2026 Nagoya Basho: Day 3 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Nagoya Basho (spoilers).
We are three days into Grand Sumo’s 2026 Nagoya tournament. And we have a mostly intact top division duelling it out. This means there’s a very deep field of contenders this month. At this stage of competition there’s half a dozen rikishi I can imagine lifting the cup. That’s a great feeling, especially compared to earlier injury-hit tournaments.
Scroll down to see what happened on the dohyo last night and learn who is looking in good shape for a serious title run this month.
The bonus gif today is Daieishō, getting pumped.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Makuuchi Results and Analysis
Results
Kazuma (2-1) def. Tokihayate (1-2) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Asakōryū (2-1) def. Ōnokatsu (0-3) by yorikiri
Shishi (3-0) def. Daiseizan (1-2) by yorikiri*
Nishikifuji (2-1) def. Kinbōzan (1-2) by yorikiri*
Takerufuji (2-1) def. Abi (2-1) by oshitoashi (frontal push down)
Wakanoshō (3-0) def. Asahakūryū (1-2) by okuridashi (rear push out)
Chiyoshōma (1-2) def. Mitakeumi (0-3) by yorikiri
Fujiryoga (2-1) def. Asanoyama (1-2) by oshitaoshi*
Rōga (1-2) def. Tobizaru (1-2) by yorikiri
Kotoeihō (2-1) def. Wakamotoharu (1-2) by yorikiri*
Takayasu (3-0) def. Fujiseun (2-1) by hatakikomi after mono-ii (judges’ review) upholds gyoji (referee) decision
Shōdai (1-2) def. Ura (0-3) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)
Ichiyamamoto (2-1) def. Ōshōma (1-2) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Daieishō (2-1) def. Hiradoumi (0-3) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Kotoshōhō (3-0) def. Yoshinofuji (1-2) by oshidashi*
Atamifuji (3-0) def. Ōhō (0-3) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)*
Aonishiki (3-0) def. Hakunofuji (2-1) by yorikiri*
Churanoumi (1-2) def. Kotozakura (2-1) by oshidashi*
Kirishima (3-0) def. Gōnoyama (0-3) by oshidashi
Ōnosato (1-2) def. Takanoshō (0-3) by oshidashi*
Fujinokawa (2-1) def. Hōshōryū (2-1) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
Too soon!
Analysis
There were signs of life from Ōnosato last night. He managed a win over Takanoshō and, boy, did he look relieved after that.
I was surprised to see Ōnosato come out for this match. After his struggles with the smaller Fujinokawa on the previous night, I thought a match-up with one of the biggest guys on the roster would prove a good excuse to go kyūjō (absent).
But Ōnosato suited up and went to work. And he fought a great fight, too.
Takanoshō led with his nodowa (throat thrust) in this bout, something I thought he would do on the previous night (against Hōshōryū). Ōnosato was ready for it, though. He pushed off on Takanoshō’s outstretched elbow to remove the pressure from his throat. That turned Takanoshō and opened up an angle for Ōnosato to put his chest into him. Ōnosato hit him and put his right arm on the inside (his favourite move) for the powerful force out. That’s what he tried against Fujinokawa yesterday. However, unlike Fujinokawa, Takanoshō didn’t have the speed and agility to side-step at the last moment.
Ōnosato heaved a huge sigh of relief after this one. Sumo wrestlers are supposed to be stoic, but Ōnosato can be read like a book at times. On the past two nights he looked absolutely miserable. Hopefully this is a sign that his body can stand up to this tournament and that, perhaps, it was his mind getting in the way of things in those early bouts.
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Icon by HINOKODO (link).
Hōshōryū fell victim to Fujinokawa last night. Fujinokawa’s nickname might have to become Yoko-Hunter now. He scored his career fourth kinboshi with this win and kept his win rate against yokozuna at one-hundred percent. Yesterday I talked about how all his other wins deserved asterisks. That’s not the case with this one.
He earned this gold star the hard way.
I think Hōshōryū let his emotions get the better of him in this bout. I think he was still sore after his first meeting with Fujinokawa. In that bout, in March, Fujinokawa came off the line way too early and was able to get the win. That was a mistake by the gyoji and Hōshōryū has every right to be upset about it.
In this bout, though, I think Hōshōryū wanted payback. To do that he put everything he had into a kachiage (forearm strike) at the tachiai. We saw Kirishima do this to Fujinokawa earlier in the tournament and it seems like a good move to prevent Fujinokawa getting an early jump on you.
Hōshōryū’s kachiage sent Fujinokawa back, but Fujinokawa (who might be anticipating this move being used against him more) quickly got his feet set. Hōshōryū then went for Fujinokawa’s face with thrusts. Fujinokawa was able to slip those shots and push down the reaching Hōshōryū. Fujinokawa went up to one foot and then landed partly on Hōshōryū on the way down.
Hōshōryū then glared at Fujinokawa. He might have thought Fujinokawa landed on him intentionally. Or perhaps he thought this start from Fujinokawa was a tad early, too (it was, but not as bad as the earlier one).
I think Hōshōryū has to blame himself for this bout, though. He was out of control on the kachiage and the follow up thrusts and he looked like his intent was to maim, not to win. If he had a cooler head, I think he would have hit high and then got on the belt (his usual routine) on Fujinokawa. Keeping your hands high against the smaller man was a terrible idea, since Fujinokawa could so easily slip under and around them.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Hōshōryū drawn into feuds and grudges. Takayasu, Gōnoyama and Wakamotoharu have all had noticeable spats with him on the dohyo in recent years. I’m a huge fan of him, but I would love it if he focused just on solving the problem of how to beat someone and not how to show them up/hurt them.
Kirishima won again last night, to stay 3-0. He used some muscle to out-thrust Gōnoyama. He also used his excellent defense, in the form of a hand on the tricep, to prevent Gōnoyama thrusting with any kind of venom.
Through these early days Kirishima seems to be in the same form that earned him the title in March and a runner-up finish in May. I still don’t think he can get the kind of yushō he needs this month to get the yokozuna promotion (because the field is so deep), but I dare to dream. If Kirishima does manage to go 14-1 or 15-0 against this field, then there will be no doubts over whether he deserves the tsuna (rope belt).
Atamifuji is my wrestler of the tournament, thus far. He’s looked incredible. He’s been an immovable object on defence and an unstoppable force on offence.
Last night he hit Ōhō, like a truck, on the tachiai. He then bear-hugged him and, despite having a less than desirable double outside position, was able to move Ōhō around and sling him over. Ōhō is terrible at grappling, but this was still very impressive.
Atamifuji’s demeanour is also impressive. He’s looking very confident right now and like someone who will be a major factor in this tournament.
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Aonishiki won again last night. That brings his count down to seven wins, when it comes to what he needs to secure an immediate promotion back to ōzeki. He looked like his old self in this bout with Hakunofuji. He was able to get his trademark leaned over posture and use that to drive Hakunofuji back, while keeping his belt far out of reach.
This style has been targeted by opponents recently. I don’t want Aonishiki to move away from it entirely. I just want him to show different looks when that one isn’t working. He’s done that, so far, in this tournament. That’s a good sign for this ōzeki push and for his potential to become the first ever European born yokozuna.
Kotoshōhō continued to look at home at sekiwake last night. He used some awesome pushing power to beat Yoshinofuji.
How are my predictions looking, folks? Check out my guesses over everyone’s win-loss totals here (link).
Wakanoshō is 3-0. He continued to rep the All Violence Team when battering Asahakūryū.
Fujiryoga got a big win last night, over former ōzeki Asanoyama. Fujiryoga is the only top division rikishi who hails from Aichi Prefecture (where this tournament is being held). He has the crowd roaring for him at every match and, so far, it seems like that’s helping him more than hurting him.
Tonight we’ve got Ōnosato vs. Gōnoyama. This feels like a good opportunity for Ōnosato to try his hatakikomi out. He’s really good at that move, when he’s feeling well, and Gōnoyama is a prime slap down target.
Hōshōryū has Churanoumi. He’s 5-0 against the man from Okinawa (with all throws).
Fujinokawa will try and take out an ōzeki tomorrow, in the form of Kotozakura (who lost to Churanoumi last night). The undefeated Kirishima gets the winless Takanoshō. Takanoshō has a great record against Kirishima, though. Atamifuji will test his perfect start against Daieishō and Aonishiki has Yoshinofuji. Aonishiki is 1-4 against him.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 3*
Tobi trample counter (rows): 1**
*Abi tried, and failed, a henka in his bout with Takerufuji. I get a lot of second-hand embarrassment watching a guy get up and walk out after doing that.
**Tobizaru lost a long battle with Rōga last night and just about touched the front row after being forced out.
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