2026 Natsu Basho: Day 13 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Natsu Basho (spoilers).
Holy moly.
What a night of sumo. These past few nights have delivered some epic matches on the dohyō. It’s been thrilling and a great remedy for the malaise a lot of us felt at the beginning of this one when so many big names had to pull out.
Scroll down to see what happened last night. I took a very deep dive into the most meaningful match of the night. Along with that, there’s also results, videos and much more analysis.
You can listen to me talk about this tournament, too. Yesterday I recorded with my good friend Stephie Haynes for The Level Change podcast. I discussed everything up to day twelve during this appearance.
The bonus gif today is our missing Kotozakura.
Take advantage of my May sale to get 15% off a Sumo Stomp! subscription (for life!)
SPOILERS BELOW
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Results
Asasuiryū (9-4) def. Ryūden (5-8) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Ōshōumi (4-9) def. Tamawashi (2-11) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Rōga (8-5) def. Tokihayate (4-9) by yorikiri
Wakanoshō (7-6) def. Nishikifuji (3-10) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)*
Abi (5-8) def. Mitakeumi (7-6) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Shishi (4-9) def. Asahakūryū (4-9) by yorikiri
Fujiryoga (9-4) def. Churanoumi (8-5) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Wakamotoharu (4-9) def. Kinbōzan (5-8) by yorikiri
Hakunofuji (9-4) def. Gōnoyama (8-5) by hatakikomi*
Hiradoumi (6-7) def. Daieishō (5-8) by oshidashi
Ōhō (7-6) def. Ichiyamamoto (5-8) by oshidashi
Yoshinofuji (10-3) def. Ura (9-4) by oshidashi
Ōshōma (7-6) def. Takanoshō (5-8) by hatakikomi*
Fujiseun (6-7) def. Fujinokawa (6-7) by tsukitoashi (frontal thrust down)*
Wakatakakage (10-3) def. Tobizaru (9-4) by tsuridashi (frontal lift out)*
Kotoshōhō (8-5) def. Shōdai (6-7) by oshidashi
Atamifuji (7-6) def. Chiyoshōma (5-8) by oshitoashi (frontal push down)
Kirishima (11-2) def. Kotoeihō (10-3) by utchari (backward pivot throw) after mono-ii (judges’ review) reverses gyoji (referee) decision*
*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: 11-2
K1e Wakatakakage, M2e Yoshinofuji, M13e Kotoeihō: 10-3
Analysis
Kirishima defeated Kotoeiho last night to take sole position of the lead in this tournament. He is now firmly in the driver’s seat, with multiple paths ahead that can result in him winning his fourth career yushō.
He earned this position with an extremely gutsy performance last night. It had to be a gutsy performance, since Kotoeihō brought his A-Game!
Both men were thinking hidari-yotsu (left arm inside position) to start this bout. No surprises there. It’s what both guys prefer. I was a little surprised that Kirishima didn’t try and soften Kotoeihō up with thrusts or a kachiage (elbow strike) off the tachiai. Kirishima going immediately to the belt might speak to his confidence at being able to secure that position and overwhelm Kotoeihō once he had it.
If Kirishima was expecting an easy bout, then that expectation would have been shattered immediately, with Kotoeihō getting his left arm in while initially blocking off Kirishima from doing the same. Kirishima would get the position, but only after being moved back a few steps.
Kirishima’s response to being moved backwards was to circle back to the centre of the ring while attempting a shitatenage (underarm throw) on his left side. That’s a more difficult throw than an uwatenage (over arm throw), since it doesn’t offer the same kind of leverage for the thrower.
Kotoeihō managed to prevent himself going down from the shitatenage because he had secured a very tight outside grip on Kirishima’s belt with his right hand. By pulling on that right hand he prevented Kirishima being able to tip him over. Kotoeihō also used good footwork when untangling his feet and finding the edge of the straw. He was able to dig in on the straw and then bounce back towards the middle of the ring. He maintained that outside grip through all this.
Once he was back in the middle of the ring that outside grip was still in place and it was better than anything Kirishima had. Kotoeihō got a little greedy then, though. He tried to grab Kirishima’s belt with his other hand, but when doing so Kirishima was able to buck and break the outside grip. Kotoeihō was able to recover, quickly, though, securing the left inside grip this time.
Kirishima turned and again tried a less optimal throw; another shitatenage, but with a very loose underhook. Kotoeihō more easily blocked this attempt, by hooking one of Kirishima’s legs.
Kirishima had a big reaction to that leg hook. He might have been worried about a potential sotogake (outside trip). He hopped backwards, landing with his feet close together. That gave Kotoeihō the opportunity to force him back to the straw.
What happened next is something I’m going to be thinking about for a very long time.
Kirishima was dead to rights in the image above. Kotoeihō was pushing forwards with a wide base, while Kirishima stood narrowly, inches away from stepping out. However, Kirishima, somehow, without looking down, managed to sort his feet out and get himself square to his opponent, with the arches of his feet on the straw (below).
Please watch the YouTube video at 0.25 speed from the 46 second point and watch Kirishima’s right foot, which glides to and then plants on the straw.
At this slow motion speed you will also be able to appreciate what Kirishima does as soon as both feet hit the straw. His feet landing is the first part of the process for what will be a whole body movement that results in his utchari.
The first thing he does is twist towards Kotoeihō, bending his right knee and raising his heel.
The power moves up from his legs and into his right shoulder, which he uses to turn Kotoeihō and take Kotoeihō off one of his feet.
With Kotoeihō turning, and on one foot, Kirishima lifts his left leg and sweeps Kotoeihō’s standing leg.
With Kotoeihō no longer connected to the earth, he gets totally rotated by Kirishima (who still has his right toes down).
Kirishima uses that rotation to bring himself on top of Kotoeihō and keeps his left leg raised to make sure he touches down second. The gyoji gave this to Kotoeihō initially, but the judges were able to straighten it out.
After watching this at 0.25 speed. Please go back and watch it at full speed to appreciate the snap and urgency Kirishima has on this throw.
I am a very public hater of the utchari, but if they were always done like this I wouldn’t have any problems with them. Kirishima’s utchari was low and fast and it put Kotoeihō on his back within the raised platform. Many other utchari, like the one Wakamotoharu does, are high and slow, which result in both wrestlers toppling backwards all the way to the ground.
Kirishima was able to keep his utchari so tight partly because Kotoeihō is a little on the small size (when it comes to sumo wrestlers), but there was also a lot of technique going on in that throw. This was a moment where Kirishima’s judo, bokh and sumo all converged. The result is a move worthy of winning a tournament and perhaps, even, defining a legacy.
Kirishima is now potentially one win away from his fourth career yushō (and second in a row). If he achieves that, he’ll head into Nagoya with a tsuna on the line.
Sumo Stomp! is entirely human made. Please continue to support human made writing and art over AI generated content.
Icon by HINOKODO (link).
Kotoeihō is still in this tournament, though. If Kirishima slips up tomorrow, the door opens back up to him and two others who won last night.
Wakatakakage beat Tobizaru and Yoshinofuji beat Ura in two crucial bouts. Those wins put Wakatakakage and Yoshinofuji on 10-3 records, with Kotoeihō.
As a result, Tobizaru and Ura are now pretty much eliminated from title contention. The best guys won in those match-ups, but in doing so we lost our two most fun title contenders and the potential for a wild storyline.
Wakatakakage sliced through Tobizaru last night, getting a moro-zashi (double inside position) before lifting him out. Mrs. Sumo Stomp! said it looked like someone throwing a kid into a pool and that’s the perfect way to sum it up.
Ura was more competitive in his bout with Yoshinofuji. He was able to get out of Yoshinofuji’s thrusting range with a good side-step. Ura was hoping Yoshinofuji would then lunge across that range and that he could slap him down. Yoshinofuji didn’t take the bait, though. He knew he had time and space to steady himself. So he did that and then resumed his tsuppari (rapid palm striking) attack. Ura’s second side-step wasn’t nearly as energetic as the first. He wasn’t able to get out of range this time and Yoshinufji easily shoved him off the ring.
Kotoeiho, Wakatakakage and Yoshinofuji will now have to win their matches tomorrow to stand any chance of getting past Kirishima this month.
Fujiryoga and Hakunofuji lost on the previous night to rule themselves out of this title hunt. They both won last night, though, to put themselves one win away from double-digits.
Fujiryoga bounced around Churanoumi and Hakunofuji suckered Gōnoyama into another all out dive into the dirt.
Want a free way to support Sumo Stomp! Help me get to 1,000 subscribers on YouTube (so then I can monetize the thing).
Last night saw Kotoshōhō get his kachi-koshi (winning record) in a bout with Shōdai. That means he’ll keep his newly acquired sekiwake rank in Nagoya. Rōga also claimed a kachi-koshi by out-grappling Tokihayate. Tamawashi lost again last night. He was forced out by Ōshōumi. He’s now 2-11 and is making it very hard for the JSA to spare him from a demotion in the next banzuke. Ryūden was also a loser last night. Asasuiryū came up from jūryō in a potential replacement match. Ryūden’s loss confirmed his make-koshi (losing record) and will see him demoted for the next tournament.
Tonight Kirishima meets Hakunofuji. A win won’t give him the title, though. We are going to settle this one on the final day, no matter what. Kirishima is 3-2 against Hakunofuji and has won the last two bouts. Hakunofuji is also still looking a little compromised due to a foot injury.
Wakatakakage and Kotoeihō meet tonight for the first time in their careers.
Yoshinofuji has Fujiryoga. That’s also a first time meeting.
The winner of Wakatakakage vs. Kotoeihō will have an 11-3 record. If Yoshinofuji wins he’ll also be 11-3.
If Kirishima wins he’ll have a 12-2 record. But he will also be 11-3 if he loses to Hakunofuji.
If Kirishima wins tonight, he can go into the final day knowing that he is the champion if he wins his final bout or if the winner of Wakatakakage vs. Kotoeihō and Yoshinofuji (should he beat Fujiryoga) loses.
In this scenario, if Kirishima loses his final bout he’ll be in a play-off with any of those three guys who won on both days fourteen and fifteen.
Kirishima’s final match will probably be against Atamifuji, since he’s the next highest ranked person left in the tournament. Fujiryoga vs. Wakatakakage and Kotoeihō vs. Yoshinofuji are likely last day match-ups, too.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 9.5
Tobi trample counter (rows): 8*
*Tobizaru cleared one and a half rows courtest of Wakatakakage (we round up in the trample counter).
And now something extra…
If you are a paid subscriber, below you will find results, videos and analysis for jūryō.
