2026 Natsu Basho: Day 8 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Natsu Basho (spoilers).
It’s a late one tonight, folks.
I’ve had a packed day of doing stuff outside with the kid. The kid then decided all that wasn’t going to make her tired, though. So I then had a late put down, too. You know who did get sleepy from all that outside time in the sun, though? MEEEEEEE.
I can’t promise this will be the most detailed tournament update I’ve ever done, but here it is nonetheless.
I was tempted to ask Mrs. Sumo Stomp! to pinch hit for me tonight, but she threatened to spend the entire thing talking about wrestlers’ nipples. So I’ll save that for a real emergency.
Scroll down for results, videos and analysis of day eight’s action.
Bonus gif tonight is Kotoeihō’s impressive shiko.
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SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Sadanoumi (4-4) def. Wakanoshō (4-4) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Fujiryoga (6-2) def. Kotoeihō (6-2) by watatshikomi (thigh grbbing push down)*
Ryūden (3-5) def. Tamawashi (0-8) by tsukihiza (knee touch down)
Tokihayate (3-5) def. Ōshōumi (1-7) by yorikiri
Tobizaru (7-1) def. Ura (5-3) by oshidashi after torinaoshi (rematch)*
Rōga (5-3) def. Kinbōzan (4-4) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Mitakeumi (4-4) def. Hakunofuji (5-3) by shitatedashinage (pulling underarm throw)*
Nishikifuji (2-6) def. Shishi (2-6) by okuridashi (rear push out)
Asanoyama (5-3) def. Ōshōma (5-3) by uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Asahakūryū (3-5) def. Chiyoshōma (4-4) by yorikiri
Abi (4-4) def. Fujiseun (5-3) by uwatenage
Hiradoumi (4-4) def. Churanoumi (5-3) by oshidashi
Yoshinofuji (5-3) def. Fujinokawa (4-4) by oshidashi
Ichiyamamoto (3-5) def. Takanoshō (3-5) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Wakatakakage (7-1) def. Ōhō (3-5) by yorikiri*
Atamifuji (4-4) def. Shōdai (2-6) by oshidashi
Kotoshōhō (5-3) def. Wakamotoharu (2-6) by oshidashi
Daieishō (4-4) def. Kotozakura (2-6) by oshidashi
Gōnoyama (6-2) def. Kirishima (7-1) by oshidashi*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
O2e Kirishima, K1e Wakatakakage, M15e Tobizaru: 7-1
M4w Gōnoyama, M13e Kotoeihō, M17e Fujiryoga: 6-2
Analysis
Kirishima suffered his first loss of the tournament last night. He was pegged back to 7-1 by Gōnoyama.
I don’t think Kirishima did a lot wrong in this match. I think we just have to credit Gōnoyama for an excellent showing. Kirishima started the bout with thrusts and I suppose things might have gone better had he led with his strength (grappling). But he might have done this because he wanted to surprise Gōnoyama. His opening gambit resulted in getting Gōnoyama to the straw, but Gōnoyama did a great job of moving laterally. Kirishima then tried to grapple and even got his favourite left arm inside position. But Gōnoyama, again, did a great job of defending. Kirishima went for a bad throw after that, which might have been a sign of frustration. Gōnoyama stayed on his feet and showed great cardio as he attacked Kirishima and got the push out.
I love Kirishima and I’d love to see him win this basho. But I am delighted to see this development from Gōnoyama. He came into makuuchi with a lot of promise and was quickly thrust into the jōi. He’s slumped for much of the two years that have followed, but he was one of the front runners for a large portion of the March tournament and he’s looking like he might be a factor in this one, too.
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Kirishima’s loss means he’s now tied with Wakatakakage and Tobizaru (!). Wakatakakage got his seventh win last night by bullying Ōhō, who really is hapless when you get a hold of his belt. Wakatakakage used a mae-mitsu (front grip to drag the bigger man around the cage before fronting him up for the force out.
Tobizaru got his seventh win in the All Chaos Cup (which is the special championship that plays out every time he faces Ura). Last night these two had, perhaps, the most fun bout of the year thus far.
It was wild and back-and-forth and finished, initially, when Tobizaru tried to spin out of trouble on the boundary but showed too much of his back to Ura. Ura kept hold of him and launchd Tobizaru off the ring. Tobizaru went flailing into the seats for the first in this tournament.
That ending was too close to call and a torinaoshi was called. I totally agree with the call, because it looked like Tobizaru was making a concerted effort to drive Ura down as he was on his way out. And, also, Tobizaru didn’t jump in the air while he was doing that (something we’ve seen the judges ignore/punish in some very high stake matches lately).
Like so many movies, the sequel didn’t live up to the original here. They clinched up early in the rematch and Tobizaru was able to summon up enough energy to force the slightly more tired Ura out.
Tobizaru is now out of the woods, as far as a potential juryo demotion goes. It’s very sexy to imagine a much bigger goal for him this month. But I have a feeling he’s going to have a very tough time in week two.
Youngsters Kotoeihō and Fujiryoga are both at 6-2, just one win behind the leaders. That’s after Fujiryoga beat the shiko king with a rarely seen watashikomi (a single-leg for MMA watchers).
It would be fun if one of these guys were able to rival Kirishima or Wakatakakage down the stretch, but — like with Tobizaru — I have doubts they can maintain this form when things get tougher for them.
Hakunofuji is having a very under-the-radar tournament. That’s probably optimal for him, right now, given how much negative spotlight he had in the last one. He lost to Mitakeumi last night and, in doing so, reminded us all about how flexible you have to be to becomea sumotori.
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Kotozakura would love to be having an under-the-radar tournament right now. The ōzeki is now 2-6 after a loss to Daieishō. Kotozakura has looked slow and stiff in this tournament and, last night, he seemed to give up on the straw. I hope that’s a sign that his knees are bothering him and not a sign that he’s mentally checked out of the basho. Regardless, he needs to lock in and win six of the next seven bouts to save himself from kadoban status.
Kotozakura sees Gonōyama tonight. He’s got a massive 9-1 record against him. However, based on this month’s form, you can argue Kotozakura might be the underdog in this match.
Kirishima will try and rebound from his loss to Gonōyama with a win over Wakamotoharu. Wakamotoharu is having a nightmare tournament this month and is only 2-6. He’ll be extremely motivated in this bout, knowing that a win will help out his little brother.
Kirishima is 16-7 against Wakamotoharu. Kirishima knows the Waka Bros. very well. He often heads over to their Arashio stable for practise matches. He doesn’t have any sekitori (juryo and makuuchi ranked wrestlers) to scrimmage with at his Otowayama stable.
Wakatakakage faces Kotoshōhō. He’s 1-5 in that match-up and has lost the last three. His last loss against Kotoshōhō was in Nagoya in 2025. That’s the bout that killed his ozeki run (Kotoshōhō would go on to win that basho, too).
Tobizaru meets Kotoeihō tonight. He won their only past meeting.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 6.5*
Tobi trample counter (rows): 3**
*We had three henka last night! First off, Roga side-stepped Kinbozan. The Abi fooled Fujiseun. And, finally, Wakamotoharu tried one on Kotoshoho, but — just like most things this tournament — it didn’t go well for him and he was pushed out shortly afterwards. I almost gave Nishikifuji credit for a half henka in his win over Shishi, but there’s no need to get greddy.
** We are off the mark!
And now something extra…
If you are a paid subscriber, below you will find results, videos and analysis for jūryō.
