2026 Nagoya Basho: Day 12 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Nagoya Basho (spoilers).
Hey everyone!
We have just three days left of the July tournament and I think we are on track for a heck of a finale with this one.
Last night delivered more wild matches (we’ve really been spoiled this month) and plenty to talk about.
Let’s get into it!
The bonus gif today is this Aonishiki fan!
SPOILERS BELOW
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Makuuchi Results and Analysis
Results
Asahakuryu (5-7) def. Kazuma (3-9) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Asakoryu (7-5) def. Abi (5-7) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Daiseizan (6-6) def. Mitakeumi (1-11) by yorikiri
Shishi (10-2) def. Asanoyama (8-4) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Fujiryoga (8-4) def. Nishikifuji (8-4) by tsukiotoshi
Tobizaru (4-8) def. Onokatsu (2-10) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Takerufuji (10-2) def. Takayasu (9-3) by uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Kinbozan (7-5) def. Shodai (4-8) by yorikiri
Roga (6-6) def. Ura (4-8) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)*
Chiyoshoma (4-8) def. Oshoma (5-7) by shitatenage
Daieisho (7-5) def. Fujiseun (6-6) by hatakikomi
Wakamotoharu (6-6) def. Ichiyamamoto (5-7) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Fujinokawa (6-6) def. Gonoyama (5-7) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
Takanosho (6-6) def. Hakunofuji (7-5) by oshidashi*
Hiradoumi (2-10) def. Yoshinofuji (7-5) by okuridashi (rear push out)
Churanoumi (5-7) def. Oho (1-11) by oshidashi
Atamifuji (9-3) def. Kotoeiho (9-3) by yorikiri after torinaoshi (rematch)*
Kotoshoho (5-7) def. Aonishiki (10-2) by oshidashi*
Kotozakura (7-5) def. Hoshoryu (7-5) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)*
Kirishima (10-2) def. Onosato (6-6) by tottari (armbar throw)*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
O1e Kirishima, S2w Aonishiki, M12w Takerfuji, M14w Shishi: 10-2
S1e Atamifuji, M7e Kotoeiho, M7w Takayasu: 9-3
Analysis
Things have gotten very interesting in Nagoya!
Aonishiki lost last night to keep the door open for about half a dozen guys who are desperately trying to get their hands on the cup this weekend. His loss to Kotoshoho put him at 10-2, which tied him with four others.
The loss to Kotoshoho was a worst case scenario for the Blue Whirlwind. He took the L, had rivals win on the night, and he landed in a way that might have effected that injured ankle.
Aonishiki came in low for this bout, but Kotoshoho stuck him in the chest with his moroto-tsuki (double handed thrust). That pushed Aonishiki back and gave Kotoshoho lots of space and time to pick his next shots. The old Kotoshoho would have probably ran forwards firing hands at Aonishiki (only to be side-stepped and slapped down). But this version of Kotoshoho, someone who has seemingly learned to control a lot of his chaos, decided to patiently and precisely attack Aonishiki’s arms and then go for a slap down, as the Ukrainian came forwards. He didn’t knock Aonishiki down, but his footwork was good enough to get him around his opponent. Once he accomplished that, he sent Aonishiki off the ring with another big push.
That was an impressive win for Kotoshoho. I think we sometimes forget just how big and strong he is. When he’s not chasing around and, instead, pushing from a solid footing, he can really launch people.
This is Kotoshoho’s third win in a row over Aonishiki. It’s also nearly the year anniversary of when he beat Aonishiki to earn his surprise yusho.
Aonishiki limped away from this bout. If that landing re-injured Aonishiki’s ankle, then his front-runner status in this tournament might have just gone up in flames.
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Icon by HINOKODO (link).
Aonishiki’s loss opened the door for Kirishima. All he had to do was beat Onosato. That’s something he had failed to do in ten previous meetings. However, on this night, when it mattered most, he finally managed that task.
Kirishima went into this bout with a clear gameplan — attack the right arm of Onosato. That’s the weapon Onosato uses to get inside on opponents and then drive them backwards. Kirishima knows this well, having been shotput by Onosato’s right hand on more than one occasion.
Kirishima took that right arm away, but shifting to his left in the tachiai and then locking that right arm for an immediate tottari attempt. And it worked, flawlessly.
It seems pretty obvious that this was Kirishima’s plan for the bout. Before this bout started, Kirishima false started. In that false start, you can see him shift to the left and get ready to snatch the arm. It’s only easy to see that in retrospect, so I don’t blame Onosato for not decoding what Kirishima was up to.
That win was huge for Kirishima. And you could see what it meant to him. He gave almost a fist pump after seeing Onosato careen into the clay. A win like this is a massive morale boost for the ozeki and it injects a lot of vigour into both his yusho chase and that possible yokozuna promotion (a clean yusho with wins over both yokozuna might put him over the edge).
Takerufuji is also tied with Aonishiki. He used the dark arts to get there, though. Check out his henka on Takayasu below.
I have a feeling Takerufuji might not have done this had Takayasu not just beaten his stablemate Hakunofuji. Takayasu beat Hakunofuji with the help of some mind games on the previous night. The win that long staredown bought him on day ten might have ended up costing him yet another chance at a yusho.
There might be some payback coming Takerufuji’s way, though.
The JSA have again neglected to post a top match from the previous night. This time they are missing Asanoyama vs. Shishi. Here’s a poor quality version of that very exciting bout.
As you can somewhat see, Shishi again fought like the lion he is named for. He took on Asanoyama with belt-grappling, something Asanoyama is better at usually. But Shishi summoned up a lot of grit and guts in this match and was able to turn Asanoyama onto his back to secure his tenth win.
With his wins over Asanoyama and Kotoeiho, Shishi has transcended from a side-show in this tournament to someone who deserves respect as a potential title winner.
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Kotoeiho lost last night and thus did not take immediate advantage of his brother’s ability to knock Aonishiki down a peg. He had a gruelling evening with Atamifuji.
Kotoeiho, like Shishi, has fought with a lot of character and resolve in this tournament. He’s also proved that his title chase in May was no fluke and that he has a higher ceiling than certainly I predicted for him.
He fought really well against Atamifuji and almost pushed him out after a long, hard grappling battle. He was credited with a win initially, but a mono-ii determined that this bout was too close to call. In the rematch, Atamifuji had an easy time of forcing out Kotoeiho (who was exhausted after his long battle with the 420 lber).
That win tied Atamifuji and Kotoeiho on 9-3 records (along with Takayasu). Those three are underdogs over the next three days, but it’s very possible that they fight themselves back into contention.
How are my predictions looking, folks? Check out my guesses over everyone’s win-loss totals here (link).
Hoshoryu’s tournament went from disappointing to disastrous last night, when he lost to the declining Kotozakura. This was another rash performance from the yokozuna, which saw him run straight at Kotozakura with little respect for the big man’s nimble feet.
Hoshoryu winced, from embarrassment, after that one. Kotozakura gave a big puff that suggested he wants people to remember that 14-1 yusho he got (where he beat Hoshoryu on the final day). That was a huge win for the kadoban ozeki. He’s just one win away from saving his rank now.
Tonight has some epic matches on tap.
Kirishima vs. Aonishiki is the most important of those, since it guarantees that one of them will move to an 11-2 record. Kirishima has struggled against Aonishiki in the past. He’s only 1-4 against him. However, after beating Onosato he’ll come into this bout with a lot of confidence. And Aonishiki might still be feeling the effect of that jump from the dohyo.
Takerufuji will try and get his eleventh win when he meets Onosato. He’s 1-3 against him. Takerufuji’s sole victory was in their first ever meeting, when Takerufuji won his improbable yusho. If he beats him tonight, maybe that’s a sign that he’ll get his hands on the cup on Sunday.
He needs to be careful, though. His actions against Takayasu might have consequences here. Takayasu is a mentor and dear friend to Onosato. After Takerufuji possibly ruined Takayasu’s chance for the title, with a henka, maybe Onosato will return that favour? That would certainly spare the yokozuna some impact on that injured shoulder.
Shishi’s road to the yusho arrives at Kotozakura tonight. He’s never faced him before. Shishi has really shown up in these crunch battles. However, this might be Kotozakura’s best chance at getting his eighth win (since he likely has Onosato and Kirishima waiting for him).
Kotoeiho will need to beat Yoshinofuji to keep himself in the title hunt. He’s 0-3 against him. Takayasu has Kotoshoho. He’s 5-7 against him.
Hoshoryu has Atamifuji, who he is 5-6 against.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 16*
Tobi trample counter (rows): 4
*It was a good day for the henka counter yesterday. Asakoryu scored one on Abi (live by the sword, die by the sword, ya know?). Mitakeumi tried and failed against Daieseizan. And, of course, Takerufuji side-stepped Takayasu.
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