2026 Nagoya Basho: Day 9 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Nagoya Basho (spoilers).
Hi all,
We are well into our second week at the 2026 Nagoya basho. We’ve had a fascinating opening nine days and our title picture right now is clear as mud. Things are going to start becoming more clear over the coming days as this stacked field of contenders starts squaring off with each other. I can’t wait!
Scroll down to see which wrestlers are in that big leading pack right now. I’ve also got videos of key bouts and analysis. Paid subscribers get juryo and makushita results and analysis, too. Paid subscribers also have a chance to win an awesome Ura t-shirt. If you’re not a paid subscriber, yet, what’s stopping you?
Our bonus gif today is someone I think we are all pulling for.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Makuuchi Results and Analysis
Results
Takerufuji (7-2) def. Asakoryu (4-5) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Shishi (8-1) def. Abi (5-4) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Kinbozan (6-3) def. Asahakuryu (2-7) by yorikiri
Onokatsu (2-7) def. Mitakeumi (1-8) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Chiyoshoma (3-6) def. Kazuma (3-6) by katasukashi (under shoulder swing down)*
Asanoyama (7-2) def. Daiseizan (3-6) by yorikiri*
Takayasu (7-2) def. Nishikifuji (6-3) by watashikomi (thigh grabbing push down)* after mono-ii (judges’ review) overturns gyoji (referee) decision*
Kotoeiho (8-1) def. Fujiryoga (5-4) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)*
Fujiseun (5-4) def. Tobizaru (3-6) by yoritoashi
Oshoma (4-5) def. Roga (3-6) by oshidashi
Ura (3-6) Wakamotoharu (3-6) by oshidashi
Daieisho (6-3) def. Shodai (4-5) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Gonoyama (4-5) def. Takanosho (3-6) by oshidashi
Fujinokawa (4-5) def. Oho (1-8) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
Kotoshoho (4-5) def. Hiradoumi (1-8) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*
Atamifuji (6-3) def. Ichiyamamoto (4-5) by oshidashi
Hakunofuji (7-2) def. Kotozakura (4-5) by uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Churanoumi (3-6) def. Kirishima (7-2) by tsukiotoshi after mono-ii confirms gyoji decision*
Aonishiki (8-1) def. Onosato (5-4) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)*
Yoshinofuji (5-4) def. Hoshoruyu (6-3) by yorikiri*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
S2w Aonishiki, M7e Kotoeiho, M14w Shishi: 8-1
O1e Kirishima, M3w Hakunofuji, M7w Takayasu, M10e Asanoyama, M12w Takerufuji: 7-2
Analysis
Well, I cursed the yokozuna.
Yesterday I said I thought Hoshoryu and Onosato had stabilized their rocky tournaments and were looking in good shape to be relevant at the business end of the basho. Last night’s results really struck a blow against that hope/theory, though.
Onosato did look in good shape when he went against Aonishiki. However, the crafty Ukranian (who is nursing an injury himself), is never an easy bout. Onosato blew Aonishiki back with a big push off the tachiai. He tried a second big push, but Aonishiki was ready for it. He latched onto the long right arm of Onosato and then executed an inashi (side-step) to bring the big man past him and out of the ring.
That was a huge win for Aonishiki. It gave him a share of the lead; on an 8-1 record. It was also his first ever win against Onosato, in five attempts. It was also a win that didn’t seem to cause him any damage to that injured ankle.
If Aonishiki can stay healthy he has to be our favourite to lift the cup on Sunday. Everything can change, in an instant, with sumo, though. One bad fall or hop off the dohyo and Aonishiki’s title chances might evaporate.
Aonishiki is likely more focused on ten wins than a yusho, though. He’s now just two away from securing a promotion back to ozeki.
Aonishiki is joined on an 8-1 record by Shishi and Kotoeiho. Shishi beat Abi last night without much drama. Abi was unable to push him back with thrusts and had nowhere to go once Shishi started advancing on him. Kotoeiho looked powerful again last night, crushing Fujiryoga out with his hidari-yotsu (left arm inside position).
Hoshoryu lost to Yoshinofuji last night. He tried to stick Yoshinofuji with a nodowa (throat thrust) off he tachiai, but Yoshinofuji didn’t move. Usually Hoshoryu likes to do that to knock someone upright and then duck under to get an inside position on them. When Yoshinofuji didn’t bend, Hoshoryu still ducked to get inside. But Yoshinofuji was able to attack with a slap down when he did that. Hoshoryu did well to stay up and then he rocked Yoshinofuji with a good nodowa. While Hoshoryu’s arms were up for thrusting, though, Yoshinofuji took advantage with a moro-zashi (double inside position). From there he was able to run Hoshoryu out without fear of a throw (since Hoshoryu didn’t have any kind of lock around either of Yoshinofuji’s arms).
The loss isn’t a devastating one for Hoshoryu. It drops him back to 6-3. If he goes on a long winning streak now, then he might be able to catch up as that group of 8-1, 7-2 and 6-3 wrestlers face-off and start to dent each others’ records.
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Icon by HINOKODO (link).
Kirshima missed out on the chance to join Aonishiki with an 8-1 record. He lost to Churanoumi last night. On the surface this looks very bad for Kirishima. But Churanoumi deserves some respect. He’s not having a good tournament, but he’s a tough out for anyone due to his creativity and reaction speed. He was one of only three men to beat eventual champion Wakatakakage in the last tournament.
In this bout Kirishima thought he had Churanoumi where he wanted him, after using his forearm to snap Churanoumi’s mae-mitsu (front shallow grip) off of his belt. As he lunged forwards, though, Churanoumi slapped his pushing arm down with perfect timing to send Kirishima towards the dirt. Churanoumi then managed to stay in bounds as the ozeki touched down.
Like with Hoshoryu, this loss wasn’t a disaster for Kirishima. He’s only one back of the leaders and he’s yet to face any of them in this tournament.
Hakunofuji is an under-the-radar title contender this week. He’s in that second place pack right now. He made himself too heavy for Kotozakura to toss around last night and was able to shift his weight and land the throw once Kotozakura got tired.
Kotozakura is now 4-5 with tough matches ahead of him this week.
Takayasu is tied with Kirishima and Hakunofuji. He had another fun brawl last night. Nishikifuji put up a great fight, but Takayasu’s pace and ferociousness won out. That big ol’ bear he was eventually able to spear Nishikifuji off the ring.
The referee called this for Nishikifuji initially. However, Takayasu seemed to stand his ground on the ring to evoke a mono-ii.
He’s looked great this month and has had some of the best matches of the tournament. Dare we dream, again, that Takayasu will actually get a late career maiden yusho?
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Takerufuji is another wrestler who has quietly made himself a contender. He blitzed through Asakoryu last night.
How are my predictions looking, folks? Check out my guesses over everyone’s win-loss totals here (link).
Asanoyama is the last man in that the title hunt right now. He’s looked very sturdy this week and last night he overwhelmed Daieseizan.
For the second straight day the JSA have neglected to include video of one of the best bouts of the night. Here’s some fanside footage of Fujinokawa’s war with Oho. In this bout Fujinokawa stakes his lifting power against Oho’s kimedashi (arm barring force out) power and the little man won.
Tonight’s big match is Hoshoryu vs. Aonishiki. If Hoshoryu wins that he’ll by 7-3 and Anoshiki will by 8-2. This is their sixth bout and Aonishiki has won all except their last meeting, in March.
Onosato will have Daieisho (who might sneak his way into the title picture with a win). Onosato is 5-1 against him.
Kirishima vs. Hakunofuji should be a great match. Hakunofuji got a big win over Kirishima in May. That bout opened the door for Wakatakakage to tie and then beat Kirishima on the final day. Kirishima and Hakunofuji have a 3-3 head-to-head record now.
Takayasu, Shishi, Takerufuji and Asanoyama have some very winnable matches. They have the struggling Tobizaru, Asahakuryu, Chiyoshoma and Fujiseun to contend with. Kotoeiho gets Abi, for the first time in his career. Abi isn’t having a great tournament, but he’s always dangerous.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 11
Tobi trample counter (rows): 4
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