2026 Hatsu Basho: Day 5 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 January Tournament (spoilers).
Hello all! I am trapped inside due to a pretty brutal snow storm right now. That means no field placement. That also means an early morning Sumo Stomp!
Last night we had more thrills and spills in the strawed circle. And, again, the big names put on some of the most fun bouts of the night.
Scroll down to see what happened and read all about.
Bonus gif today is the Big O!
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Asanoyama (4-1) def. Ryuden (1-4) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Mitakeumi (3-2) def. Hatsuyama (0-5) by yorikiri
Oshoumi (4-1) def. Shishi (3-2) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Tomokaze (2-3) def. Asahakuryu (3-2) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Midorifuji (2-3) def. Asakoryu (2-3) by okuridashi (rear push out)*
Nishikifuji (3-2) def. Tobizaru (1-4) by oshidashi
Abi (5-0) def. Chiyoshoma (2-3) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*
Tokihayate (3-2) def. Roga (2-3) by yorikiri*
Kotoshoho (3-2) def. Gonoyama (1-4) by kubinage (headlock throw)
Fujinokawa (4-1) def. Shodai (3-2) by oshidashi*
Oshoma (5-0) def. Kinbozan (1-4) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)
Hiradoumi (3-2) def. Churanoumi (2-3) by yorikiri
Onokatsu (2-3) def. Tamawashi (2-3) by yorikiri
Atamifuji (3-2) def. Ura (0-5) by yorikiri
Yoshinofuji (3-2) def. Ichiyamamoto (1-4) by yorikiri
Takayasu (4-1) def. Wakamotoharu (0-5) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Oho (4-1) def. Kirishima (4-1) by hatakikomi (slap down)*
Aonishiki (4-1) def. Daieisho (1-4) by yorikiri
Hakunofuji (3-2) def. Kotozakura (3-2) by yorikiri
Onosato (4-1) def. Takanosho (0-5) by tsukiotoshi*
Hoshoryu (4-1) def. Wakatakakage (3-2) by yorikiri*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
Too early!
Analysis
Onosato rebounded from yesterday’s loss to Yoshinofuji with a win over Takanosho. It didn’t come easy, though. Takanosho, who was looking for his first win of the year, landed a solid nodowa (throat thrust) off the tachiai. But Onosato did the right thing in pushing Takanosho’s elbow off to the side. Takanosho responded really well, though. He clinched with Onosato to take away Onosato’s thrusts and just as Onosato got comfortable there he pulled himself away and came close on a slap down. Onosato did well to stay up and then turn away from Takanosho’s diving thrust. That sent Onosato into the seats. Takanosho touched down just before that, though.
This counts as a win for Onosato, but it’s not the dominating kind of victory we’re used to seeing from him.
Hoshoryu’s win last night was a lot more on brand for him. He landed a shoulder strike on Wakatakakage off the tachiai and then lead the dance, using a right arm inside position. Other than his loss to Yoshinofuji, Hoshoryu has looked very sharp and strong this month.
Aonishiki did something he’s never done before last night; beat Daieisho. Daieisho had won their two previous meetings. This time, though, the Ukrainian was able to withstand the Battle Pug’s opening thrust. He then used his long arms to get a very deep inside grip with his right hand. He then went moro-zashi (double inside position) to marshal out the big pusher/thruster.
That win kept Aonishiki on pace with the two yokozuna. The win also gave him a little separation from his fellow ozeki Kotozakura.
Kotozakura was pegged back by Hakunofuji last night. Hakunofuji did a great job of denying Kotozakura his preferred right arm inside position off the tachiai and then made sure Kotozakura wasn’t able to reach for any kind of outside position with that right arm. This forced Kotozakura into going for a makki-kae (switch from outside to inside position). As he tried that, Hakunofuji did exactly what you’re supposed to do - ATTACK. With Kotozakura so loose on one half of his body, he was able to surge forwards and get the force out.
Kirishima missed his chance to claim the lead with a 5-0 record after he lost to Oho. Oho was able to keep this bout as a pushing/thrusting affair for longer than Kirishima would have wanted. That frustrated Kirishima and forced him into chasing Oho to get some kind of clinch. Oho responded to this with a nice inashi (side-step) and slap down.
Takayasu could be a dark horse contender this month. He’s 4-1 after another bout that resembled a bar brawl. Takayasu, who is adept at both grapping and pushing/thrusting, has been much more of a pusher/thruster recently (probably because he sees this as a way to extend his longevity). That made him a nightmare match-up for Wakamotoharu who, after failing to get a clinch, was a sitting duck for Papayasu’s huge bear paws.
The Legend of Fujinokawa grows! He’s at his highest ever ranking for this tournament and so far he’s managed to amass a 4-1 record. Lil’ Pitbull overwhelmed sleepy Shodai with his aggression in this bout and scored his first ever win over the former ozeki.
Abi and Oshoma stayed perfect last night. Both of them are really firing on all cylinders this month and bringing a lot of intensity to their oshi-zumo. That’s a sign that Abi’s healthy. And also a sign that Oshoma might be sick of losing with his sometimes overly passive style. Last night Abi thrusted down Chiyoshoma, with authority and Oshoma slung over the struggling Kinbozan.
Tonight we’ve got Onosato versus Wakatakakage. He’s got a 6-2 record against him. If Wakatakakage is on tonight he could make this difficult against the slightly hobbled Onosato.
Hoshoryu has Takanosho. He’s got a commanding 9-3 record against him and has won six of the last seven bouts between them.
Aonishiki gets the grizzly bear tonight. He’s got a 2-1 record against Takayasu. I’m sure Takayasu is going to make him work for everything when they meet this evening.
Juryo jolt!
Fujiseun has the lead at 5-0 after he stepped off to get an angle on Sadanoumi and then bowled him off the ring.
Takerufuji improved his record to 3-2 after shuffling out Shonannoumi. Shonannoumi is favouring one of his knees and is now 0-5.
Meisei’s chances of getting immediately promoted back to makuuchi took a hit after he lost to Hitsohi, in a match where he was a little cheeky. Meisei tried to catch Hitoshi sleeping with an early tachiai, but Hitoshi was able to dodge most of the impact and then get around the veteran.
Kazuma got punked by Tohakuryu last night to add further evidence that the big man from Kise heya is not cut out for sekitori life right now. Kayo moved to 4-1 with a nice side-step on Kitanowaka.
And Asasuiryu got his first win of the tournament, frog-hopping Nishonoryu into the front row.
Makushita Minute!
Here’s your makushita content for the day.
This first clip is Okaryu getting the win over handsome Ryusho (who seems like he won’t repeat his makushita form from November).
Next up, Kurohimeyama gets this experienced Shiden with a slap down.
In the next clip Toshinofuji moves to 3-0 with a crush out win over Inami. Then Himukamaru hits Toshinofuji’s stable mate Mienofuji with a crush out.
Lastly, Tochimusashi proved too big and heavy for the teenager Fukuzaki.
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In early stages of a tournament, sometimes I find it bizarrely interesting to look for the worst records, as well as the best records. There are a surprising number of people who opened this basho at 0-5, particularly Wakamotoharu and Ura. (Sad that Takanosho is there too, but he is more one-dimensional so I figure he gets found out at the higher ranks.)