2026 Natsu Basho: Day 10 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Natsu Basho (spoilers).
Day ten at the 2026 natsu basho has come and gone and we now have just five days left until we crown our May King.
Thankfully, Kirishima was competing last night after his nasty spill (courtesy of Wakamotoharu) on the previous night. He went into day ten’s action with a one win lead and a very eclectic set of challengers just behind him.
Scroll down to see if Kirishima was able to keep that lead or whether that motley crew caught up to him.
Down there you’ll also see lots of videos and analysis.
Before you get there, though, sorry for all the typos in yesterday’s late night post. Tired Tim often skips his proofreading.
Today’s bonus gif is the pea-cocking Asakōryū.
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SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Dewanoryū (3-7) def. Rōga (5-5) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Kotoeihō (8-2) def. Ryūden (3-7) by yorikiri
Wakanoshō (6-4) def. Shishi (3-7) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Fujiryoga (8-2) def. Tokihayate (6-4) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Mitakeumi (5-5) def. Kinbōzan (5-5) by oshidashi
Tobizaru (8-2) def. Abi (4-6) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*
Ōshōumi (2-8) def. Nishikifuji (3-7) by yorikiri*
Ura (7-3) def. Ōshōma (5-5) by yorikiri*
Hakunofuji (7-3) def. Chiyoshōma (4-6) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Asanōyama (7-3) def. Fujiseun (5-5) by oshidashi
Daieishō (4-6) def. Churanoumi (6-4) by tsukiotoshi
Yoshinofuji (7-3) def. Ichiyamamoto (4-6) by yorikiri
Fujinokawa (5-5) def. Hiradoumi (4-6) by oshidashi
Ōhō (4-6) def. Takanōsho (4-6) by tsukiotoshi
Wakatakakage (8-2) def. Atamifuji (5-5) by yorikiri*
Gonōyama (8-2) def. Kotoshōhō (6-4) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)*
Kotozakura (3-7) def. Wakamotoharu (2-8) by yorikiri
Shōdai (4-6) def. Kirishima (8-2) by hatakikomi (slap down)
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
O2e Kirishima, K1e Wakatakakage, M15e Tobizaru, M4w Gōnoyama, M13e Kotoeihō, M17e Fujiryoga: 8-2
Analysis
Kirishima wore a bandage on his forehead for his bout with Shōdai last night. That bandage hid the scrape he got when he was sent head first into the ring on the previous night. The bandage lasted about a second, though, flying off as soon as he made contact with Shōdai.
Kirishima’s aggressive opening didn’t push back Shōdai. After that, he was stuck standing mostly still while looking for routes to Shōdai’s belt. Shōdai did great at slapping Kirishima’s hands away and then got the ōzeki down with a sharp tug on his shoulder.
It’s tempting to say that this loss stems from the rough outing Kirishima had 24 hours earlier. However, I don’t see that. Shōdai has, historically, given Kirishima problems. His is a body type that Kirishima finds hard to move. And when he can’t get those big boys moving, they usually punish him (this is a big reason why he went winless against Terunofuji and is currently winless against Ōnōsato).
The loss dropped Kirishima down to 8-2 and, due to what else happened last night, put him in a six way tie in the lead of this basho.
I know we were anticipating a wide open race with both yokozuna and Aonishiki out, but to have six wrestlers tied on 8-2 records is really bizarre and very exciting.
Despite the crowd at the front, Kirishima still deserves to be the favorite to win this tournament. He has the most experience and technical prowess in the group and, as one great philosopher once, said “the cream rises to top.”
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The two most serious challengers to Kirishima, and his desire to win back-to-back championships, are Gonōyama and Wakatakakage. They both beat tough opposition to stay on pace.
Gonōyama beat Kotoshōhō last night in a predictably violent encounter. There was some clinching to start this one off, but that soon ebbed away and we were left with a thrusting duel. Gonōyama hits as hard as anyone, but in this match he was the nail and Kotoshōhō was the hammer. The old Gonōyama would have bit down and tried to hit harder, but this month’s Gonōyama seems a lot more graceful under pressure. He stepped back and let Kotoshōhō lean into the thrust, before pulling him down on the boundary. That was a huge decision and it might have some very big repercussions in this championship.
Gonōyama has already faced (and beaten) Kirishima, Kotozakura and Atamifuji in this tournament. And he’s also already faced the pick of the current jōi section (Daieishō, Ōhō and Yoshinofuji). He might have the friendliest schedule of all these competitors over the coming five days.
Gonōyama was among the leaders in the last tournament, too. He was 9-1 to start that tournament, but then lost to Kirishima, Kotozakura and Atamifuji to rule himself out. Kirishima is still my pick to win this, but I would not be surprised if we see a maiden yushō for the man from Osaka.
We can’t count out Wakatakakage, though. Last night he beat Atamifuji in a very competitive match. This was a fantastic yotsu-zumō (belt grappling) duel. Wakatakakage led much of the dance, thanks to his mae-mitsu (narrow front grip). He used that to pull Atamifuji around and put him off balance. Atamifuji used great footwork, though, to not get tangled up and to move laterally when pushed towards the straw.
After a brief pause in the centre of the ring, where both men got back some puff, Atamifuji used gaburi-yori (torso thrusting) to advance Wakatakakage to the straw. However, Wakatakakage then used some incredible strength to lift and turn Atamifuji (that’s a near 400 lbs man!) and put his heels on the straw. Atamifuji grimaced as he tried to stay in, but he was tired at this point and had to step out.
That’s a great win for Wakatakakage and it sees him rebound from his tough loss to Kotoshoho on the night before. Wakatakakage has mostly cleaned out the joi now, but he still has some tough matches ahead of him.
Tobizaru is 8-2 as well! That guarantees his spot in makuuchi for the next tournament. Last night he beat Abi in a chaotic match. They traded thrusts early in this one and Abi forced Tobizaru into a 360 degree spin. Tobizaru really does have amazing recovery ability, though. He managed to get back to facing Abi, quickly, and then hit him with the thrust down.
Things are going to get very tough for Tobizaru over these next five days. I think we might see him take his foot off the gas, too, now that he’s secured his kachi-koshi (winning record).
Kotoeihō and Fujiryoga round out that 8-2 group. They will probably fall away like Tobizaru over the coming days. However, they might have more energy and willfullness to push on and actually try and compete for the yushō than the tired and still slightly banged up Tobi.
Last night Kotoeihō forced out Ryuden with ease.
And Fujiryoga totally out muscled Tokihayate.
So we have a six horse race, but I’m still only taking the first three names I mentioned seriously here.
There was some good news on the dōhyō last night. Tamawashi got his first win of the tournament. He was able to push out Asahakūryū and then hear one of the loudest crowd pops of the tournament.
His best possible record, at this point, is 6-9. He’s going to need close to that to avoid a jūryō demotion. A demotion to the second division would ruin his chances of breaking the record for most tournaments in the top division. He’s third all time with 100 right now, three behind Hakuhō and seven behind Kaiō.
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Kotozakura and Wakamotoharu are both totally irrelevant in this tournament. They met each other last night and Kotozakura easily handled the older Waka Brother. He forced him out and, elevated him slightly, to ruin the chances of a dangerous utchari (backwards pivot throw) attempt.
Tonight is a big night for this tournament. Kirishima and Wakatakakage will be paired off. Kirishima has the slight advantage in their head-to-head record (winning 13 of 23 bouts). He’s won the last four bouts, too.
Gonōyama has Ichiyamamoto. Ichiyamamoto is only 4-6 in this tournament, but his slap down game is tailor made for a hard charger like Gonōyama (hence why he’s 4-1 against him). Gonōyama has shown a lot more intelligence in this tournament, though, so maybe he won’t get caught out and pull down.
Tobizaru has his first super tough test of the tournament. That comes in the form of former ōzeki Asanōyama. He’s 1-4 against him.
Fujiryoga has a tough test, too. He’s got Hakunofuji. They’ve never fought before.
And Kotoeihō has Ōshōma. That’s another first time meeting.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 9.5*
Tobi trample counter (rows): 4
*That dastardly Shishi tried another henka last night. The sumo gods aren’t happy with what he did to Tamawashi, though. The sabotaged this henka and had Wakanoshō thrust him out anyway. Mitakeumi also tried a henka on Kinbozan. He missed that, but did end up with the win anyway.
And now something extra…
If you are a paid subscriber, below you will find results, videos and analysis for jūryō.
