2026 Natsu Basho: Day 12 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Natsu Basho (spoilers).
Twelve days in and we are now so close to crowning out latest Grand Sumo top division champion. Entering day eleven there were half a dozen names in with a shout of that title. We’ve thinned the herd, a little, with day twelve’s matches (great matches, too!).
Scroll down to see who is still in with a chance of lifting the cup!
The bonus gif today is Gōnoyama meeting Ōhō on day two.
Take advantage of my May sale to get 15% off a Sumo Stomp! subscription (for life!)
SPOILERS BELOW
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Results
Kyokukaiyū (7-5) def. Tamawashi (2-10) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Mitakeumi (7-5) def. Shishi (3-9) by yorikiri
Ryūden (5-7) def. Tokihayate (4-8) by yorikiri
Ura (9-3) def. Fujiryoga (8-4) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
Kotoeihō (10-2) def. Asanoyama (7-5) by fusen (default)
Rōga (7-5) def. Nishikifuji (3-9) by yorikiri
Ōshōma (6-6) def. Wakanosho (6-6) by oshidashi (frontal push out)*
Asahakūryū (4-8) def. Ōshōumi (3-9) by yorikiri
Chiyoshōma (5-7) def. Kinbōzan (5-7) by watashikomi (thigh grabbing push down)*
Shōdai (6-6) def. Abi (4-8) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Ōhō (6-6) de. Hakunofuji (8-4) by uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Yoshinofuji (9-3) def. Tobizaru (9-3) by oshidashi*
Hiradoumi (5-7) def. Ichiyamamoto (5-7) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Fujinokawa (6-6) def. Daieishō (5-7) by oshidashi
Takanoshō (5-7) def. Wakamotoharu (3-9) by oshidashi
Wakatakakage (9-3) def. Gōnoyama (8-4) by tsukiotoshi*
Atamifuji (6-6) def. Fujiseun (5-7) by yorikiri after torinaoshi (rematch)*
Churanoumi (8-4) def. Kotozakura (3-9) by fusen
Kirishima (10-2) def. Kotoshōhō (7-5) by hatakikomi (slap down)*
*Must see bouts!
If you’re unable to pick up a paid subscription to Sumo Stomp! but would still like to tip me for these posts, please consider buying me a coffee below (via PayPal).
Leaderboard
O2e Kirishima, M13e Kotoeihō: 10-2
K1e Wakatakakage, M2e Yoshinofuji, M11e Ura, M15e Tobizaru: 9-3
Analysis
Kirishima and Kotoeihō lead the way after last night’s bouts. Kotoeihō got his tenth victory via a fusenshō due to Asanoyama dropping out of the tournament. Asanoyama hurt his toe after his chaotic bout with Tobizaru on the previous night.
Kirishima earned his tenth victory the hard way, against Kotoeihō’s big brother.
Kotoshōhō must have been very motivated for this match, but — it seems — his motivation didn’t outweigh Kirishima’s confidence and calmness under pressure.
In this classic grappler versus pusher match, Kirishima (the grappler) was happy to start the bout pushing and thrusting. That’s not unusual for him, he likes to set up his grappling with thrusts, often faking a thrust before swimming under for a belt grab.
He almost got a little more than he was bargaining for in the early exchanges, with the immensely strong Kotoshōhō forcing Kirishima to slide back across the ring. Kotoshōhō charged at him after that, but Kirishima used his grappling (in the form of a left arm underhook) to get out of the way. Kotoshōhō charged again, rather rashly, and didn’t notice how much space Kirishima had opened up between them. That space gave Kirishima time and opportunity to latch onto one of Kotoshōhō’s shoulders and drive him down for the dirt sandwich.
This win may have Kirishima tied with Kotoeihō, but he still has to be considered the favourite. It’s very rare that Kirishima throws an opportunity to win a yushō away. Of all the wrestlers in the division, he might be the best at handling pressure and coming out on top in these must win matches.
The path ahead of him now is perhaps the easiest he’s had to a cup. There’s nobody high ranked left for him to wrestle, so it would count as a pretty big fumble if he didn’t end up the champion here.
Sumo Stomp! is entirely human made. Please continue to support human made writing and art over AI generated content.
Icon by HINOKODO (link).
Wakatakakage is still just one win behind Kirishima. Because he lost to Kirishima a few days ago, he’ll need to keep winning from here and rely on others to hand the front-runner a loss.
His win last night was over Gōnoyama. That effectively took Gōnoyama out of the running for the title. Wakatakakage won by taking Gōnoyama’s huge opening charge straight to the chest and letting that move him backwards as he performed a picture perfect slap down.
That’s the kind of live by the sword, die by the sword performance we’re used to seeing from Gōnoyama. Earlier on in the tournament, though, he did show a little more guile with his sumō.
Yoshinofuji beat Tobizaru last night to tie them on 9-3 records and keep them both one win away from Kirishima and Kotoeihō.
Tobizaru didn’t move enough in this match. He got hung up in the tachiai and was forced onto his heels quickly. I’m surprised we didn’t see any lateral movement out of him after that. Instead, he was driven straight back and shot putted off the ring.
It’s going to be tough for Tobizaru from here if he wants to stay relevant in this tournament. Yoshinofuji won’t have an easy path, either, but he does have youth on his side.
Ura beat Fujiryoga to keep himself in the title hunt and effectively eliminate Fujiryoga. Ura has really been in the zone over the past few days. In this bout he secured a quick moro-zashi (double inside position) and used that to get Fujiryoga on the straw. He then switched focused to his right arm inside position to complete a throw.
Ura looks like he’s having fun in this tournament and I think that spells trouble for the rest of the field. Do we dare let ourselves dream of an Ura yushō?
Want a free way to support Sumo Stomp! Help me get to 1,000 subscribers on YouTube (so then I can monetize the thing).
Hakunofuji dropped out of the title hunt last night. He lost to Oho. When Ōhō shows up, he really shows up. And in this bout he bullied Hakunofuji around with a left arm inside position and a very strong outside right grip. He eventually put Hakunofuji onto the clay with a thump. Hakunofuji took some time to get up. It looked like something might have happened with his foot (where it was reported that he had ligament damage earlier this year).
All those results mean we pretty much have a six man tournament for the title over the next few days. After tonight, though, that field could be reduced by half.
Kirishima vs. Kotoeihō is tonight’s headliner. They have never fought each other before. Kirishima has to be the heavy favourite in this match, but maybe Kotoeihō can spring a surprise. Stranger things have happened, after all.
Wakatakakage has Tobizaru and Yoshinofuji has Ura.
Wakatakakge has owned Tobizaru in past tournaments. He has a 12-5 record against him and has won ten of their last eleven bouts (including their last five contests). I think Wakatakakage is probably more hungry for this yushō, too, so I expect him to come out on top of this.
Yoshinofuji has a 3-1 record over Ura. But he’s never faced an Ura who is in this kind of groove.
After all these bouts we’ll have one wrestler on an 11-2 record and three on 10-3 records. This will mathematically eliminate everyone who has five losses from winning the cup. And it will pretty much eliminate everyone with four losses, too (which includes the losers of those Wakatakakage vs. Tobizaru and Yoshinofuji vs. Ura matches).
After these bouts there will only be a few match-ups available within the cohort of front-runners, based on who they have already faced. The only fresh match-ups we can have, before a possible play-off, are Kirishima vs. Ura/Tobizaru, Kotoeiho vs. Wakatakakage/Yoshinofuji and Wakatakakage vs. Ura.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 9.5
Tobi trample counter (rows): 6*
*Tobi touched the front row after being bundled out by Yoshinofuji last night.
And now something extra…
If you are a paid subscriber, below you will find results, videos and analysis for jūryō.
