2026 Nagoya Basho: Day 14 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Nagoya Basho (spoilers).
Fourteen days down. One day left.
What a journey it has been to get to this point. Last night we had more great matches and also more clarity, when it comes to our title picture. Scroll down to see where we stand now, with just one day to play.
The bonus gif today is Wakanosho, someone I wish was still competing.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Makuuchi Results and Analysis
Results
Chiyoshoma (5-9) def. Daiseizan (6-8) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Kazuma (4-10) def. Tobizaru (5-9) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Onokatsu (4-10) def. Wakamotoharu (6-8) by oshidashi
Roga (8-6) def. Asakoryu (8-6) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Kotoeiho (10-4) def. Asanoyama (9-5) by yorikiri*
Fujiseun (7-7) def. Abi (6-8) by kirikaeshi (twisting backward knee trip)
Ura (5-9) def. Mitakeumi (2-12) by yorikiri
Oshoma (6-8) def. Kinbozan (8-6) by kotenage (armlock throw)
Hiradoumi (4-10) def. Ichiyamamoto (5-9) by oshidashi
Asahaukryu (6-8) def. Gonoyama (6-8) by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*
Hakunofuji (8-6) def. Churanoumi (6-8) by oshidashi
Fujinokawa (7-7) def. Nishikifuji (9-5) by yorikiri
Fujoryoga (10-4) def. Takanosho (6-8) by hatakikomi (slap down) after mono-ii (judges’ review) overturns gyoji (referee) decision
Takayasu (10-4) def. Yoshinofuji (6-8) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)*
Oho (1-13) def. Shodai (4-10) by yorikiri
Atamifuji (11-3) def. Shishi (10-4) by yorikiri*
Aonishiki (12-2) def. Takerufuji (10-4) by yoritoashi
Daieisho (9-5) def. Kotoshoho (6-8) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)*
Kirishima (11-3) def. Hoshoryu (7-7) by fusen (default)
Onosato (8-6) def. Kotozakura (8-6) by yorikiri
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
S2w Aonishiki: 12-2
O1e Kirishima, S1e Atamifuji: 11-3
Analysis
Aonishiki remains in the driving seat of this basho, after he took out Takerufuji last night.
Takerufuji got in hard and tight off the tachiai, latching his left arm on the inside and grabbing the belt with his outside right hand. That’s game over for most opponents. But the often unshakable Aonishiki widened his stance and then circled as Takerufuji pushed into him. This meant he went to the side instead of backwards and out. As he moved, Aonishiki secured his own grips. Once he got his iron grip on the outside of Takerufuji’s belt he was able to turn him to the straw and then use his right shoulder to knock him back over the line.
During the victory, Aonishiki hopped from the ring and looked to land awkwardly. He limped back onto the dohyo, but he didn’t look especially hurt. He’s managed to be elite over the last fourteen days despite hobbling a little between bouts.
This win knocked Takerufuji down to a 10-4 record, eliminating him from the yusho (since Aonishiki’s worst possible record now is 13-2).
Aonishiki now struts into senshuraku (final day of performance) knowing that a win secures his third career top division championship. A loss puts him in a play-off.
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Aonishiki’s possible play-off opponents are Atamifuji and Kirishima.
Atamifuji won that right by beating Shishi, thus eliminating ‘The Lion’ from the yusho. So that means there will be no All-Ukrainian play-off for the cup.
Atamifuji steamrolled Shishi last night.
This is yet another example of Atamifuji shedding the nerves that used to plague him during his early career. During his first few cracks at a yusho, he fell apart in crunch time losing to Takakeisho and Kirishima (in bouts where he took forever to get ready and could not stand to even look at his opponents). Those days appear long gone now, though.
I think anyone who beats Atamifuji tomorrow will do so because they fought a better fight, not because Atamifuji was feeling any kind of jitters.
Hats off to Shishi for making it this far. I don’t know if we’ll ever see him make a run like this again. But I’m very thankful to him for giving us a very fun storyline to watch over the last two weeks.
Kirishima’s eleventh ‘win’ last night was by default. Hoshoryu has declared himself absent from the tournament, citing the worsening of the hamstring injury he suffered in the last tournament.
Now, hamstring injuries are notorious for re-occurring. However, this feels a little like gamesmanship from Hoshoryu. He has a complicated relationship with Kirishima. They were boys together at the same judo club in Mongolia and have had a friendly rivalry throughout their sumo careers. I have a feeling that Hoshoryu would rather sit out and gift Kirishima a win, than have his old rival take it from him on route to a possible yusho.
Onosato is sticking around, it seems. He suited up last night and got a win over Kotozakura. He’s now one win away from a kachi-koshi (winning record). That would be his first winning record since January. Kotozakura got his winning record on the previous night, so he was just going through the motions in this bout.
Daieisho pounded Kotoshoho, last night, making his back bend like Neo’s in The Matrix. That loss gave Kotoshoho his make-koshi (losing record) and will cause him to lose his sekiwake ranking in September. The win gives Daieisho a shot of double-digit victories this month. That probably lands him back in the san’yaku for September.
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Yoshinofuji did his best to try and get a win over Takayasu, but he just couldn’t manage it. He got the ornery vet to the straw, but couldn’t finish the job. Takayasu then rumbled forwards and slapped him down, to give himself a 5-0 record against over the youngster.
That loss gave Yoshinofuji a make-koshi. And that will cost him his komusubi rank.
How are my predictions looking, folks? Check out my guesses over everyone’s win-loss totals here (link).
Kotoeiho was eliminated from the yusho on the previous night, but that didn’t stop him going out there and beating Asanoyama.
This was another bout where Kotoeiho showed off his sneaky power; getting inside and under Asanoyama and then rushing out the much bigger man. That was win number ten for Kotoeiho. He’ll be in the joi in September (at least).
At the other end of the division, Daiseizan got his make-koshi after getting thrown down by Chiyoshoma. He will join Onokatsu, Kazuma and Mitakeumi in going down to juryo in September.
Tonight we’ve got Aonishiki vs. Atamifuji. If Aonishiki wins; the cup is his. If he loses; he’s going to have to see Atamifuji again in a play-off.
That play-off will include Kirishima, if he beats Kotozakura.
Aonishiki has a 3-1 record over Atamifuji. Atamifuji did smash him in March, though. In addition to those four bouts, they also did have a play-off against each other in January. Aonishiki won that bout, with a headlock throw.
Kirishima has a 16-9 record over Kotozakura. Kotozakura is already checked out of this tournament, though, so I’m not expecting him to give his best effort against his fellow ozeki.
We have one Darwin Match tomorrow, with Fujinokawa vs. Fujiseun. If Fujinokawa wins that, he’ll likely be a komusubi (for the first time) in September.
Onosato will hope to secure his winning record tonight against Kotoshoho.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 16
Tobi trample counter (rows): 6*
*Tobizaru was pushed out by the giant Kazuma last night.
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