakura beat Wakamotoharu with an over arm throw. He had to trigger that move after Wakamotoharu caught him flat footed and was able to shuffle him, quickly, towards the straw. Wakamotoharu’s successful burst was thanks to him winning the early battle for grips, with him getting his favourite left inside position.
Kirishima and Hakunofuji had a wild tilt last night. I had been looking forward to this one because both men had looked very good through their first two bouts. This contest would also need two bouts to sort it out. In the first there was a prolonged battle on the belt with Kirishima using his judo to try and destabilize Hakunofuji’s more traditional sumo style. A lot of that battle involved Kirishima trying to make sure Hakunofuji didn’t get his left hand on his belt. To keep Hakunofuji off the belt, and prevent him locking up a strong hidari-yotsu position, Kirishima circled away. That lead him to the boundary. That’s when Kirishima did something close to an utchari (backwards pivot throw); the move I’d like to see banned from the sport.
That throw sent Hakunofuji to the ground with a lot of force. He was very slow to get up. I think he may have hit his head down there. He looked woozy as the shimpan (judges) deliberated over the finish. A torinaoshi was called and Kirishima then beat the foggy Hakunofuji with some excellent straw surfing.
This bout highlighted a number of things which should be changed in sumo.
First, the utchari should go. It’s too dangerous and someone is going to suffer a serious injury or die at some point.
Second, there should be foam mats around the dohyo. They could even colour them to make them appear invisible, like they try to do with all the bandages and strappings that cover up the braces many of these guys need to wear.
And, lastly, when a torinaoshi is called the rematch should happen after the next scheduled match. Will any of this happen? Of course not.
Daieisho and Takayasu had one of the more exciting bouts on the night. The pair resembled grizzly bears fighting over a salmon run as they swiped chunks out of each other. Takayasu’s versatility won him the bout. After not getting an edge with his thrusts (against an elite power thruster) he switched to grappling and caught Daieisho’s arm before twisting him over and down.
Hoshoryu will try and bounce back from his Yoshinofuji loss against Ura tonight. Ura will be trying to complete his run through Murderers’ Row with at least one win.
Yoshinofuji will try to pick up another kinboshi tonight when he faces Onosato. He beat him in November in their first and only pro meeting (they met a number of times in college sumo).
Oho, who is 0-3 at the moment, has Aonishiki. He’s won one out of four bouts against his fellow Ukrainian (remember, Oho’s grandfather the legendary Taiho was half Ukrainian).
Kotozakura has Ichiyamamoto tonight. Kotozakura is 5-3 in that match-up.
Hakunofuji and Takayasu are set to meet, too. That should be good given their current form. Kirishima meets Wakamotoharu.
Juryo jolt!
I know I said I wouldn’t do this, but here’s another juryo dispatch.
Takerufuji looked like he’s supposed to look last night, clearing out Nishinoryu with an epic blitz off the tachiai.
Fujiryoga’s juryo sophomore slump continued last night. He was out-worked by Sadanoumi. Sadanoumi is 3-0 now and showing he’s still got some gas in the tank.
Meisei is still looking far too good to be here. He used his shoulder rolls to lead Tochitaikai to the straw and then bundle him out. November’s makushita champ Kazuma is still struggling. He was marched out by Kyokukaiyu. And Tohakuryu beat Kayo in the battle of the side-step and slap down artists.
Makushita Minute!
Here’s the top five makushita bouts of the day.
In this video we first see Enho beat Otsuji and keep hope alive that we will see him become a sekitori (salary ranked wrestler) at least one more time before age and injuries force him out the sport.
Then we see Inami slap down the slick-backed 19 year-old Fukuzaki. After that Yoshii forces out veteran juryo wrestler Shiden. And then veteran juryo wrestler Takakento manages to push down Himukamaru. Lastly, the giant Toshinofuji gets a nice win over Tochimusashi.
The 6’5” Toshinofuji came to sumo on advice from Hakuho after they met in Mongolia. Toshinofuji is descended from a legendary bokh wrestler who once trained Hakuho’s father (one of history’s greatest ever bokh wrestlers).
Ok that’s all. Now, I mean it this time, there will be no juryo and makushita coverage tomorrow… probably.
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