Sumo Osaka Basho 2026

With half of the March Basho in Osaka completed, the first week has produced a string of lively bouts. Yokozuna Hōshōryū has looked stronger than ever and currently leads the standings. His yokozuna colleague Ōnosato has struggled. After suffering a shoulder injury in the January tournament, he withdrew from the tournament, having already dropped four bouts. Yokozuna hopeful Aonishiki lost again yesterday, his fourth defeat. For now, that result ends his hopes of earning promotion to sumo's highest rank.

Ozeki Aonishiki's yokozuna promotion bid is all but over after his fourth defeat in seven days at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday, while yokozuna Hoshoyu stayed among the six-man leading pack with one defeat. In a repeat of the New Year meet's championship playoff won by Aonishiki (3-4), the Ukrainian sensation had a testing bout with komusubi Atamifuji (4-3), who was pumped up from the off and instantly drove the ozeki to the edge at Edion Arena Osaka. Aonishiki displayed his usual tenacity to counter before looking to attempt a neck throw, a technique that secured him his second successive Emperor's Cup two months ago. But Atamifuji was not rattled this time and instead grabbed firm belt holds before flooring Aonishiki with a left overarm throw.

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Atamifuji got his sweet revenge after he was beaten by Aonishiki in January.

Day 14 and the Harubashou had a winner (although bouts will continue today on Day 15):


Sekiwake Kirishima secured his third Emperor's Cup on 21 March, despite losing to ōzeki Aonishiki on the penultimate day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Edion Arena Osaka.

The loss left Kirishima on 12–2. His closest rivals, yokozuna Hōshōryū and maegashira No. 5 Kotoshōhō, were both defeated the same day and dropped to 10–4, leaving them too far behind with one bout remaining. Kirishima, 29, from Mongolia, had reached ōzeki after the Summer tournament in 2023. Injuries followed, and he was demoted after the Summer tournament in 2024. This result marks a clear return to form. He previously claimed the Emperor's Cup at the Spring and Kyushu tournaments in 2023. In the two tournaments leading into Osaka, he recorded 11–4 results in both, which had already raised expectations of a renewed push for promotion back to ōzeki.



For those who can watch FB reels:

Aonishiki beating Kirishima


Kotozakura beats the yokozuna Hoshoryu, rendering Kirishima victorious.

Here's the winner with his family:


Kirishima won the Harubasho, though he lost the last two bouts.


Sadly, Aonishiki was beaten by yokozuna Hoshoryu and had to face his first make-koshi (負け越し, more losses than wins for a wrestler in a tournament).

Sekiwake Kirishima's promotion back to ōzeki was approved today at a ranking meeting for the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, along with an extraordinary board meeting of the Japan Sumo Association. It is his second promotion to the rank. He returns to ōzeki after roughly two years away. Kirishima becomes only the third wrestler since the current demotion system was introduced at the 1969 Nagoya tournament to regain ōzeki status after dropping to the maegashira ranks or below.