2026 Natsu Basho: Day 9 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2026 Natsu Basho (spoilers).
It’s another late night edition of Sumo Stomp! tonight.
Today was Victoria Day in Canada, which meant more family time and saving sumo writing for once everyone else has gone to bed.
Scroll down and you’ll see the results for makuuchi and juryo, as well as lots of videos and my analysis.
The bonus gif today is Tobi’s shiko.
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SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Takerufuji (6-3) def. Ōshōumi (1-8) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)
Wakanoshō (5-4) def. Rōga (5-4) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Fujiryoga (7-2) def. Mitakeumi (4-5) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Kotoeihō (7-2) def. Tobizaru (7-2) by oshidashi*
Shishi (3-6) def. Tamawashi (0-9) by tsukiotoshi
Kinbōzan (5-4) def. Ryūden (3-6) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Ura (6-3) def. Tokihayate (3-6) by okuridashi (rear push out)*
Hakunofuji (6-3) def. Abi (4-5) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Asanoyama (6-3) def. Chiyoshōma (4-5) by oshidashi
Nishikifuji (3-6) def. Fujiseun (5-4) by kotenage (armlock throw)*
Churanoumi (6-3) def. Ōshōma (5-4) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Shōdai (3-6) def. Asahakūryū (3-6) by oshidashi
Yoshinofuji (6-3) def. Ōhō (3-6) by yorikiri*
Takanoshō (4-5) def. Hiradoumi (4-5) by hatakikomi
Ichiyamamoto (4-5) def. Fujinokawa (4-5) by oshidashi
Kotoshōhō (6-3) def. Wakatakakage (7-2) by yorikiri*
Atamifuji (5-4) def. Daieishō (3-6) by oshidashi
Kirishima (8-1) def. Wakamotoharu (2-7) by yoritaoshi*
Gōnoyama (7-2) def. Kotozakura (2-7) by hatakikomi after mono-ii (judges’ review) confirms gyoji (referee) decision*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
O2e Kirishima: 8-1
K1e Wakatakakage, M15e Tobizaru, M4w Gōnoyama, M13e Kotoeihō, M17e Fujiryoga: 7-2
Analysis
Kirishima re-took the lead of the basho last night. However, his win was the most painful win he’s had this year. And it came close to causing him some serious damage.
In his bout with Wakamotoharu last night, Kirishima started perfectly. Both men prefer the hidari-yotsu (left arm inside position). So, off the tachiai, Kirishima got his left arm in, but then used ottsuke (forearm blocking) to prevent Wakamotoharu getting his arm snug on the inside.
Because Kirishima had the most firm position with his left arm he was able to turn Wakamotoharu towards the straw and begin marching him out. Wakamotoharu’s reaction to this was an all or nothing utchari (backwards pivot throw) attempt. Those of you who have been here for a while know that I absolutely loathe this move. And this is exactly why.
The throw resulted in a loss to Wakamotoharu, by frontal crush out, since his back hit the dirt before Kirishima came down. The low chance of success on this move isn’t why I hate it, though. I hate it because it is too damn dangerous.
This utchari attempt saw Kirishima hit the dohyo head first and then flip onto the concrete. It took him a while to come up and he was bloody and dazed when he did. Kirishima is reportedly fine after this incident. But, with his history of neck injuries, this could have easily resulted in Kirishima being seriously hurt.
The move needs to be banned immediately. It’s only a matter of time until this happens to someone and they don’t get up.
Wakamotoharu goes for this move often and he does it out of desperation. And he’s desperate in these situations because he is too dependent on the hidari-yotsu. I really hope his refusal to diversify his sumo doesn’t result in something devastating happening.
That loss put Wakamotoharu at 2-7 for this tournament and kept him on route to terrible a record.
The win puts Kirishima up 8-1 with six days left. Hopefully he actually is fine after that and we see him tonight. If he has to pull out of this tournament, the entire basho (with all its injuries thus far) would be a disaster.
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Icon by HINOKODO (link).
Wakamotoharu might have been extra rough on Kirishima (someone he seems quite friendly with outside the ring) because he was trying to get one back for his little brother Wakatakakage.
Wakatakakage had dropped a bout before that happened, losing to Kotoshōhō.
Kotoshōhō has a good record against Wakatakakage and it’s easy to see why. Kotoshōhō used his length to keep Wakatakakage away from his body. Wakatakakage desperately tried to get on the belt, but by the time he did he was already being pushed over the straw.
The win puts Kotoshōhō at 6-3 and gives him an outside shot at contending for this basho.
Kotoshōhō’s brother Kotoeihō got a big win last night. He took out his fellow surprise contender Tobizaru. Kotoeihō pushed Tobizaru to the straw early, but Tobizaru used his excellent mobility to circle off and find himself some space. Kotoeihō is fast, though, he was able to stay square to Tobizaru and push him out on the move.
I’m still not buying Kotoeihō as a legimitate title contender this month, but he’s coming very close to changing my mind.
Fujiryoga, the other low ranked guy who is really showing up in this tournament, also won last night. He used hazuoshi (armpit thrusting) to get Mitakeumi moving back off the tachiai and then moved his hands up to the throat to seal the deal.
The 23 year-old Fujiryoga is only in his eigth Grand Sumo tournament. Like Kotoeihō, I doubt he can keep this pace up. But I’d love to be proved wrong.
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Gōnoyama is in this title chase this month and he’s got a lot more experience and pedigree than Fujiryoga and Kotoeihō. He took out the woeful looking Kotozakura last night. He hit Kotozakura hard off the tachiai, as you’d expect from him, but then used great awareness and dexterity to execute a slap down when it looked like Kotozakura might turn the tables on him.
Kotozakura is now one loss away from the make-koshi (losing record) and kadoban status.
Tonight Kotozakura will try and stave off those bad situations by beating Wakamotoharu. He’s got a 16-8 record against him. But I think this match-up is a coin flip, given how poor both has looked in this tournament.
Kirishima takes on Shōdai tonight. He’s 12-10 in that match-up. Shōdai has the kind of physical profile that Kirishima often struggles with.
Gōnoyama has Kotoshōhō. That should be violent. They are 3-3 in their past match-ups.
Wakatakakage meets Atamifuji, whom he is 2-1 against. Kotoeihō has a potential lay-up in the former of Ryūden and Fujiryoga meets the struggling Tokihayate.
Keeping count!
Henka counter: 7.5*
Tobi trample counter (rows): 4**
*Shishi executed a particularly gross henka on Tamawashi last night. That side-step, against an already hobbled opponenet, gave Shishi only his third win of the tournament. Tamawashi is now 0-9.
**Tobizaru hit the seats for the second night in a row last night.
And now something extra…
If you are a paid subscriber, below you will find results, videos and analysis for jūryō.
