2026 Nagoya Basho: Day 11 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Nagoya Basho (spoilers).
Hey all,
We’ve got just four days left to play in Nagoya. And we’ve still got a decent number of wrestlers who could still win this thing. It’s really fun to have such a competitive tournament, even if our yokozuna aren’t really part of the conversation.
We’ve also had some especially thrilling matches during this tournament (including almost every bout Takayasu has been involved in). Last night there was an epic tilt between our two surprise contenders Kotoeiho and Shishi.
Scroll down to see that, along with full results, much more videos and my analysis.
Our bonus gif today is a man who has made a triumphant comeback this month.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Makuuchi Results and Analysis
Results
Daiseizan (5-6) def. Abi (5-6) by okuridashi (rear push out)
Asakoryu (6-5) def. Chiyoshoma (3-8) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Takerufuji (9-2) def. Asanoyama (8-3) by yorikiri (frontal force out)*
Fujiryoga (7-4) def. Kazuma (3-8) by oshitaoshi
Roga (5-6) def. Onokatsu (2-9) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw)
Wakamotoharu (5-6) def. Kinbozan (6-5) by kotenage (armlock throw)
Shishi (9-2) def. Kotoeiho (9-2) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)*
Fujiseun (6-5) def. Mitakeumi (1-10) by yorikiri
Asahakuryu (4-7) def. Shodai (4-7) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Oshoma (5-6) def. Tobizaru (3-8) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Nishikifuji (8-3) def. Daieisho (6-5) by hatakikomi
Takayasu (9-2) def. Hakunofuji (7-4) by yorikiri*
Fujinokawa (5-6) def. Hiradoumi (1-10) by sukuinage*
Takanosho (5-6) def. Oho (1-10) by yorikiri
Churanoumi (4-7) def. Yoshinofuji (5-6) by oshidashi*
Aonishiki (10-1) def. Gonoyama (5-6) by yorikiri
Kotozakura (6-5) def. Ura (4-7) by oshitaoshi
Kirishima (9-2) def. Ichiyamamoto (5-6) by oshidashi
Atamifuji (8-3) def. Onosato (6-5) by oshidashi*
Hoshoryu (7-4) def. Kotoshoho (4-7) by uwatenage (over arm throw)*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
S2w Aonishiki: 10-1
O1e Kirishima, M7e Kotoeiho, M7w Takayasu, M12w Takerufuji, M14w Shishi: 9-2
Analysis
Aonishiki beat Gonoyama last night to take sole possession of the lead in this tournament, with a 10-1 record. That tenth win also guarantees that he will return to the rank of ozeki for the September tournament. So, pretty good day for Danny Sumo.
The win itself last night wasn’t too difficult for the Blue Whirlwind. He accepted Gonoyama’s big opening push in exchange for a firm grip on the belt. He then expertly ushered Gonoyama around and put him out over the straw. It did look like he got a little bit of Gonoyama’s top knot during that exchange. I’m surprised there wasn’t a mono-ii (judges’ review) called to take a closer look at that.
Either way, Aonishiki is our leader and that ankle appears to be holding up just fine. Now, it’s going to take some effort to unseat him as the leader and stop him snatching his third yusho.
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Icon by HINOKODO (link).
There’s an interesting group chasing Aonishiki. The most shocking member of that cohort is his compatriot, Shishi.
Shishi looked like he had dropped off on the previous night, losing to Asahakuryu without much effort. But he brought his A-game last night, against Kotoeiho (who was fighting to try and get a 10-1 record himself).
These two went back and forth in what might be one of the matches of the year so far.
I was really impressed by Shishi in this bout. Kotoeiho’s yotsu-zumo (belt grappling) has come on leaps and bounds over the last two tournaments. Shishi’s has still looked quite raw. His oshi-zumo (pushing/thrusting) had been the standout facet of his sumo in this tournament.
But he used his size, and some technique, well last night to prevent Kotoeiho getting under him and completing on multiple attempts to turn him and put him out of bounds. Shishi also showed good cardio in being the first one to attack after a pause in the centre of the ring.
This is probably the best performance Shishi has ever put on in a single bout and I’m sorry for thinking he was just going to coast now that his kachi-koshi (winning record) was in the books.
This result tied Shishi with Kotoeiho at 9-2. There’s a few others on that mark too, right now.
Asanoyama and Takerufuji met last night, for the first time since March, 2024. Asanoyama won that bout, but it didn’t prevent Takerufuji going on to win the tournament (in his debut makuuchi appearance — a feat that hadn’t been done in 90 years).
Takerufuji hurt his ankle in that bout. He would hobble through the rest of the tournament, but then miss the entire next tournament. That injury interrupted Takerufuji’s meteoric rise and set him up for two years of purgatory as he hopped between juryo and makuuchi.
I doubt he thinks Asanoyama was responsible for the injury and all that fallout, but he might still have this man circled as an opponent he really wants to beat.
Takerufuji fought a perfect bout against Asanoyama last night. He hit hard on the tachiai and then was very fast in pulling Asanoyama around, before meeting him chest-to-chest for the force out.
When he’s healthy and focused, few can match Takerufuji’s precision power combined with his fleet of foot. Hopefully we’re going to see that sustained for the next little while (at least). If he manages to keep it up for the next four days then he might be someone who can upset Aonishiki down the stretch.
Takayasu remains a threat to everyone else hoping to lift a trophy on Sunday. He beat Hakunofuji after a bit of gamesmanship. Takayasu gave Hakunofuji a long stare while in his squat, refusing to move. We’ve seen him do this before, with Hoshoryu of all people. Hakunofuji grew tired of this and sat up so they could start over.
When the bout finally got underway, Takayasu stood up to Hakunofuji’s charge and got his left arm on the inside. He kept Hakunofuji’s inside arm high to prevent him getting a matching inside grip. He then used his inside grip to move Hakunofuji across the ring and out.
I wonder if Takayasu’s long stare was an attempt to unsettle Hakunofuji. On the previous night we saw Kirishima force Hakunofuji to get out of his squat and reset, before beating without much trouble. Maybe Takayasu wanted to repeat that?
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Kirishima remains in the hunt for his fourth yusho (and a very slight chance of a yokozuna promotion). He beat Ichiyamamoto rather easily last night. He opened with a firm slap to the left cheek and then got his hands on his chest for a strong push out.
A lot of Kirishima’s sumo has looked effortless this month. He’s the best of the wrestlers chasing Aonishiki right now, but he has some tough matches waiting for him over the coming days (more on that later).
How are my predictions looking, folks? Check out my guesses over everyone’s win-loss totals here (link).
Last night featured yokozuna vs. sekiwake bouts. And the yokozuna went 1-1.
Onosato was blown away by Atamifuji. These two met with a thud, but it was Onosato who bounced back. Atamifuji, the heaviest man in the division, is the only person capable of doing that. After he stepped back, Onosato went for a lazy hatakikomi, but Atamifuji was already up in his grill completing his push out.
Onosato is now 6-5 and could be on course for one of the worst finishes of his pro career. His previous worst is 9-6, which he’s had happen to him only twice in the thirteen top division tournaments he has completed.
Hoshoryu beat Kotoshoho. Hoshoryu had a good plan here (unlike last night when he lost to Aonishiki).
He secured a migi-yotsu (right arm inside position) immediately off the tachiai, to force Kotoshoho into a grappling match (something Hoshoryu has a strong advantage in). Kotoshoho showed some good defence, though. He pulled against Hoshoryu’s belt and kept his feet moving to stay out of Hoshoryu’s throwing wheelhouse. He even managed to break Hoshoryu’s inside grip and then go for a desperate throw of his own. Hoshoryu is leagues above Kotoshoho when it comes to throws, though. He latched his other hand onto Kotoshoho’s belt and managed to turn him past and underneath him as they both hit the dirt.
Hoshoryu is now 7-4. He has mathematical chance of winning the yusho on Sunday. But it’s extremely unlikely that will happen.
Tonight’s matches are designed to bring some clarity to the yusho race with some of the more serious contenders set to face-off.
Takaysu and Takerufuji have been paired off. The winner will have a 10-2 record and the loser will have a 9-3 record. If Aonishiki wins, he’ll go to 11-1 and any wrestler on 9-3 will have a very steep mountain to climb in order to catch him. Takayasu and Takerufuji have only met once before. Takayasu won that bout, back in May, 2025.
Shishi has Asanoyama. Asanoyama is 3-0 in that match-up. But this version of Shishi might be a totally different animal from in the previous meetings. If Shishi wins, he’ll be 10-2.
Kotoeiho has a very tough task tonight in the form of Atamifuji. They’ve never met. Kotoeiho, like Shishi and all the others currently on a 9-2 record, can’t really afford to lose this one (especially if Aonishiki wins).
Kirishima has the toughest task, though. He has Onosato. Kirishima has an embarrassing 0-10 record against the 75th yokozuna. With Onosato in inconsistent form, and likely still feeling some effects of his shoulder injury, this might be Kirishima’s best chance to beat him.
Aonishiki has Kotoshoho tonight. If he wins that and goes to 11-1, he’s going to be very hard to stop and his field of legitimate threats will shrink considerably. Kotoshoho hasn’t been great in this tournament, but he might not be an easy bout for Aonishiki. Kotoshoho is 2-1 against the soon to be new ozeki. The last time they met here in Nagoya, Kotoshoho thrashed Aonishiki to win his first yusho (and prevent a play-off with Aonishiki).
Aonishiki must be desperate to even the score for that one. Kotoshoho will have plenty of motivation, too. He’ll want to dent Aonishiki’s record and give his little brother Kotoeiho a chance to catch up!
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 13*
Tobi trample counter (rows): 4
*Nishikifuji added to our total last night with a henka on Daieisho.
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