2026 Nagoya Basho: Final Day results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Nagoya Basho (spoilers).
Wow.
Wow. Wow. Wow. What a great tournament.
The 2026 Nagoya basho is a wrap and I loved what went down on the final night of matches. I’ve got my write ups below on all the drama from makuuchi, juryo and makushita (you won’t want to miss that one!).
Before you get down there, though… a sales pitch, if you don’t mind.
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The bonus gif today is my favorite moment from this basho.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Makuuchi Results and Analysis
Results
Kazuma (5-10) def. Sadanoumi (5-10) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Kinbozan (9-6) def. Mitakeumi (2-13) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Nishikifuji (10-5) def. Chiyoshoma (5-10) by oshidashi
Asakoryu (9-6) def. Fujiryoga (10-5) by okuridashi (rear push out)*
Roga (9-6) def. Shishi (10-5) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)*
Asahakuryu (7-8) def. Wakamotoharu (6-9) by yorikiri
Takayasu (11-4) def. Asanoyama (9-6) by oshidashi*
Kotoeiho (11-4) def. Takerufuji (10-5) by oshidashi*
Shodai (5-10) def. Daiseizan (6-9) by yorikiri
Oshoma (7-8) def. Onokatsu (4-11) by oshidashi
Abi (7-8) def. Ura (5-10) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Ichiyamamoto (6-9) def. Tobizaru (5-10) by tsukidashi
Gonoyama (7-8) def. Hiradoumi (4-11) by oshidashi
Churanoumi (7-8) def. Takanosho (6-9) by hikkake (arm grabbing force out)
Fujinokawa (8-7) def. Fujiseun (7-8) by yorikiri*
Hakunofuji (9-6) def. Oho (2-13) by yoritoashi
Daieisho (10-5) def. Yoshinofuji (6-9) by yoritoashi
Atamifuji (12-3) def. Aonishiki (12-3) by oshidashi*
Kirisihima (12-3) def. Kotozakura (8-7) by yorikiri
Onosato (9-6) def. Kotoshoho (6-9) by oshitoashi (frontal push down)
*Must see bouts!
Play-off
Atamifuji def. Kirishima by oshidashi
Aonishiki def. Atamifuji by yorikiri
Aonishiki def. Kirishima by yorikiri
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Final Results
Makuuchi Champion: S2w Aonishiki (12-3)
Outstanding Performance Prize: M1e Fujinokawa (8-7)
Fighting Spirit Prize: S1e Atamifuji (12-3), M7e Kotoeiho (11-4), M7w Takayasu (11-4)
Technique Prize: S2w Aonishiki (12-3)
Analysis
Aonishiki is our top division champion at the 2026 Nagoya basho after a sensational senshuraku (final day of performance) in the top division. He clinched his third career yusho (championship), days after securing his promotion back to the rank of ozeki.
Things weren’t easy for the Blue Whirlwind, though.
Here’s what happened in the championship race; in chronological order.
Aonishiki’s scheduled bout on day fifteen was with Atamifuji. Atamifuji had surged up the leader board with a strong second week, which included wins over both yokozuna and surprising title challengers Kotoeiho and Shishi.
During that stretch he fought with a tremendous amount of confidence. That’s something he lacked during his first few cracks at a yusho. He came into the Aonishiki match feeling confident, too, having beaten him in their previous bout (in March).
It’s hard to tell whether Aonishiki gets nervous. He might have one of the best poker faces in the sport. As he got set for this match, you would have never guessed that a win would have meant a yusho there and then.
Aonishiki approached this bout like many of his previous matches in this tournament. He came off the line looking to get his left hand grip on the outside of his opponent’s belt.
In the tachiai he faked that he was going high with his hands.
And then went low.
Atamifuji didn’t bite, though. He brought his arms down looking for the belt, too — likely confident that he could beat Aonishiki in a battle of strength there.
Aonishiki agreed. He withdrew his hand from Atamifuji’s belt so he could defend his own.
The pair were then locked in a forearm battle, with Atamifuji pushing to get his right hand low and on the belt and Aonishiki pushing to keep it high and out of range.
This battle ended when Aonishiki decided to hop back and attempt a slapdown.
That allowed Atamifuji to use his undefended forearm to push Aonishiki in the chest.
That prevented Aonishiki from getting any purchase on the slap down attempt and resulted with him in a flat footed position, with Atamifuji’s hands on his shoulders.
Atamifuji pushed Aonishiki back. Aonishiki responded with a last ditch tottari (arm bar throw) attempt.
But Atamifuji did a great job of spotting the straw, planting his feet and then finishing the job.
That win tied Atamifuji and Aonishiki on 12-3 records, guaranteeing a play-off for the cup.
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The only man who could join Aonishiki and Atamifuji’s party was Kirishima. He had his fellow ozeki Kotozakura last night.
And he beat him, easily.
Kirishima got his left arm on the outside during the tachiai and moved Kotozakura around and over the straw. Kotozakura, having gotten his kachi-koshi two days ago (and saved his ozeki skin), was just going through the motions here. He was ready for the tournament to be over.
Kirishima would have been delighted to secure the victory, but even his most ardent fans (me!) can agree that this win over Kotozakura and the fusensho (default win) over Hoshoryu weren’t the most glorious ways one could carve out a path to a yusho.
Regardless how he got there, Kirishima had the chance to finish things with style. He and Atamifuji were drawn first in the three-way play-off (where you have to win twice in a row to become champion).
This was a bit of a grudge match, too (see my gif at the top of the post). On day eight, Kirishima forced Atamifuji out. But, as Atamifuji was on the way out, he bashed the back of Kirishima’s head/neck. Kirishima came up looking mad, which is a pretty rare sight. He was likely angered because he’s endured some bad neck injuries in the past (including one which ruined his first reign as an ozeki).
Kirishima stared daggers at Atamifuji, but Atamifuji looked right back at him. I love Kirishima, but I was impressed that Atamifuji didn’t shrink away from that confrontation. I also don’t think Atamifuji meant any malice by his late slap down attempt on day eight.
Either way, though, that flash-point added some interesting history and spice to this first play-off bout. That added spice might have unsettled Atamifuji. He false started in this bout (something he did a lot back when he and Kirishima faced off with a yusho in 2024).
Once the bout finally got underway Atamifuji, was caught napping at the tachiai.
Fortunately, for him, he’s a brick wall. So even with a better start, Kirishima couldn’t push him back.
After collecting Kirishima, Atamifuji started moving his feet forwards and Kirishima wasn’t strong enough to stop him.
During his march forwards, he gave Kirishima a moro-zashi (double inside position). That’s not a good move, normally. The wrestler with the moro-zashi has a lot of potential leverage to turn or tip over an opponent. Atamifuji had a weapon, perfect for this situation, that not many other wrestlers possess, though.
A big beautiful belly.
Atamifuji used gaburi-yori (torso thrusting) to nullify any benefits Kirishima had from the moro-zashi and was able to bounce his rival over the straw.
This win put Atamifuji in pole position. Now he just needed to beat Aonishiki, for a second time that night, to secure his first career top division championship.
I think the best aspect of sumo is how often wrestlers face each over. We are lucky that we are able to measure wrestlers against each other pretty accurately, because of how often we see them do battle. That aspect of the game means we also get to see how wrestlers respond and react to each other on a match-by-match basis.
In this match, a rematch from a few hours earlier, Aonishiki opened the bout in an identical fashion to the first one.
A feint with his hands high and tight…
Before dipping them low, looking for the outside left grip.
Atamifuji did what he did in the last bout, too… keep his right arm inside and look for the belt himself.
Aonishiki got his grip in this bout, just like in the first one, but this time he didn’t let go when Atamifuji reached out for his belt and then look for distance (for a slapdown). This time he held the belt tight and brought Atamifuji closer to him. Instead of using his forearm to fight Atamifuji’s forearm, he put his whole shoulder into it.
Atamifuji was still able to reach down and go for the belt. But he didn’t have any space to extend that arm and start pushing with it.
As Atamifuji strained to reach down for the belt, Aonishiki then triggered his slap down attempt. He slid to his left and brought his right hand up for the slap down. He thought that, with Atamifuji reaching down so hard, that he could drive him down in that direction.
Atamifuji defended well, though, stepping out wide to make himself too sturdy to get slapped down.
Aonishiki was ready for this, though. As insurance, he had kept his left grip (his iron claw) locked. He then lowered his shoulder and started to smash into the flat-footed Atamifuji. He angled himself like a battering ram as he ran Atamifuji around the ring. This allowed him to keep his tummy back from Atamifuji, to prevent any gaburi-yori.
Atamifuji was in total defence mode during this flight and eventually ran out of room.
With the win, Aonishiki returned to the driver’s seat and now had to beat Kirishima to take the cup.
Aonishiki won their regular tournament bout on day thirteen. In that bout, Kirishima blew up Aonishiki’s opening gambit for the left hand outside grip with a kachiage (forearm strike). That strike allowed Kirishima to get a strong hidari-yotsu (left arm inside position) and get Aonishiki to the straw, only for Aonishiki to then shift his hips and score a reactive sukuinage (beltless arm throw).
In this bout, Kirishima opted against the kachiage and instead lead with a right hand aimed at Aonishiki’s shoulder — designed to push back the left arm and prevent the outside grip.
He missed, though, with his hand sliding off Aonishiki’s shoulder. He didn’t push Aonishiki’s arm back, but he did prevent him getting the outside grip. Instead, Aonishiki had an inside grip with his left arm.
This left both men in a position neither of them really wanted to be in.
Aonishiki would have preferred his left arm on the outside. Kirishima likes to have his left arm on the inside, but he also likes to have that left hand on the belt (preferably with a mae-mitsu [shallow belt grip]).
Kirishima’s desire for a belt grip led him to abandon ottsuke (forearm blocking) with his right arm.
After this both men were still in uncomfortable positions. During this stalemate, the winner would be the person who could improvise the best.
Both Aonishiki and Kirishima are elite creative talents on the dohyo, but on this night it was Aonishiki who would come up with a good idea first. And that’s what won him the cup.
He pushed Kirishima back and then flashed his left foot to the side…
Before hooking it back in for the sotogake (outside leg trip)…
Kirishima knows that move well, so he reared up and untangled his leg.
Aonishiki got two feet on the ground before Kirishima did and took advantage of that, pushing Kirishima back.
Kirishima continued to untangle his leg and then got himself set to brace against the straw.
But he missed…
The bout was over, but Aonishiki didn’t know it. He continued pushing forwards and that resulted in both men taking a tumble. Aonishiki got the worst of it, but I don’t think Kirishima was intentionally trying to make him flip over to the floor.
I think his fingers might have gotten stuck under Aonishiki’s belt and that this inadvertently forced Aonishiki to rotate and take that nasty bump over the edge.
Aonishiki landed very painfully, seemingly taking the entire force of the fall onto his right shoulder. He came up wincing, but also triumphant.
That wasn’t the greatest match in the world, but it certainly counts for Aonishiki. And he deserved the win, too. He broke the stalemate with the sotogake and forced Kirishima into a big mistake. Kirishima’s back was to the straw, but he’s often demonstrated excellent ring awareness in the past. I’m sure he’s kicking himself right now for not getting his foot to the ground sooner and sliding it to the straw (instead of stepping and trying to land right next to it).
Aonishiki is now a three time champ and an ozeki. And we can, again, start to dream about his ascencion to yokozuna (possibly as early as this year). It’s amazing that he won this tournament, despite the division knowing his weaknesses and despite him fighting on a bum ankle. It may be amazing, but it’s hardly a surprise is it? The 22 year-old Ukrainian has done nothing but defy expectations in Grand Sumo and show that he’s a special sumotori and that he might go down as one of the best the sport has ever seen.
The drama of that play-off overshadowed everything else that happened last night. But there were still some other things in makuuchi that are worth pointing out.
Onosato finished his campaign with a win, to go 9-6. He beat Kotoshoho in a bit of a sloppy effort.
The quality of this win doesn’t matter, though. What matters is that Onosato was able to last 15 days and that he was able to show flashes of his most dominant self. Hopefully this means that we’ll see even more of those flashes in September.
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Fujinokawa went into his bout with Fujiseun needing a win to get his kachi-koshi. He also knew a win would earn him an Outstanding Performance award (earned mostly for his two kinboshi wins over Onosato and Hoshoryu). And he got that win, making quick work of Fujiseun.
Fujinokawa is now set for a promotion to komusubi in September.
How are my predictions looking, folks? Check out my guesses over everyone’s win-loss totals here (link).
Takayasu also needed a win to get a special prize. He was up for a Fighting Spirit award. If you have a lot of time on your hands, check out his marathon match with Asanoyama below.
Takayasu won that bout and, thankfully, it was over before Asanoyama’s wardrobe malfunction could cause anything obscene.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 16
Tobi trample counter (rows): 6
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