2026 Nagoya Basho: Day 7 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Nagoya Basho (spoilers).
Hello all,
We are creeping up to the half-way point of this basho and there are still lots of wrestlers who have a very good shot at lifting the Emperor’s Cup next Sunday. This week has been a great prelude for what I think will be a very interesting second week of the tournament. All those contenders need to start getting whittled down and that process should happen soon.
Scroll down to see where we are at after seven days of action at the Nagoya tournament. I’ve got results, videos and analysis waiting for you.
And if you’re a paid subscriber, there’s some jūryō and makushita content down there, too!
The bonus gif today is Hōshōryū doing his “yeah, that was easy” face.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Makuuchi Results and Analysis
Results
Asakōryū (3-4) def. Tomokaze (2-5) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Takerufuji (6-1) def. Ōnokatsu (1-6) by oshidashi
Nishikifuji (6-1) def. Shishi (6-1) by okuridashi (rear push out)*
Abi (4-3) def. Kazuma (2-5) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)*
Daiseizan (3-4) def. Asahakūryū (2-5) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Kinbōzan (5-2) def. Wakanoshō (5-2) by fusen (default)
Asanoyama (5-2) def. Mitakeumi (0-7) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Fujiryoga (5-2) def. Chiyōshoma (2-5) by oshidashi after torinaoshi (rematch)*
Wakamotoharu (3-4) def. Tobizaru (2-5) by oshidashi*
Kotoeihō (6-1) def. Rōga (2-5) by yorikiri*
Takayasu (6-1) def. Shōdai (3-4) by oshidashi
Fujiseun (4-3) def. Ura (1-6) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)
Ōshōma (2-5) def. Daieishō (5-2) by oshidashi
Ichiyamamoto (4-3) def. Churanoumi (1-6) by oshitoashi (frontal push down)
Gōnoyama (3-4) def. Ohō (1-6) by yorikiri
Takanoshō (3-4) def. Yoshinofuji (3-4) by abisetaoshi (backward force down)
Aonishiki (6-1) def. Fujinokawa (3-4) by yorikiri*
Atamifuji (5-2) def. Kotozakura (3-4) by yorikiri
Kirishima (6-1) def. Kotoshōhō (3-4) by uwatenage*
Ōnosato (4-3) def. Hakunofuji (5-2) by yorikiri*
Hōshōryū (5-2) def. Hiradoumi (1-6) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
O1e Kirishima, S2w Aonishiki, M7e Kotoeihō, M7w Takayasu, M13e Nishikifuji, M13w Takerufuji, M14w Shishi: 6-1
Y1e Hōshōryū, S1e Atamifuji, M3w Hakunofuji, M4w Daieishō, four others: 5-2
Analysis
Both yokozuna won last night, for the second time in this tournament. And both looked very yokozuna-like in the process.
Ōnosato and Hakunofuji met with a crash in their bout last night. Ōnosato looked like a brick wall, though. That’s impressive given how strong Hakunofuji is in the tachiai. After getting his feet set, Ōnosato powered Hakunofuji across and out of the ring. He did all that without his favourite right arm inside position, too. He had to use an inside left position, utilizing that damaged shoulder to generate power.
Ōnosato has now won three matches in a row for the first time since January. It feels great to write that. I can only imagine how great it must feel for him to do that.
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Icon by HINOKODO (link).
Hōshōryū barely broke a sweat in his day seven victory. He was served up Hiradoumi, someone he dominates on the dohyō. Hiradoumi often acts as Hōshōryū’s sword-bearer during yokozuna duties, so they know each other well and are perhaps quite fond of each other, too. They also cross-train a lot due to being in the same stable network.
I don’t think Hiradoumi rolls over for his senpai. But I do think Hōshōryū holds a massive mental edge over a young man he regularly wallops in training.
This quick throw victory improved Hōshōryū’s record to 12-1 over Hiradoumi. And it gave him a 5-2 record at this basho.
Kirishima got another classy win last night. He was step ahead of Kotoshōhō for the entire bout and was able to usher the All Violence Team captain into a very graceful over arm throw finish.
Kirishima’s sumo has looked effortless at times this year. That does him a disservice, though. He is working extremely hard on defense and that is what’s opening up these smooth finishes for him.
He’s on 6-1 now, sharing the lead with a bunch of guys.
That includes both Shishi and Nishikifuji. Those two fought last night, with Nishikifuji getting a big push out after forcing Shishi off balance. Shishi’s title chances always seemed like they would peter out the longer this tournament went on. His great start has overshadowed Nishikifuji’s form, though. Nishikifuji being in this position is equally as shocking as Shishi being here. Like with Shishi, though, I doubt Nishikifuji can maintain this form through the second week.
I wrote similar things about Kotoeihō in the last tournament. He managed to keep winning right up until the last handful of days, though. He’s off to another great start in this tournament, too.
I’m very impressed with his development this year. Last night he out-muscled Rōga for a quick and forceful yorikiri win. I criticized Kotoeihō for his lack of strength in the clinch in his first makuuchi tournament, but he’s gotten so much better since then. He’s 6-1 now and I feel far less inclined to pour cold water on his title chances this month.
Aonishiki is a title threat whenever he’s healthy. He’s 6-1, too. He caught a flying Fujinokawa and then easily carried him out. Aonishiki is likely most concerned with getting ten wins so he can earn back his ōzeki rank, but a yushō would sure be nice, too.
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Kotozakura is in serious risk of losing his rank this month. The kadoban ōzeki is 3-4 now, after going out with a whimper against Atamifuji.
Wakanoshō didn’t come out for his bout tonight. He went down awkwardly against Fujiryoga on the previous night. It appears he suffered a knee injury during that bout. He’s out for the rest of this tournament and might be out for a long time after that.
That’s terrible news. Wakanoshō was 5-0 when he went down. And I think he looked far more convincing as a surprise title challenger than Shishi did.
How are my predictions looking, folks? Check out my guesses over everyone’s win-loss totals here (link).
Tonight brings us some friendly, on paper, match-ups for our yokozuna.
Ōnosato has Ōhō, someone he’s beaten seven times in ten bouts. Hōshōryū has Daieisho, who he is 14-6 against.
If things go to plan, then both yokozuna might make up some ground on the field.
Kirishima has a tough match tonight, against Atamifuji. He’s 3-3 against him. Though, he won an epic bout against him in May.
Aonishiki has Takanoshō. He’s 3-1 against him, but Takanoshō won the last meeting.
Takayasu, who has been far too good for the competition he’s met at his low ranking in this basho, has Ura. Ura is just 1-6 in this tournament.
Kotoeihō has Ichiyamamoto, for the first time in his career. Shishi meets Kinbōzan and Nishikifuji has the rookie Kazuma.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 10
Tobi trample counter (rows): 4
*Wakamotoharu pushed Tobizaru into the seats today, he hit two rows. That doubles his tournament total!
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