2026 Hatsu Basho: Day 8 results and analysis

Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 January Tournament (spoilers).

I’m loving this tournament, folks. Last night gave us more amazing heart-in-mouth moments as this extremely competitive tournament crashes into its second week.

There are so many possibilities that could play out over the next seven days. It’s a far cry from a lot of the tournaments last year, where just one or two rikishi were pulling away from the pack at this stage.

Scroll down to see where we stand, check out the results, watch videos and read my analysis.

Bonus gif today is Midorifuji reminding me of my first go around in college.

“Hey… where’d everybody go?”

SPOILERS BELOW

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

---

---

Results

• Shishi (6-2) def. Asahakuryu (5-3) by oshidashi (frontal push out)*

• Asakoryu (4-4) def. Mitakeumi (3-5) by oshidashi

• Tobizaru (2-6) def. Oshoumi (6-2) by hatakikomi (slap down)

• Ryuden (4-4) def. Tomokaze (3-5) by hatakikomi

• Chiyoshoma (3-5) def. Hatsuyama (0-8) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)

• Nishikifuji (5-3) def. Asanoyama (5-3) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)

• Abi (7-1) def. Tokihayate (4-4) by oshidashi*

• Midorifuji (3-5) def. Roga (3-5) by yorikiri (frontal force out)*

• Shodai (4-4) def. Kotoshoho (5-3) by tsukiotoshi

• Hiradoumi (5-3) def. Gonoyama (2-6) by yorikiri

• Kinbozan (3-5) def. Onokatsu (3-5) by hatakikomi

• Fujinokawa (6-2) def. Tamawashi (2-6) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*

• Atamifuji (6-2) def. Oshoma (5-3) by oshidashi

• Churanoumi (5-3) def. Takanosho (1-7) by yorikiri*

• Wakatakakage (4-4) def. Ura (1-7) by oshidashi*

• Wakamotoharu (2-6) def. Yoshinofuji (4-4) by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*

• Takayasu (6-2) def. Ichiyamamoto (1-7) by hatakikomi

• Oho (3-5) def. Kotozakura (5-3) by oshidashi

• Kirishima (7-1) def. Aonishiki (6-2) by yoritaoshi*

• Daieisho (2-6) def. Hoshoryu (6-2) by hatakikomi*

• Hakunofuji (5-3) def. Onosato (6-2) by oshidashi*

*Must see bouts!

---

If you’re unable to pick up a paid subscription to Sumo Stomp! but would still like to tip me for these posts, please consider buying me a coffee below (via PayPal).

---

Leaderboard

• S1e Kirishima, M12w Abi: 7-1

• Y1e Hoshoryu, Y1w Onosato, O1w Aonishiki, S1w Takayasu, M4w Atamifuji, M7w Fujinokawa, M14e Shishi, M16w Oshoumi: 6-2

Analysis

The race for the yusho is wide open this month! After over a week of battles on the dohyo there are a half a dozen wrestlers with a serious shot at claiming the championship this time next week.

Last night both yokozuna coughed up a kinboshi to fall back to 6-2 records, where they are tried with six other wrestlers — including Aonishiki

Onosato’s loss came to Hakunofuji and this bout wasn’t even close. Hakunofuji hit extremely hard at the tachiai, got his left arm in and then powered Onosato out in no time. As he crossed the straw Onosato grimaced. He’s looked banged up this tournament, but this loss could have caused further damage to that injured shoulder. I’ll be very surprised if we see Onosato again this tournament.

Hakunofuji has now earned a kinboshi in four straight tournaments. Three of those have come against Onosato. He might not compete for a yusho this tournament, but Hakunofuji has already secured a reputation for someone who deserves to be at this end of the banzuke and someone both yokozuna (and any future yokozuna) needs to be wary of.

Hakunofuji’s win over a less than one-hundred-percent Onosato wasn’t terribly surprising. Hoshoryu losing to Daieisho — by a slap down — was shocking! Yesterday I wrote that this might be an easy assignment for Hoshoryu with Daieisho coming into the bout on a 1-6 record and a 4-14 record versus him.

Daieisho was quite brilliant in this match, though. He’s known for ploughing forwards in the tachiai with his thrusts. But in this bout, he rose and positioned his hands for grappling, not slapping. Hoshoryu was ready for thrusts and was aiming his arms low to get a grip on the belt. He expected Daieisho to come forwards and trap himself inside his grip. When Daieisho backed up, with hands on Hoshoryu’s shoulders, Hoshoryu’s momentum was carrying him forwards, making it easy for Daieisho to pull him down as he stepped off to the side.

Daieisho is now 2-6 on the tournament. That’s Daieisho’s fifth career kinboshi, following wins over Kakuryu, Terunofuji and Hakuho. The loss doesn’t rule Hoshoryu out of anything though, since this tournament is so wide open.

---

---

Aonishiki is tied with the yokozuna, too, after he lost to Kirishima. Kirishima is now leading this tournament, along with Abi, on a 7-1 record. Last night he looked like he did when he was named Kiribayama (and he won two yusho and earned an ozeki promotion).

Against Aonishiki, someone he had an 0-3 record against, he combined his brute strength with his elite defense to block Aonishiki off from his belt. The ottsuke (forearm blocking) he used here on Aonishiki’s left arm was perfect. By blocking Aonishiki there, Kirishima was able to prevent Aonishiki from adopting his favourite leaned over stance. With Aonishiki standing upright, Kirishima had space to step to him and plant his head on his chest (which is what Aonishiki usually does to his opponents). Kirishima then performed a masterful transition from ottsuke to moro-zashi (double inside position). Aonishiki thrashed to get free, but his goose was cooked. Kirishima was then able to use his strength to keep Aonishiki in front of him and put him down on the straw.

Man, it feels good to write about an elite Kirishima performance again.

Abi’s win over Tokihayate last night was less technical. What it lacked in style, though, it made up for in violence. In this match Abi got his hand on Tokihayate’s throat and he wouldn’t let go. He drove the smaller man out quickly for another fast and brutal win this month.

We usually see low maegashira ranked guys get off to hot starts in the first week and then fall away. We’ve rarely seen guys at that rank with Abi’s pedigree, though. I have a feeling that he’s going to be a menace once he gets unleashed on some of the big names next week.

Asanoyama likely won’t be competing for a title this month. The former ozeki had started well this tournament (and he was the only one yet who has beaten Abi). However, he went down very awkwardly last night in a loss to Nishikifuji. I cringed as I saw him crumble over on that recently repaired knee. It looked as though Asanoyama bailed on the fight before something catastrophic happened. I hope he managed to avoid some damage since another knee injury could end his career.

Tonight there is a tough match-up for Hoshoryu. He has Atamifuji. He’s 4-5 against him.

Onosato, if he suits up, will have Wakamotoharu. He’s 8-2 against him. Aonishiki has Wakatakakage, who he is 2-2 against.

Kirishima has a great chance to stay in the lead tonight. He’s got Ura, who is really struggling this month.

Juryo jolt!

We have a four-way tie at the top of the juryo leader board with Sadanoumi, Kayo and Fujiseun vying for the yusho and a promotion back to makuuchi. Wakanosho completes that quartet. He’s ranked too low to get a promotion, though, even if he does take the title.

Sadanoumi got his sixth win after a battle with fellow former makuuchi mainstay Meisei. Meisei was playing for a slap down in this bout, but Sadanoumi wouldn’t give him any space to pull it off. Meisei is looking less and less likely to escape juryo at his first time of asking.

Fujiseun lost to to Takerufuji last night. Fujiseun withstood a hard blitz from Takerufuji, but was then out-muscled by the Tanimal. Takerufuji threw his hands up after this bout, as if showing some frustration about how this basho has gone for him.

Kayo lost to Hidenoumi last night after getting his side-step all wrong. Wakanosho out worked the bigger Hakuyozan.

Asasuiryu upset Fujiyroga last night, slamming into him hard at the tachiai and sticking to him like glue with his moro-zashi grip. Asasuiryu was strong enough to not get rolled and to put the bigger man over the line.

Makushita Minute!

Here’s your top five makushita matches of the night.

The first clip here is the handsome young man Ryusho beating Kazuto with a strong uwatenage. Then we see Okaryu throw down Hanaoka. Next former high school star Otsuji shrugs out veteran Shimanoumi to go 3-1 and keep him in the race for a promotion back to juryo. Next up Shimazuumi gets a big win over Yoshii to stay in that race alongside Otsuji. Lastly, a very banged up Takakento pushes out Kurohimeyama.

It’s not in this video, but you simply must be made aware that Enho is now 4-0! He pushed down Haruyama last night and looks very likely to return to sekitori status in March.

---

Want a free way to support Sumo Stomp! Help me get to 1,000 subscribers on YouTube (so then I can monetize the thing).