September Basho 2026 — Topics

Ozeki Kirishima, who came in on a yokozuna run, beat Kotozakura by overarm throw in the all-ozeki bout on senshuraku and finished 8-7. The run had collapsed early — three losses by the middle day and a fourth on day nine, all to maegashira — and he had fallen to 5-5 before three straight wins pulled him over the line. Kotozakura finished 9-6. Sekiwake Atamifuji lost to Fujinokawa's scoop throw for 8-7, five straight defeats to close his ozeki-run basho. Komusubi Daieisho lost to Minoumi for 5-10 and Hakunofuji forced out Roga for 5-10. In juryo three men tied at 11-4, and Kitanowaka at east juryo six, who had forced down Kagayaki in the regular bout to catch him, beat Kagayaki again in the playoff and then slapped down Kayo — three wins in a day for his first divisional title. It was his first playoff, he said, a good experience with the best possible result, and it puts him close to a return to makuuchi. Tamawashi, 41, was pulled down by Kayo and finished 10-5. Inami won makushita at 7-0, Kobayashi sandanme at 7-0, Ten jonidan at 7-0, and Joshoyu jonokuchi at 6-0.

霧島 →琴櫻 →熱海富士 →北の若 →輝 →嘉陽 →伊波 →

小

小林 →

天

天 →

城

城勝雄 →

The special prizes went to two men, both Fighting Spirit. New sekiwake Fujinokawa beat Atamifuji in the all-sekiwake bout on the final day by scoop throw for 11-4; having beaten all three ozeki — Aonishiki, Kotozakura and Kirishima — and stayed in the title race until late, he takes the prize for a second time, and eleven wins in a first sanyaku basho is the kind of number an ozeki run is built on. Minoumi at maegashira three pushed out komusubi Daieisho for 10-5, met the win-on-the-final-day condition for his second Fighting Spirit prize, and at 33 is now very likely to become the first man from Okinawa to reach sanyaku. Takayasu had been named for the Outstanding Performance prize, for his day-four gold star over Onosato, on condition that he reached a winning record and Onosato took the title; he lost to Fujiryoga's scoop throw for 7-8 and missed out. Asanoyama, forced down by Yoshinofuji, and debutant Kotobukinofuji, forced out by Hiradoumi, also missed their conditional Fighting Spirit prizes. No Technique prize was awarded.

藤ノ川 →美ノ海 →熱海富士 →高安 →朝乃山 →寿之富士 →

Yokozuna Onosato won the final bout of senshuraku, a winner-takes-all meeting with ozeki Aonishiki with both on 11-3, by thrust-out, and took the championship at 12-3 — his sixth, the most among active wrestlers, and his first since last September, six basho ago. He hit Aonishiki with both hands from the tachiai, stood him up and drove him straight out without ever letting him get a grip. After losing to Kirishima on day thirteen and Kotozakura on day fourteen, his two-win cushion was gone, but he settled it with yokozuna sumo. He had missed the final day in Kyushu last November with a left shoulder injury, sat out all of May, and managed only 9-6 in Nagoya; with Hoshoryu absent for the whole basho he stood as the lone yokozuna for fifteen days. After the day-four loss to Takayasu he won eight straight, and after the late slide he won the one that mattered. Aonishiki finished 11-4; in his first basho back at ozeki, a second straight title and a fourth overall did not come.

大の里 →安青錦 →豊昇龍 →

Asanoyama at maegashira six was thrust down by new sekiwake Fujinokawa on day fourteen for 10-4 and is out of the title race. He wrapped up Fujinokawa's right arm and drove him to the edge, but was thrust down, and a grab at the leg as he fell did not work. His attack had been sloppy, he said matter-of-factly; Fujinokawa's lower body was too strong to topple, but at least he lost going forward. He told the reporters that their gloomy faces were dragging him down — it was over, nothing to be done, so cheer up. Leaving the dressing room he saw Onosato's second loss on television and let out a cry of frustration. Fujinokawa is 10-4 as a new sekiwake: his left had stayed firm to the end, he said; beating someone for the first time gives you confidence that you have got stronger; good, but there is one more bout. Chairman Hakkaku called him something else — afraid of nobody, a pleasure to watch. Atamifuji lost to Roga's overarm throw, a fourth straight defeat, 8-6; Wakamotoharu forced out Takerufuji for 10-4. In juryo Kagayaki was thrust down by 41-year-old Tamawashi for 11-3, and Tamawashi, nine straight since day six, is 10-4 and one behind. One more bout tomorrow, Tamawashi said — do what has to be done and finish with his own sumo; a return to makuuchi in Kyushu would make him the oldest to do so since the Showa era. Kayo lost to Kitanowaka for 10-4. The final day has Atamifuji against Fujinokawa and Kirishima against Kotozakura.

朝乃山 →藤ノ川 →熱海富士 →輝 →嘉陽 →

Ozeki Aonishiki forced down ozeki Kirishima on day fourteen for 11-3 — eight straight wins since a three-bout slide from day four — and is one bout from a second consecutive championship. He took a quick right overarm grip, put his head on Kirishima's chest, pulled in the left belt too, and leaned his weight into Kirishima's desperate scoop throw to turn it. He said he was glad to have wrestled his own way, taking the overarm belt; against the throw his body simply moved on its own; his recovery came from wrestling his own sumo more often, and the results followed. Before the bout his master Ajigawa oyakata, the former sekiwake Aminishiki, had told him a good bout would come from a firm step in and keeping his forward lean. Senshuraku brings yokozuna Onosato with the two level. Pressure? None in particular, he said — he wants no regrets, and to be himself. In his first basho back at ozeki he is chasing a second straight title after Nagoya. Kirishima is 7-7 and needs to beat Kotozakura on the final day for a winning record.

安青錦 →霧島 →大の里 →

Yokozuna Onosato lost the final bout of day fourteen to ozeki Kotozakura by thrust-down and is 11-3, his cushion at the top gone. He drove forward from the tachiai, got the right arm inside and pushed to the edge, but leaned in and was thrust down from the left. It is a second straight loss after Kirishima the day before, both bouts lost from a winning position. He roared down the hanamichi; asked whether he had rushed his attack he said yes. What he has to do does not change, he said — concentrate to the end, not worry about it, and do it properly tomorrow. ABEMA analyst Tamanoi, the former ozeki Tochiazuma, said he could not have imagined Onosato losing twice at this stage: the rule is to move toward the side you have inside, but he went straight ahead and was undone by the ozeki's supple body; with injuries keeping him from titles he probably wanted it settled quickly — a bout won on sumo and lost on the result. Kotozakura, 9-5, is one from a first double-digit basho in three, but said his body reacted and he concentrated, and that with a record like his there is nothing to celebrate. The final bout of senshuraku is Onosato against Aonishiki, both 11-3, winner takes the title; chief judge Asakayama, the former ozeki Kaio, says he cannot predict it.

大の里 →琴櫻 →安青錦 →

New sekiwake Fujinokawa was pushed out by Minoumi at maegashira three on day thirteen for 9-4 and is now two off the lead. He hit head-first and thrust but could not move Minoumi back, and was driven out when he finally pulled. He said he had gone soft mid-bout and simply been outlasted, and will reset for Asanoyama tomorrow. Minoumi, 9-4, refused to give ground under the pressure, kept his arms in and went with the pull for the push-out; he said he was glad to have concentrated on his own sumo and is giving everything one day at a time — at 33, Okinawa's first sanyaku promotion is coming into view. Takanosho at maegashira four withdrew, a walkover for Hakunofuji, 4-9. Ura slapped down Fujiseiun and Wakamotoharu slapped down Hiradoumi, both 9-4. In juryo Kagayaki, 11-1, was thrust down by Namatame for a second loss, but Kayo was also thrust down, by Mitakeumi, and is 10-3, so Kagayaki still leads alone. In makushita Inami forced out Yumenofuji in the battle of the unbeaten for 7-0; in sandanme Kobayashi slapped down Naya, Taiho's grandson, for 7-0.

藤ノ川 →美ノ海 →隆の勝 →伯乃富士 →宇良 →輝 →嘉陽 →

With Onosato beaten, the two three-loss men are one behind. Ozeki Aonishiki slapped down Kotozakura in the all-ozeki bout for 10-3, a seventh straight win since day seven after three losses in a row from day four. He said that once he got inside his body simply moved on its own, and that he is not thinking about the title — for the last two days he just wants to show sumo people will enjoy. Chief judge Onoe said Aonishiki wrestled properly; he gave ground, but against that opponent, and ten wins after a three-bout slide is remarkable. Asanoyama at maegashira six took a left frontal grip on sekiwake Atamifuji, got his right arm inside, stood him up and forced him out — his first ten-win basho in five since returning to makuuchi. It was a joy to wrestle in that roar, he said. He watched the final bout on television in the dressing room and noted that the view from below and the view on screen are different; of the title he is thinking nothing at all, and will rest well and prepare for tomorrow. A championship would be his second, after May 2019, and at 43 basho would equal Kotonishiki's record for the longest gap. Kotozakura is 8-5; Atamifuji has lost three straight and is also 8-5. On day fourteen Asanoyama meets Fujinokawa and Aonishiki meets Kirishima.

安青錦 →朝乃山 →琴櫻 →熱海富士 →

Yokozuna Onosato, who could have clinched on day thirteen, lost the final bout to ozeki Kirishima by underarm throw and is 11-2. Kirishima pulled at his right arm at the tachiai, denied him the right inside position and took his own favoured left inside grip; Onosato got a right overarm hold and drove forward, but at the edge the left underarm throw put him face-down. His run of eight straight wins since day four is over. He had been 10-1 against Kirishima, but this is a second consecutive loss to him after Nagoya. Onosato said he would reset — what he has to do does not change, and he will prepare mind and body for tomorrow. Chairman Hakkaku, the former yokozuna Hokutoumi, wished he had taken the left underarm grip and remarked that even one championship is hard to win. Chief judge Onoe, the former komusubi Hamanoshima, thought Kirishima had been waiting for the yokozuna to come forward. Kirishima is 7-6, one win from a winning record, but declined interviews through his attendant. On day fourteen Onosato meets Kotozakura; a win, with Aonishiki and Asanoyama both losing, would give him a sixth championship, his first in six basho.

大の里 →霧島 →琴櫻 →

Day twelve had two bouts between three-loss men and the winners stayed in the race. Ozeki Aonishiki forced out Kinbozan for 9-3. Asanoyama at maegashira six, against Minoumi, a man of the same school year, gave up the belt at the tachiai but got his right arm inside, broke the grip and forced him out — he said he screwed the right arm in as it started to slip inside and shook the grip off with his hips, and admitted he had not wanted to lose to him. He is taking it one bout at a time and meets Atamifuji on day thirteen. The 9-3 group is Aonishiki, Fujinokawa and Asanoyama, all two behind Onosato. Ozeki Kotozakura pushed out Oshoma for 8-4 and a winning record; Ura pushed out Tokihayate, Wakamotoharu pushed out Ichiyamamoto and Fujiseiun forced out Shodai, all reaching 8-4. Komusubi Daieisho was thrust out by Takayasu for 4-8, a losing record, and Hakunofuji was pushed out by Gonoyama for 3-9. Kotoshoho withdrew, giving Fujiryoga a walkover for 5-7. In juryo Kagayaki pushed out Daiseizan for 11-1, chased by Kayo at 10-2 after slapping down Tanji.

安青錦 →金峰山 →朝乃山 →美ノ海 →琴櫻 →宇良 →大栄翔 →輝 →嘉陽 →

New sekiwake Fujinokawa forced down ozeki Kirishima on day twelve for 9-3 — his first win over him in four meetings, and with Aonishiki and Kotozakura already beaten, a clean sweep of the three ozeki. Driven back by Kirishima's attack, he slipped left at the edge, got round behind, was pulled back by the left arm but kept going forward and forced him down. Kirishima had given him training before the basho, he said, and that training had borne fruit; he is starting to beat men he had never beaten. Kokonoe oyakata, the former ozeki Chiyotaikai, judging the second half, praised a bout full of fighting spirit — no hesitation, real attacking speed, a well-timed sidestep and then acceleration that gave Kirishima no chance to turn: it was Fujinokawa's sumo alone. The refusal to lose shows on his face, he added, the stronger the opponent the more he brings, and it reminds him of himself. Ten wins as a new sanyaku man would make him the eleventh since 1989, after a list that includes Takahanada, Hakuho, Terunofuji and Onosato, eight of whom went on to ozeki. His father Kabutoyama oyakata, the former maegashira Oikari, called it a fine way to repay the favour but said even a winning record was a surprise — first he wants him to settle in sanyaku. Kirishima is 6-6.

藤ノ川 →霧島 →

Yokozuna Onosato beat sekiwake Atamifuji in the final bout of day twelve with an underarm pulling throw for 11-1. Atamifuji had won their last three meetings and won the tachiai here too, but Onosato got his right arm inside and threw him over. He said the opponent was nothing special in his mind and that he wants to show aggressive sumo. It was also his 200th career win. Three men are 9-3: Aonishiki, Fujinokawa and Asanoyama. On day thirteen Onosato meets Kirishima in the final bout; if he wins and all three 9-3 men lose, his sixth championship, the first in six basho, is decided — a day-thirteen title for the second time, after last May. Atamifuji is 8-4. Even winning out would leave him short of the 33-win yardstick over three sanyaku basho, and in the dressing room he stamped his right foot in frustration. Chief judge Kokonoe, the former ozeki Chiyotaikai, would not be drawn on promotion: it is not his decision, he said; it becomes a discussion when the numbers and the content warrant it, and he will talk when that time comes — for now the man is trying his hardest, and winning every remaining bout matters too. Promotion after this basho looks very unlikely.

大の里 →熱海富士 →霧島 →

All three two-loss men lost on day eleven, so the race is Onosato at 10-1 chased by six men at 8-3. Ozeki Aonishiki pushed out Takanosho for 8-3, a winning record in his first basho back at the rank. Minoumi at maegashira three forced down Kotoshoho for 8-3 and a winning record of his own. Kinbozan, on a five-bout streak, was forced out by Asanoyama for a third loss, and Asanoyama joins the group at 8-3. The six: Atamifuji, Fujinokawa, Aonishiki, Minoumi, Kinbozan and Asanoyama. Ura was pushed out by debutant Kotobukinofuji and Tokihayate forced out by Fujiseiun, both 7-4. Ozeki Kotozakura threw Roga to end a three-bout slide at 7-4. New komusubi Hakunofuji lost to Takayasu's overarm throw and is 3-8, a losing record. In juryo Kagayaki, 10-0 coming in, was forced out by Hitoshi for a first loss, 10-1, and Kayo pushed out Tamashoho for 9-2, one behind. In makushita Tenshozan was beaten by Inami for his first loss, while in sandanme Naya, Taiho's grandson, is 6-0.

安青錦 →美ノ海 →金峰山 →朝乃山 →琴櫻 →伯乃富士 →輝 →嘉陽 →

Sekiwake Atamifuji, chasing ozeki, was forced out by ozeki Kirishima on day eleven and is 8-3. After nine wins in May and twelve in Nagoya, the usual yardstick of 33 wins over three sanyaku basho needs twelve this time, so the remaining four days must all be won; on the numbers there is no slack left. ABEMA analyst Nakamura, the former sekiwake Yoshikaze, said the attack that had brought him eight wins did not work on Kirishima, who took it well and got Atamifuji's upper body upright so that his weight counted for nothing. Nishiiwa oyakata, the former sekiwake Wakanosato, said the tachiai was weak — he should have thrown his big body into the hit rather than receive. Chief judge Asakayama noted that days remain, that he should reset from tomorrow and produce his heavy, strong sumo, and that everything will be judged at the end; since 2000 Kisenosato, Goeido, Asanoyama and Shodai have all gone up on 32. Day twelve brings yokozuna Onosato, who leads their series 6-3 though Atamifuji has won the last three. Kirishima's win, his first in four days, put him back to 5-5, but he declined interviews through his attendant afterwards — a fourth straight day of silence.

熱海富士 →霧島 →大の里 →

Yokozuna Onosato forced out new sekiwake Fujinokawa on day eleven, a man who had beaten him in both previous meetings, for 10-1. He got his right arm inside at the tachiai and drove straight out without letting Fujinokawa do anything. Of an opponent who had won by a sidestep the day before, Onosato said he went in determined not to let him get his shape or do what he likes, and that a sidestep never crossed his mind. With Atamifuji, Fujinokawa and Kinbozan — all 8-2 going in — losing on the same day, Onosato now leads by two. Chief judge Asakayama, the former ozeki Kaio, called it perhaps his best sumo: his own shape from the tachiai, one surge, the lively Fujinokawa given nothing — strong sumo is back, and today was overwhelming. Chairman Hakkaku, the former yokozuna Hokutoumi, said this is simply how it should look: calm, unhurried footwork. Fujinokawa admitted he was overpowered — strong, he said — and his run of six wins since day five ends at 8-3. On day twelve Onosato meets Atamifuji.

大の里 →藤ノ川 →

New sekiwake Fujinokawa thrust down Takanosho at maegashira four on day ten for 8-2, his fastest winning record in makuuchi. He stepped left at the tachiai and slapped the charging Takanosho down from the side for a sixth straight win since day five. Not sumo to be proud of, he said, but once in a while it is fine — and for Onosato tomorrow he will go all out. Kinbozan at maegashira ten absorbed debutant Kotobukinofuji's charge, took a left underarm grip and threw him with a powerful shitatenage for 8-2, five straight since day six and a winning record of his own; his body is moving well, he said, and he will take the last five one at a time. Fujishima oyakata thinks he could be an interesting factor in the race. Ura beat Roga with a clean slap-down for 7-3; Asanoyama pushed out Abi and Tokihayate threw Takerufuji, both 7-3. After ten days Onosato leads at 9-1, three men are 8-2 — Atamifuji, Fujinokawa and Kinbozan — and five are 7-3: Ura, Asanoyama, Minoumi, Tokihayate and Aonishiki. In juryo Kagayaki forced down Enho for 10-0, and Kayo slapped down Namatame for 8-2.

藤ノ川 →隆の勝 →金峰山 →寿之富士 →宇良 →朝乃山 →輝 →嘉陽 →

Sekiwake Atamifuji, chasing ozeki, pushed out ozeki Kotozakura on day ten for 8-2 and a winning record. He drove Kotozakura back from a sharp tachiai, denied the ozeki's attempt to turn it around as he backed left for the belt, and finished with a push-out — against a man who had led their series 8-4. It is his fourth straight winning record in sanyaku. Fujishima oyakata, commentating on television, called it strong sumo with real horsepower and, of a man who has lost all three of his championship playoffs, said what he surely wants is the title. The twelve wins usually expected for promotion now need four from the last five days. Kotozakura has lost three in a row and is 6-4. Ozeki Kirishima, who came in on a yokozuna run, could not get a grip on first-time opponent Fujiryoga at maegashira four, pulled when driven back, and was pushed straight out: three losses in a row, 5-5, and he kept shaking his head down the hanamichi. With the yokozuna and an ozeki still to come, even a winning record is in doubt. Ozeki Aonishiki forced out Minoumi for 7-3, handing Minoumi a third loss.

熱海富士 →琴櫻 →霧島 →安青錦 →美ノ海 →

Yokozuna Onosato forced out new komusubi Hakunofuji on day ten for 9-1 and kept the lead to himself. He won the tachiai, got his right arm inside and forced out cleanly — not a single pull, the habit he is criticised for — for a sixth straight win since the day-four loss to Takayasu. ABEMA analyst Nishiiwa, the former sekiwake Wakanosato, called it yokozuna sumo and said sumo like this wins the championship. Onosato said he can feel himself that he is better than last basho, and that he will keep concentrating one bout at a time so that he is being chased in good shape at the end. On day eleven he meets new sekiwake Fujinokawa, two losses back, who has lost both previous meetings. Fujishima oyakata, the former ozeki Musoyama, calls it the bout of the title race: Fujinokawa only has to go forward, and it is Onosato who has the harder job.

大の里 →伯乃富士 →藤ノ川 →

Ozeki Kirishima, on a yokozuna run, was pulled down by komusubi Daieisho on day nine and is 5-4. It became a thrusting exchange from the tachiai and Kirishima looked in charge as he drove Daieisho to the edge, but Daieisho pushed back and Kirishima went down trying to stay in. After the Minoumi loss the day before it is his first back-to-back defeat of the basho, and his second consecutive attempt at the rope is back to square one. NHK analyst Mainoumi was blunt: he is losing his composure day by day, and this is not how a man aiming at yokozuna loses. Chief judge Asakayama had already said the day before that who he loses to has to be looked at, and that strict scrutiny comes with the territory. Atamifuji, chasing ozeki, forced down Takayasu for 7-2 and needs five of the last six for the usual twelve. In juryo Kagayaki pushed out Kayo in the battle of the unbeaten for 9-0, the only perfect record left. In makushita Tenshozan forced out Ryusho for 5-0, and in sandanme Naya, Taiho's grandson, pushed out Fujinowaka for 5-0.

霧島 →大栄翔 →熱海富士 →輝 →嘉陽 →

天

天昇山 →

New sekiwake Fujinokawa won the bout of the two-loss men on day nine, throwing ozeki Kotozakura by overarm throw for 7-2. Driven to the edge, he held on, and once they settled into a left inside grip he threw the ozeki over without hesitation. He said, still short of breath, that he had only thought about holding on and not stopping, and that the roar of the arena is something he turns into strength. After Aonishiki on day six it was his second win over an ozeki in his first sanyaku basho; he has won five straight since day five and is one win from a winning record. He had been 1-2 against Kotozakura. The ozeki, beaten by Hakunofuji the day before, has lost two in a row and at 6-3 has slipped a step back in the title race. Ozeki Aonishiki beat Yoshinofuji by scoop throw for 6-3, and komusubi Hakunofuji forced out Kotoeiho for 3-6.

藤ノ川 →琴櫻 →安青錦 →伯乃富士 →

Yokozuna Onosato pulled down Fujiryoga at maegashira four, a first-time opponent, on day nine for 8-1 and a winning record — the only man in makuuchi to have one by day nine. He has won five straight since losing to Takayasu on day four and leads alone. Four men chase at 7-2. Sekiwake Atamifuji wobbled under Takayasu's underarm throw from a right inside grip, recovered, and forced him down once they separated; the other sekiwake, Fujinokawa, won the two-loss showdown with Kotozakura by overarm throw. Among the maegashira Minoumi pushed out Roga and Kinbozan forced down Chiyoshoma, both 7-2. Asanoyama, Ura and debutant Kotobukinofuji, all 6-2 going in, lost — to Takanosho's pull-down, Oshoma's slap-down and Wakamotoharu's force-out — and the three-loss group is nine men, Kotozakura and Aonishiki among them. On day ten Onosato meets Hakunofuji and Atamifuji meets Kotozakura.

大の里 →熱海富士 →藤ノ川 →美ノ海 →金峰山 →

Both sekiwake reached the turn at 6-2. Atamifuji, chasing ozeki, was driven back by Kotoeiho at maegashira one and saved the bout with a thrust-down at the edge, avoiding back-to-back losses; the twelve wins usually expected for promotion now need six from the last seven days. New sekiwake Fujinokawa traded thrusts with Takayasu, got inside and pushed him out for his fourth straight win since day five and a sixth win in his first sanyaku basho. Ozeki Aonishiki forced out komusubi Daieisho for 5-3, leaving Daieisho 2-6. Among the maegashira Ura beat Ichiyamamoto by arm-pull, Asanoyama forced out Shishi, Kinbozan forced out Fujiseiun and debutant Kotobukinofuji forced down juryo visitor Mitakeumi, so all four stayed at 6-2; Shodai slapped down Asasuiryu for two in a row. In juryo Kayo was forced out by Ryuden for his first loss, while Kagayaki pushed out Tokifudo for 8-0 and is the only unbeaten man there; the two meet on day nine. In makushita Tenshozan beat Osanai by arm-lock force-down for 4-0.

熱海富士 →藤ノ川 →安青錦 →輝 →嘉陽 →

天

天昇山 →

Ozeki Kirishima, on a second consecutive yokozuna run, was forced down by Minoumi at maegashira three on the middle day and is 5-3. He gave ground to Minoumi's pressure, lost his balance and went over the edge almost falling. Minoumi also beat him by thrust-down in Nagoya, and now leads their series 3-1. Takayasu on day three, Yoshinofuji on day six, Minoumi on day eight — all three losses are to rank-and-file men. The judging department had asked for a championship at a high level; at three losses with the yokozuna, the ozeki and the sekiwake still to come, promotion after this basho is effectively off. Kirishima, who had stopped a two-bout slide against Gonoyama the day before, had said his only thought was to hit hard at the tachiai today — it did not turn into a win. Minoumi is 6-2 after beating the ozeki and stays in the two-loss group.

霧島 →美ノ海 →

In the final bout of the middle day yokozuna Onosato forced out Takanosho at maegashira four with a textbook yorikiri for 7-1 and took sole possession of the lead. That was because ozeki Kotozakura had lost the bout before to new komusubi Hakunofuji, so the yokozuna is the only man with one loss. Kotozakura lost the tachiai, pulled, and was pushed straight out; it was Hakunofuji's second win and squares their series at 3-3. Kotozakura had reached the middle day with one loss for the first time since his Kyushu title of 2024, on an ankle that is still not right, and stumbled here. Eight men are 6-2: Kotozakura, Atamifuji, Fujinokawa, Minoumi, Asanoyama, Ura, Kinbozan and Kotobukinofuji. Onosato turns for home a full win clear, chasing his first championship since last September.

大の里 →隆の勝 →琴櫻 →伯乃富士 →

Former ozeki Shodai, 0-6 after six days, slapped down Ura on day seven for his first win of the basho. It had been a long wait, he said, and he had not felt sharp until now. Ichiyamamoto, also 0-6, forced down Nishikifuji for his first: it felt brilliant, maybe the best of the year, and it had been long. Shonannoumi threw juryo visitor Fukenoh to open his account too, so nobody in makuuchi is 0-7. In sanyaku, new sekiwake Fujinokawa pushed out Daieisho for 5-2, beating the second komusubi on consecutive days after Aonishiki; the other new sanyaku man, Hakunofuji, was forced down by Kotoshoho and is 1-6. In juryo Kayo slapped down Nishikigi for seven straight; Kagayaki is also 7-0, so two men remain unbeaten. In sandanme Naya, grandson of Taiho, slapped down Tenkei for 4-0.

正代 →一山本 →湘南乃海 →藤ノ川 →伯乃富士 →嘉陽 →

納

納谷 →

Ozeki Aonishiki forced out sekiwake Atamifuji on day seven to end a three-bout losing run and move to 4-3. For Atamifuji, chasing ozeki promotion, this was the man who beat him in the Nagoya playoff and in January, and he had said before the basho it was the one bout he absolutely could not lose. He drove forward from the tachiai as usual, Aonishiki absorbed it, and the finish was a force-out. Atamifuji is 5-2, and to reach the twelve wins usually expected for promotion he now needs seven from the remaining eight days. Kirishima, on a yokozuna run, beat Gonoyama, a bad match-up for him, with an arm-pull for 5-2, saying of his second loss the day before that yesterday was yesterday and today he would do it properly. Aonishiki's basho now reads three wins, three losses, then a win — the thin pre-tournament training showing straight through in the results as the middle stretch begins.

安青錦 →熱海富士 →霧島 →豪ノ山 →

Yokozuna Onosato beat Minoumi at maegashira three, both 5-1 going in, by push-out on day seven for 6-1. He kept his opponent in front of him with two-handed thrusts and never let him inside — yokozuna sumo. In the dressing room he said it had been good sumo, that Minoumi had come in on a good run but he had handled it, and that he would concentrate again from tomorrow. Chief judge Onoe said sumo like today's will do. Ozeki Kotozakura slapped down Fujiryoga the same day for 6-1, so the seven one-loss men of the day before are down to two: the yokozuna and the ozeki. Kotozakura's line is the same every day, he said — concentrate on that day's bout and prepare what can be prepared. Onosato, chasing his first championship since last September, meets Takanosho on the middle day.

大の里 →美ノ海 →琴櫻 →

After six days, seven makuuchi men have one loss. Yokozuna Onosato pressed down a charging Gonoyama's head and slapped him down; ozeki Kotozakura met Takanosho's thrusts from below and thrust him out; sekiwake Atamifuji pushed out Kotoshoho. Alongside those three stand Asanoyama, Ura, Minoumi and the debutant Kotobukinofuji, who after opening 0-2 has beaten the brothers Asasuiryu and Asakoryu, Shonannoumi and now Chiyoshoma for five straight and 5-1 — a title contender in his first top-division tournament. In the komusubi bout Daieisho slapped down Hakunofuji for a second win, leaving Hakunofuji 1-5, and Kotoeiho at maegashira one pushed out Takayasu, conqueror of Kirishima and Onosato. In juryo Nabatame, back from a forfeit, thrust down Tokifudo, and new sekitori Tanji is 5-1. In makushita Tenshozan, in his sixth tournament on the banzuke, pulled down Wakamasa for 3-0.

大の里 →琴櫻 →熱海富士 →寿之富士 →朝乃山 →宇良 →美ノ海 →大栄翔 →伯乃富士 →琴栄峰 →生田目 →丹治 →

天

天昇山 →

Aonishiki, back at ozeki, lost a third straight bout on day six, forced out by new sekiwake Fujinokawa. He took a left outside grip and got his head in, but Fujinokawa's scoop throw broke his stance and he was forced out with both arms inside against him. Three wins to open, then losses to Hakunofuji, Gonoyama and now Fujinokawa leave him 3-3 in his ozeki-return basho. In a tournament where he had said the left foot injured in Nagoya was still not right, the pattern is the same each time: once pushed, the feet do not hold. For Fujinokawa it is a first win over an ozeki in his first sanyaku basho and a fourth win overall — the first man from Kyoto in sanyaku for 198 years now has two big scalps, after Yoshinofuji on day one.

安青錦 →藤ノ川 →

Ozeki Kirishima, chasing yokozuna promotion, lost for the second time on day six, thrown by Yoshinofuji at maegashira two. He got his left arm inside and drove forward, but was held and turned over with an overarm throw at the edge. Yoshinofuji had lost his first five bouts; this was his first win of the basho. Kirishima had steadied after his day-three loss to Takayasu, beating Takanosho and Kotoeiho, but two losses in the first six days leave almost no margin: after two straight playoff defeats, promotion demands a high-quality championship, and nine days remain. The same day, sekiwake Atamifuji, on an ozeki run of his own, pushed out Kotoshoho to stay 5-1 alongside Onosato and Kotozakura at the top.

霧島 →義ノ富士 →熱海富士 →

Debutant Kotobukinofuji forced out Shonannoumi on day five for a fourth straight win. After losing his first two bouts he beat the brothers Asasuiryu and Asakoryu on consecutive days, and now stands 4-1 — a share of the lead in his first top-division tournament. Around sanyaku, new sekiwake Fujinokawa pushed out Hakunofuji for a third win; Hakunofuji, who beat Aonishiki the day before, is 1-4. Kotoshoho at maegashira one pushed out Takayasu, conqueror of Kirishima and Onosato on consecutive days, for his second win. In juryo Nabatame forfeited his bout to Tanji. In makushita the bout between the two men ranked makushita one went to Asahifuji, who threw Nishinoryu for 2-1, and in sandanme Naya, grandson of Taiho, thrust down Kitanosho for 3-0.

寿之富士 →藤ノ川 →伯乃富士 →琴勝峰 →高安 →生田目 →

旭

旭富士 →

納

納谷 →

Day five left no unbeaten wrestler in makuuchi. Kotozakura, the last man without a loss, was pushed out by Minoumi at maegashira three — a day after saying his own sumo was nothing to be proud of. Aonishiki was forced down by Gonoyama's charge without offering any resistance, a second straight loss after Hakunofuji; he called it a loss to pressure and said it was not good. Nursing a left-foot problem, he has lost twice after opening with three wins. Kirishima sent out Takanosho and Atamifuji pushed out Daieisho, so both promotion candidates are 4-1. Nine men share the lead: Onosato, Kirishima, Kotozakura and Atamifuji, plus Asanoyama, Ura, Roga, Minoumi and the debutant Kotobukinofuji. All four of the yokozuna and ozeki have at least one loss after five days, and the race is wide open going into the middle stretch.

琴櫻 →美ノ海 →安青錦 →豪ノ山 →霧島 →熱海富士 →

Yokozuna Onosato forced out Yoshinofuji at maegashira two on day five — a man who had beaten him in all four previous meetings, one of them by forfeit — for his fourth win. A day after pulling against Takayasu's charge and losing, and with a second straight defeat unthinkable, he got his right arm inside, went forward and never gave ground. He said he had thought hard after losing the way he did, and wanted to be able to fight his own sumo from tomorrow. Chief judge Asakayama said he had attacked properly and that if he does not rush, his weight tells; beating a man with such a bad head-to-head record, he added, is something to build on. With Kotozakura losing the same day, Onosato is back in a share of the lead at 4-1.

大の里 →義ノ富士 →

Debutant Kotobukinofuji threw Asakoryu on day four, a day after throwing his younger brother Asasuiryu the same way — the fourteenth pair of brothers in the top division, beaten on consecutive days by the same man. He has won three straight after opening 0-2 and stands at 3-1. Asasuiryu kept pace at 3-1 with a slap-down of juryo visitor Kazuma. Around sanyaku, new sekiwake Fujinokawa was pushed out by Kotoshoho and is 2-2; it was Kotoshoho's first win, on day four. Komusubi Daieisho thrust down Yoshinofuji for his first win, leaving Yoshinofuji 0-4. In juryo the veterans finally got off the mark: former ozeki Mitakeumi pulled down Shirokuma and Tamawashi threw Kyokukaiyu with an armlock.

寿之富士 →朝紅龍 →朝翠龍 →藤ノ川 →琴勝峰 →大栄翔 →義ノ富士 →御嶽海 →玉鷲 →

Ozeki Aonishiki was pushed out by new komusubi Hakunofuji on day four for his first loss — and Hakunofuji's first win over him in seven meetings, having lost all six before. Hakunofuji withstood a throw under heavy pressure and finished with a push-out. In the dressing room Aonishiki said only that his opponent had been the better man and that he would reset. For Hakunofuji it is the first win of his debut basho in sanyaku, and it came against an ozeki after three straight losses. That leaves Kotozakura as the only unbeaten man in makuuchi: he threw Gonoyama for 4-0 but said the content was nothing to be proud of, it is still early, and he must not let up. Kirishima forced out Kotoeiho and Atamifuji forced down Fujiryoga, so both are 3-1 alongside Onosato and Aonishiki. Sixteen men have one loss after four days; the race goes into the middle week wide open.

安青錦 →伯乃富士 →琴櫻 →霧島 →熱海富士 →

In the final bout yokozuna Onosato was thrust down by Takayasu at maegashira two for his first loss. Takayasu's charge knocked him back, he retreated under the onslaught, pulled, and went out as he tried to circle away. It is a kinboshi for Takayasu, who pulled down Kirishima the day before and has now beaten the top two on consecutive days. Chairman Hakkaku said the yokozuna's charge was weak. Onosato said it had simply turned out that way and that he would go back to fighting with a forward mind-set. He had steadied himself on days two and three by going forward; losing the tachiai and pulling is the old pattern resurfacing. Takayasu, 36, is 2-2, and in the ranks that draw the top men his heavy charge is doing damage.

大の里 →高安 →霧島 →

Three days in, the men who draw the top ranks are all struggling. Komusubi Daieisho lost to Kotozakura and Hakunofuji to Fujiryoga, leaving both 0-3; Yoshinofuji at maegashira two was pushed out by Minoumi and Kotoshoho at maegashira one was turned over by Aonishiki, so they are 0-3 as well. New komusubi Hakunofuji, beaten by Minoumi, Kirishima and now Fujiryoga, is meeting the wall of a first sanyaku basho head-on. New sekiwake Fujinokawa, by contrast, pushed out Gonoyama for a second win and is the only one of the four holding up. Lower down, the all-debutant bout went to Kotobukinofuji, who threw Asasuiryu for his first win, while Asasuiryu's elder brother Asakoryu pushed out Shodai for 3-0. In juryo the veterans are hurting: former ozeki Mitakeumi lost to Kitanowaka and Tamawashi was forced out by Abukatsu, both 0-3.

大栄翔 →伯乃富士 →義ノ富士 →琴勝峰 →藤ノ川 →寿之富士 →朝翠龍 →朝紅龍 →御嶽海 →玉鷲 →

Aonishiki, back at ozeki, beat Kotoshoho — a man who had won three of their four meetings — by leg-trip for a 3-0 start. Kotoshoho pressed from the tachiai and a slap-down off a double thrust spun Aonishiki around; he turned back at once, closed with leg attacks and finished it. Wiping away sweat in the dressing room he said it had been dangerous, he had panicked, and his body had moved before he could think — the reaction was good. On the left foot he hurt in Nagoya he was careful: not yet perfect, fine for now, doing what can be done. Mainoumi said the repeated scares against Kotoshoho suggest a mental block, which makes this win a big one. In the final bout Onosato sandwiched first-time opponent Kotoeiho with a double thrust and pushed him straight out, his first 3-0 start since January, and Kotozakura absorbed Daieisho's charge and slapped him down from the left, so the yokozuna and two ozeki are all unbeaten. Six men are 3-0: those three plus Takanosho, Fujiseiun and Asakoryu.

安青錦 →琴勝峰 →大の里 →琴栄峰 →琴櫻 →

Ozeki Kirishima, chasing yokozuna promotion, lost for the first time on day three, pulled down by Takayasu at maegashira two. He appeared to be handling Takayasu's charge, parrying it, but as he came forward after they separated Takayasu pulled and Kirishima's hands hit the clay in the middle of the ring. It is his first loss within three days in three tournaments. Mainoumi, commentating for NHK, said Kirishima had seemed to deflect the charge well, that he could not understand a loss like this, and that his feet had not moved at all. Twice a playoff runner-up, Kirishima needs a high-quality championship for promotion, so an early loss weighs heavily. Sekiwake Atamifuji, on an ozeki run of his own, also fell: he drove Takanosho at maegashira four back from the tachiai but flew out to a thrust-down at the edge — his third straight loss to Takanosho. To reach the twelve wins usually expected for promotion he now needs ten from the remaining twelve days.

霧島 →高安 →熱海富士 →隆の勝 →

New sekiwake Fujinokawa lost for the first time on day two, to Kotoeiho at maegashira one: a sharp tachiai took him inside with both arms, but he was turned around and forced down. It was Kotoeiho's first win of the basho. The two komusubi are worse off — Daieisho fell to Gonoyama's arm-pull and Hakunofuji was forced down by Kirishima, leaving both at 0-2, and Kotoshoho at maegashira one is also winless after losing to Onosato: the men who draw the top ranks are all struggling. Lower down, the brothers Asasuiryu and Asakoryu both won for a second straight day, while makushita-top Asahifuji, stepping up to the juryo ring, lost to Tochitaikai by overarm throw — his first defeat since his name first appeared on the banzuke.

藤ノ川 →琴栄峰 →大栄翔 →伯乃富士 →

旭

旭富士 →

Kirishima, on a yokozuna run, got his left arm inside on new komusubi Hakunofuji, clamped down on the right and waited until he had both belt grips before driving him down — a bout of over a minute, and a 2-0 start. Chairman Hakkaku liked that he did not rush and moved out steadily, but said it had taken far too long to get there: he must take the belt while moving forward, because slow attack gives the opponent openings — though he suspected Kirishima, twice a runner-up in playoffs, is simply desperate. A high-quality championship is what promotion demands. Atamifuji, on an ozeki run, went straight through Minoumi's attempt at an inside grip and pushed him out with his right arm driving upward. Hakkaku called him strong, a man finishing his own sumo, skill with horsepower behind it, and said he had expectations of him; Asakayama said his reactions are good and that sumo like this will build confidence. Aonishiki forced out Takayasu and Kotozakura threw Yoshinofuji, leaving all three ozeki at 2-0.

霧島 →熱海富士 →伯乃富士 →安青錦 →琴櫻 →

Onosato pushed out Kotoshoho at maegashira one on day two for a 2-0 start — his first opening pair of wins in four tournaments. Where day one had been a narrow escape built on pulling, this time he absorbed the charge and then went forward, though he pitched over at the edge and his opponent went out while he was in the air. He said he had concentrated well and that the attacking intent was better than yesterday, even if the finish was ugly, and that he would take it one bout at a time. Chief judge Asakayama credited the forward mind-set but said the jumping worried him — yesterday too he had pulled and jumped, and it was dangerous; he would like to see him settle his hips and take his stance, raise the tempo gradually and get to his own sumo without rushing.

大の里 →琴勝峰 →

Asasuiryu won his top-division debut by forcing out Chiyoshoma, driving in head-first and working his left arm inside. He said he had taken the opponent's forearm blow without straightening up, called it good sumo, and was delighted with the start he had looked forward to. He exchanged ceremonial water with his elder brother Asakoryu for the first time and the two did the ring-entering ceremony together; it felt good, he said, though his brother was probably nervous too, and he hopes they push each other on as rivals. Asakoryu then threw Tobizaru, so the fourteenth pair of brothers in the top division both started with a win. The other newcomer, Kotobukinofuji, fell to Tokihayate's scoop throw.

朝翠龍 →朝紅龍 →寿之富士 →

New sekiwake Fujinokawa opened with a force-out of Yoshinofuji at maegashira two — his first win over him in six meetings, having lost all five before. He got his right arm inside at the tachiai and went straight for a scoop throw; Yoshinofuji's armlock throw rocked him, but he steadied with a left-hand leg-trip and forced him out. The scoop throw, he said, was what made the finish possible, and he could not go on calling Yoshinofuji a bad match-up — without beating him there would be no double-digit wins. The 21-year-old is the first man from Kyoto in sanyaku for 198 years. The other new sanyaku man, komusubi Hakunofuji, lost, forced out by Minoumi.

藤ノ川 →義ノ富士 →伯乃富士 →

With Hoshoryu out, Onosato opened the tournament as the only yokozuna and won the final bout by slapping down komusubi Daieisho — but it was not pretty. He failed to get his right arm inside at the tachiai and pulled, the habit that keeps resurfacing, was driven to the edge twice, and only settled it with a leaping slap-down. He led with the self-criticism: it gave him a scare, there were things that were not good, and he would fix them for tomorrow. It is still his first opening-day win since January. Former sekiwake Mainoumi, who watched his training before the basho, said he looked lost, worried enough to wonder whether he had forgotten how to fight and how to win, and that his keiko had looked like a struggle. Kirishima, on a yokozuna run, likewise had to come back from the bales with an overarm throw against Kotoshoho and called it a scrambled start. Every man at the top won — but the yokozuna and the ozeki chasing the rope both left day one with homework.

大の里 →霧島 →豊昇龍 →

Yokozuna Hoshoryu will sit out the September tournament, announced on 11 September. He had seven wins and six losses after thirteen days in Nagoya when a right leg injury forced him out from day fourteen, and he underwent surgery after the tournament for a partial tear in his right knee. It is his third straight withdrawal and the fifth across his ten tournaments at the rank — and the first time he has been out from the opening day since his promotion. His stablemaster Tatsunami, the former komusubi Asahiyutaka, said he could not get him into a condition to perform and that Hoshoryu is badly down about it, adding that he is recovering and needs to be back in the training room before long. Onosato will therefore be the only yokozuna on the dohyo in September. Two others are missing from the opening day's pairings: Wakatakakage at maegashira twelve, who is out long-term with injury, and Wakanokatsu at maegashira sixteen.

豊昇龍 →大の里 →若隆景 →

Takayasu, 36, moves up to maegashira two. Eleven wins from maegashira seven in Nagoya brought him a seventh Fighting Spirit prize and a fourteenth special prize overall, tying him for fourth on the all-time list. At maegashira two he will again be matched against the yokozuna and ozeki.

高安 →

Asasuiryu and Kotobukinofuji both reach the top division in September. Asasuiryu, 26, earned his place with eleven wins from the top of juryo in Nagoya. His brother Asakoryu is also in makuuchi at the same Takasago stable, making them the fourteenth pair of brothers in the top division — the most recent being Kotoshoho and Kotoeiho, who this time stand as the east and west maegashira one. Asasuiryu came through Nippon Sport Science University alongside yokozuna Onosato, whom he calls a benchmark. He said the promotion was a goal he had set himself, and that his name is bigger on the ranking sheet now.

朝翠龍 →寿之富士 →朝紅龍 →大の里 →

Back at ozeki, Aonishiki said there was nothing special about it and that his sights remain set higher. He declined the customary photograph with the new banzuke, saying he had done it before and had only regained a rank he already held. He won in Nagoya while nursing a left ankle and left big toe, and spent the summer tour on conditioning work rather than practice bouts, saying the injuries are improving and he has no anxiety about the preparation. All three of his championships have come through a playoff; the 22-year-old said he wants to know what it feels like to settle one in the regular bouts.

安青錦 →

Hakunofuji, 23, becomes komusubi for the first time. He is reportedly the first wrestler from Tottori to reach sanyaku since the former yokozuna Kotozakura, some 62 years ago — and as a primary school pupil he competed in a tournament named after that predecessor. After a storming top-division debut he spent a spell going back and forth, and says he is stronger now than he was then. His stablemaster at Isegahama praised him for rising on ability rather than momentum, and said that if he can perfect a relentless style off the front belt, nothing will frighten him. Hakunofuji called sanyaku a goal but not the finish line, naming a championship and ozeki as what comes next.

伯乃富士 →

Fujinokawa, 21, is the new sekiwake. From maegashira one in Nagoya he beat both yokozuna and took the Outstanding Performance prize. Reaching sanyaku in twenty-two tournaments from his debut ties him for tenth on the all-time list, and comes barely a year after his first appearance in the top division. He is reportedly the first wrestler from Kyoto to reach sanyaku since Himeodoshi in 1828. He said reaching sanyaku had been his goal for the year, that he had not thought he would get there when he joined, and that his aim in September is simply a winning record and sumo the crowd enjoys.

藤ノ川 →

Ozeki Kirishima goes for yokozuna promotion for a second straight tournament. He finished 12-3 in both May and July and reached the playoff each time without lifting the cup. Asakayama noted that promotion to the top rank demands both quality and results, and said the run of good sumo should continue. At 30, having twice come through to a playoff without winning it, the result itself is now what counts.

霧島 →

Sekiwake Atamifuji arrives in September with a shot at ozeki. Nine wins in May and twelve in July give him twenty-one over two tournaments; the customary benchmark of thirty-three across three would require twelve more. Asakayama, the head of the judging department that compiles the banzuke, said on the final day in Nagoya that it would certainly count as an ozeki run, and that sumo of the quality he showed there would leave nothing to argue about. The 23-year-old beat Aonishiki in the regular bout in Nagoya but lost the playoff.

熱海富士 →安青錦 →

The Sumo Association announced the September banzuke on 31 August. Aonishiki, who took his third championship in Nagoya, returns to ozeki under the rule that lets a demoted ozeki come straight back with ten or more wins. Two men reach sanyaku for the first time: Fujinokawa, who beat both yokozuna from maegashira one, moves up to sekiwake, and Hakunofuji, nine wins from maegashira three, becomes komusubi. Daieisho returns to komusubi. At the top, Onosato takes the senior east slot after nine wins on his return from injury, while Hoshoryu, who withdrew mid-tournament, moves to the west.

安青錦 →藤ノ川 →伯乃富士 →大栄翔 →大の里 →豊昇龍 →