2026 Nagoya Basho: Day 8 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Nagoya Basho (spoilers).
Another late one tonight, folks. Sorry about that.
I was out at a games day today and then, after I came back, Mini Sumo Stomp! was a tough cookie to get to bed.
I’m here now, though, and there is a fascinating basho to talk about. The Nagoya tournament has crossed the half-way point now and we still have this extremely crowded field of front-runners. And we also have all our yokozuna and ozeki competing. Huzzah!
Scroll down to see how everyone fared last night. I’ve got results, analysis and videos. And, if you’re a paid subscriber, there’s juryo and makushita content, too!
Bonus gif today is one of our surprise title contenders. It’s Darth Shishi!
SPOILERS BELOW
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Makuuchi Results and Analysis
Results
Asakoryu (4-4) def. Daiseizan (3-5) by shitatenage (underarm throw)
Shishi (7-1) def. Kinbozan (5-3) by yorikiri (frontal force out)*
Kazuma (2-5) def. Nishikifuji (6-2) by yorikiri*
Mitakeumi (1-7) def. Takerufuji (6-2) by oshidashi (frontal push out)*
Asanoyama (6-2) def. Onokatsu (1-7) by yorikiri
Abi (5-3) def. Chiyoshoma (2-6) by oshidashi
Tobizaru (3-5) def. Asahakuryu (2-6) by kekaeshi (inner foot sweep)*
Shodai (4-4) def. Fujiryoga (5-3) by uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Roga (3-5) def. Fujiseun (4-4) by uwatenage*
Ura (2-6) def. Takayasu (6-2) by oshidashi*
Oshoma (3-5) def. Wakamotoharu (3-5) by oshidashi
Kotoeiho (7-1) def. Ichiyamamoto (4-4) by oshidashi
Churanoumi (2-6) def. Gonoyama (3-5) by oshidashi
Yoshinofuji (4-4) def. Fujinokawa (3-5) by sotogake (outside leg trip)*
Aonishiki (7-1) def. Takanosho (3-5) by oshidashi*
Hakunofuji (6-2) def. Kotoshoho (3-5) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Kirishima (7-1) def. Atamifuji (5-3) by oshidashi*
Kotozakura (4-4) def. Hiradoumi (1-7) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Hoshoryu (6-2) def. Daieisho (5-3) by oshidashi
Onosato (5-3) def. Oho (1-7) by yorikiri*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
O1e Kirishima, S2w Aonishiki, M7e Kotoeihō, M14w Shishi: 7-1
Y1e Hōshōryū, M3w Hakunofuji, M7w Takayasu, M10e Asanoyama, M13w Takerufuji, M13e Nishikifuji: 6-2
Analysis
Our two yokozuna continued to look like their usual selves last night. That is starting to look like the norm in this tournament. That’s a huge relief after seeing them both suffer some early struggles.
Hoshoryu made short work of Daieisho. He used hazuoshi (armpit thrusting) to get under Daieisho’s thrusts and then drove him out.
And Onosato gathered Oho at the tachiai and then powered him across the ring with his usual migi-yotsu (right arm inside position).
Hoshoryu is now 6-2, just one win off the leaders. Onosato is a little further back, but if he keeps performing as he has in the last few days then he might be able to get himself into the mix. At the very least, both men have managed to steady the ship over the past four or five days and helped ease some fears about whether they would be uncomfortable to watch over the duration of the tournament.
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Icon by HINOKODO (link).
Kirishima moved to 7-1 last night with a big win over Atamifuji. Kirishima has barely put a foot wrong in this tournament. He hasn’t done much wrong at all in 2026. Against Atamifuji he got his right arm inside early and showed a lot of strength to brace against the straw and then turn the tables on the young sekiwake. Once the bout was over we saw a rare flash of anger from Kirishima. He glared deep into Atamifuji’s eyes at the boundary. I think he was miffed that Atamifuji slapped the back of his head, despite the bout being essentially over.
It was quite shocking to see the usually good-natured Kirishima scowl like that. I get that it must have been annoying to get clobbered just when you thought the bout was over. I think that could have been a case at Atamifuji being frustrated at himself more than anything else.
Aonishiki is tied with Kirishima at the top of the leader board. He beat Takanosho, but it may have cost him.
Takanosho fought a good bout against Aonishiki. He used powerful thrusts to keep Aonishiki upright and away from that leaned over stance he loves to do. Aonishiki gave as good as he got with the thrusts and was eventually able to lean into Takanosho. As he got the force out, though, Takanosho fired off one last thrust that put Aonishiki off balance and sprawling off the ring.
Aonishiki came up slow from that and limped across the dohyo. He needs three more wins to get back his ozeki rank. I have a feeling he’s going to fight until that foot falls off this month.
Aonishiki’s compatriot Shishi won last night, to keep his name among the leaders. He forced Kinbozan into a yotsu-zumo (belt grappling) battle, something the Kazakh never likes to do. From there Shishi had the better technique and was able to eventually wrestle Kinbozan over the line.
I’m amazed Shishi has gotten this far, but things should start getting a lot tougher for him in week two. I don’t think he’ll be able to maintain this form once that happens.
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Kotoeiho rounds out the quartet of leaders. He quickly pushed out Ichiyamamoto last night. I really like what I’ve seen from him so far. I think he’s got a decent chance of being in this position late into week two (just like he did in May).
Takerufuji could have joined the leaders on 7-1. However, he ended up losing to Mitakeumi (for Mitakeumi’s first win of the tournament). Mitakeumi turned back the clock in this bout and came off the line with a lot of vigor. I think that surprised Takerufuji. He wasn’t able to recover from that.
How are my predictions looking, folks? Check out my guesses over everyone’s win-loss totals here (link).
Asanoyama is at 6-2. His battered knee seems to be holding up nicely. Last night he showed his yotsu game was a cut above Onokatsu’s.
The other 6-2 wreslters are Hakunofuji, Nishikifuji and Takayasu. Hakunofuji beat Kotoshoho with a henka last night. Nishikifuji was halted and then tipped over by Kazuma. And Takayasu was beaten by a very spirited Ura, who was able to get underneath him and drive up and forwards to force him out.
We have a banner match-up tomorrow with Onosato vs. Aonishiki. Onosato is 4-0 against Aonishiki. They haven’t faced each other since January, though.
Hoshoryu has Yoshinofuji. Hoshoryu is 2-1 in that match-up. Yoshinofuji has been a little disappointing in his debut komusubi tournament. He’s just 4-4 right now.
Kirishima faces Churanoumi in a battle of the mae-mitsu (shallow front grip) enthusiasts. Kirishima has the 4-2 edge in that match-up. These two haven’t faced each other since 2019, though. That was back when they were in juryo.
Things get a little tougher for Shishi. He has the Troll King, Abi. Nishikifuji and Takayasu will be paired off tonight. Hakunofuji has the struggling kadoban Kotozakura. And Asanoyama has the rookie Daiseizan.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 11
Tobi trample counter (rows): 4
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