November Basho 2026 — Topics

West juryo five Wakatakakage forced out east juryo nine Mitakeumi for a seventh straight win from day one, leaving him one short of a winning record. He got his right arm inside, pressed forward with a left-arm clamp and finished with a left-hand push under the armpit. It was their first meeting in three years and eight months, and the first in juryo. Straight after the bout he said the idea had been to stay underneath, and of facing his senior from Toyo University he said that none of that matters once you step on the dohyo, that he had simply concentrated on his own sumo. After his second top-division title at the May basho he was diagnosed with compartment syndrome in his left leg before the Nagoya tournament and underwent emergency surgery, four operations in all; had treatment come later, reports say, he could have lost the leg. Two full tournaments out dropped him from sekiwake to juryo, and this is his comeback basho. He said he wants to keep fighting his own way, one bout at a time. In juryo Tamashoho also slapped down Meisei to stay perfect at 7-0 alongside him, Asahifuji threw Ryuho with an armlock for 6-1 and Enho beat Tanji with an arm pull for 6-1 as well. Wakatakakage's title odds stand at 91.9 percent, the rating gap showing up directly in the numbers.

若隆景 →

In the final bout yokozuna Onosato blasted new komusubi Minoumi back with a two-handed charge, got his right arm inside and forced him out in one movement, a sixth straight win since his opening-day loss for 6-1. ABEMA analyst and former yokozuna Masaru Hanada noted that Minoumi had to stay leaning forward to produce any power, which only showed how fast the yokozuna was moving. Hoshoryu hit komusubi Yoshinofuji low, took a right underarm grip and, moving forward, finished with a right outside leg trip and a left inner thigh sweep, a second straight win that puts him 4-3 and ahead on wins. He had been level at 2-2 with Yoshinofuji. He fought with only tape on his operated right knee, having discarded the support, and the sumo matched what he had said the day before, that he had been worrying about the knee too much. Hanada liked the low tachiai, saying it was good and that even if he gets hit he should keep going in like that, but warned him to put away the slap-and-grab and the double-handed thrust until the final day. Sekiwake Atamifuji bounced back from his first loss by seizing a left frontal grip on Fujiryoga at the tachiai and forcing him out chest to chest. Hanada gave it full marks, praised the left overarm grip, and said Atamifuji had got stronger and that this was the way to fight. Kirishima also forced out Hakunofuji, so the seven men at one loss are Onosato, Kirishima, Atamifuji, Wakamotoharu, Kinbozan, Asahakuryu and Arashifuji. On day eight Onosato meets Takayasu, Hoshoryu faces Hakunofuji, Atamifuji takes on Fujiseiun, and Kirishima and Kotozakura meet in an ozeki clash.

大の里 →豊昇龍 →熱海富士 →

West maegashira two Fujiseiun threw ozeki Aonishiki, a first meeting, with an overarm throw to go 4-3. He hit low, got his left arm inside, kept the ozeki off his belt as he drove forward, and flung him over as Aonishiki clung on at the edge. He slapped his belt once with his right hand as he stood up, and the 28-year-old from Kumamoto had the home Kyushu crowd roaring. Having taken his first gold star from Hoshoryu on day five, he has now beaten a yokozuna and an ozeki in the same basho. NHK analyst Sakaigawa praised him for standing up an opponent whose upper body never comes up, called it a splendid piece of work, and said the key was that Fujiseiun kept attacking. Aonishiki drops to a third loss; Sakaigawa said this is the point where one loss either becomes a big one or does not, and urged him on for the remaining bouts. On the ratings Aonishiki had been better than an 80 percent favourite, making it the biggest upset of the day. His title odds fell from 16.4 to 4.3 percent, while the one-loss trio of Onosato at 40.7, Kirishima at 30.9 and Atamifuji at 16.2 consolidated at the top. Stablemate Fujiryoga was forced out by Atamifuji and is also 4-3. On day eight Fujiseiun meets that same Atamifuji.

藤青雲 →安青錦 →

Komusubi Yoshinofuji threw ozeki Kotozakura with an overarm throw for his first win over him at the seventh attempt. He hit low at the tachiai, settled into a right-hand grip battle and, at the edge, countered Kotozakura's left underarm throw with a right overarm throw of his own. He had lost to Kotozakura in each of the previous six basho. He said he had kept in mind his stablemaster Isegahama's instruction to always stay low, that he had pictured hitting a little lower still, and that the point was not to rush the attack but to make a proper tachiai. Having beaten Onosato on day one and Kirishima on day four, he has now taken down a yokozuna and two ozeki this basho and stands 4-2. He said he was pleased but could not relax mid-basho, and that with a yokozuna bout on day seven against Hoshoryu he wants to go all out. Kotozakura drops to a second loss. Yokozuna Onosato pushed over west maegashira three Hakunofuji for a fifth straight win since his opening-day loss. Hakunofuji, who favours a left inside grip, went for it repeatedly from the tachiai, but Onosato clamped down with his right and kept moving forward until Hakunofuji toppled at the edge. Onosato said he was glad to have won going forward and that he has been fighting solidly for the last few days; asked whether he was on a roll, he said not at all, that he is just concentrating on the bout in front of him. Among the ozeki, Kirishima forced down Fujiryoga for 5-1 and Aonishiki threw Minoumi for 4-2. Onosato leads the title odds at 34.5 percent, with Kirishima at 26.5 and Aonishiki at 16.4. In juryo, former sekiwake Wakatakakage, back after three basho out, thrust down Hitoshi in about three seconds for 6-0, and Tamashoho pushed out Tomokaze to join him unbeaten.

義ノ富士 →琴櫻 →大の里 →

Yokozuna Hoshoryu forced out east maegashira three Takayasu to end a three-bout losing run and get back to 3-3. He had conceded gold stars on each of the previous three days and a withdrawal had been mooted, but he phoned his stablemaster Tatsunami and asked to be allowed to fight, saying he did not want to run away. From a sharp tachiai he charged forward without hesitation, got both arms inside and walked Takayasu straight out, avoiding the ignominy of a fourth gold star in a row. Chief judge Onoe called it a perfect bout, said he had attacked forward with real fire, and that after two days of being pushed around and looking lifeless he had finally done his own sumo. In the dressing room Hoshoryu said it had been an eventful three days but he did not want to make excuses for losing, that whatever happens he wants to fight to the end, and that he will take the remaining days one bout at a time with the same feeling as today. Former ozeki Koichi Kotokaze wrote that the sumo was unrecognisable from the previous days, but that with the right knee operated on in late July a quick finish is the only sound strategy, since a long bout or any retreat loads the knee, and that only the first hurdle has been cleared. On day seven he meets komusubi Yoshinofuji, who beat Kotozakura today and has already taken down a yokozuna and two ozeki this basho.

豊昇龍 →高安 →

Sekiwake Atamifuji, the last unbeaten man in makuuchi, was forced out by east maegashira one Asanoyama for his first loss, and after six days nobody is perfect. Asanoyama went in head first at the tachiai, locked on a left frontal grip, got his right arm inside too and drove forward while pulling his man in. Atamifuji never found the belt, was stood up and backed out of the ring. NHK analyst Minatogawa had said before the bout that the only way Atamifuji could lose was if the left overarm grip went to Asanoyama first, and afterwards said that was exactly the shape of it, the left front of the belt taken at the tachiai leaving Atamifuji's right arm cramped and powerless. He added that if Atamifuji works out how to take that left grip first, ozeki will come soon. Chairman Hakkaku said he was weak today, that he has to think, perhaps thrusting instead, that against strong opponents he has to commit, and that the tachiai needs some ingenuity. The 5-0 start had matched his best, from the 2023 Kyushu basho, and a new personal record of six was denied. Atamifuji again did not speak to reporters. Asanoyama, who had lost four in a row, stopped the slide at 2-4. He had also beaten Atamifuji last basho and said he had tried to recall that image, that a full belt battle would have been hard because Atamifuji is bigger and heavier, and that he was glad to win moving forward. Asked about ending the unbeaten run, he asked back whether Atamifuji had really been perfect, explaining that in the middle of the basho he had not been paying attention to records. Of his first return to the top of the maegashira ranks in two years he said that after four losses he had thrown away the idea of being a former ozeki, that it is not a rank where wins come easily, and that he goes in prepared to lose. With Atamifuji beaten, nine men now share the lead at one loss: Onosato, Kirishima, Atamifuji, Wakamotoharu, Kinbozan, Takanosho, Asahakuryu, Dewanoryu and Arashifuji. Atamifuji's title odds fell from 23.8 to 12.3 percent, and Onosato leads at 34.5 percent ahead of Kirishima at 26.5. On day seven Atamifuji meets Fujiryoga.

熱海富士 →朝乃山 →

Sekiwake Atamifuji forced down fellow sekiwake Fujinokawa for 5-0 and remains the only unbeaten man in makuuchi. At 185 centimetres and 198 kilograms he outweighs the 177-centimetre, 125-kilogram Fujinokawa by 73 kilograms. Fujinokawa moved right at the tachiai and went for a leg, but Atamifuji did not charge hard, watched what his opponent would do, caught him without panic, clamped down from the left and forced him down. NHK analyst Koichi Kotokaze reckoned Atamifuji had sensed something was coming, and said Fujinokawa's hand never reached the leg. Atamifuji again did not speak to reporters. Among the eleven men one win back, yokozuna Onosato slapped down Ura at the edge as Ura dived low for his legs, a fourth straight win since his opening-day loss, for 4-1. Kotokaze was unimpressed by the manner of it, saying it was not good enough and that even if the pull felt like a move reserved for Ura, winning that way teaches the body bad habits. Among the ozeki, Kirishima forced out Asanoyama and Kotozakura forced out Takayasu, both 4-1, and Aonishiki threw down Hakunofuji for 3-2. Asanoyama, beaten by Kirishima, has lost four straight and is 1-4; he said this was the extent of his strength right now and that he had learned it was not enough. Onosato still leads the title odds at 29.5 percent, Atamifuji has climbed to second at 23.8, and Kirishima at 21.8 and Aonishiki at 12.4 follow. On day six Atamifuji meets Asanoyama, Onosato faces Hakunofuji and Kirishima takes on Fujiryoga.

熱海富士 →大の里 →

West maegashira two Fujiseiun forced out yokozuna Hoshoryu, a first meeting, for his first gold star. He drove in at the tachiai, got his favoured right-hand inside grip, denied the yokozuna a hold on his belt and pulled him in before walking him out. He said he was not sure he had really taken it, that it was a floaty feeling, pleasant but unreal, and that his mind had gone blank at the moment of winning. Winning in his own style, he added, was a huge confidence boost, and if he kept polishing that form he thought he could aim higher still. The previous day's bout with Onosato had been his first against a yokozuna, and he said the long wait below the ring had taught him he needed to refocus, which he did this time. When his stablemate Fujiryoga, five years younger, took a gold star from Hoshoryu on day three, Fujiseiun could not bring himself to offer congratulations and admitted it had been honestly very frustrating, though he said it was a stimulus and something he was conscious of. His stablemaster Fujishima had told him that everyone is the same once on the dohyo and to go all out. A Meiji University graduate, the 28-year-old joined Toppan Printing to continue in corporate sumo, but when the pandemic wiped out competition he turned professional. He tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in June 2023 and fell to sandanme before climbing back, reaching the top division together with Fujiryoga this spring. At a career-high west maegashira two, the gold star puts him at 2-3. Fujiryoga also forced down Takerufuji for 4-1, and the two Fujishima men are shaking up the upper ranks.

藤青雲 →藤凌駕 →

Yokozuna Hoshoryu, back after three straight basho out, was forced out by west maegashira two Fujiseiun in their first meeting, his third straight loss. It is the second time he has conceded gold stars on three consecutive days, the first being last year's Nagoya basho, and he ends the opening five days at 2-3. He slapped and got his right arm inside at the tachiai, but Fujiseiun also got his right arm in, drove forward from a low stance and walked him out with the belt grip, the yokozuna offering little resistance. The arena buzzed, Hoshoryu left down the aisle with a grim face and declined interviews for a third straight day. Chief judge Kokonoe acknowledged Fujiseiun's strength, saying the two had met head on and Fujiseiun had been first to the grip, but added that Hoshoryu looked as if he was fighting scared and needed more fire. NHK analyst Koichi Kotokaze also said his mental state was a concern. After the bout Hoshoryu phoned his stablemaster Tatsunami and asked to be allowed to fight on, saying he did not want to run away. Tatsunami told reporters after the elders' meeting that the yokozuna will face Takayasu on day six, and said sumo like the last two days was an insult to the fans and that a yokozuna has to be strong. He had surgery on his right knee in late July and came back with his back to the wall, but reports say a fourth straight withdrawal is now a real possibility.

豊昇龍 →藤青雲 →

Sekiwake Atamifuji forced out new komusubi Minoumi for 4-0 and is the only unbeaten man in makuuchi. He kept Minoumi off his left front grip, got his right arm inside and used his weight to walk forward. With Takanosho, Kinbozan and Dewanoryu, the other three-win men, all losing on the day, he leads alone after four days. Thirteen wins this basho would reach the 33-wins-over-three-basho guideline for ozeki promotion, but Atamifuji again did not speak to reporters, and his stablemaster Isegahama said it was only day four and far too early to judge. Chief judge Asakayama said Atamifuji was watching his opponent properly and attacking forward, and had won with good sumo, before adding that he hoped it would last, since he had fallen apart in the second half last basho. Yokozuna Onosato beat Fujiseiun, a first meeting, with a scoop throw for a third straight win since his opening-day loss. The first tachiai was called off; at the second he got his right arm in, pressed with his left forearm and scooped the man over at the edge. In eight basho as a yokozuna he had won on day four only once, and this was his first day-four win since beating Kirishima at last year's Kyushu basho, six tournaments ago. Onosato said he had stayed calm and dealt with it from a solid stance, that he was relieved after so many day-four losses in recent basho, and that having got past his bogey day he hoped to ride the momentum from tomorrow. Among the ozeki, Kirishima pushed Takayasu out from behind and Kotozakura forced out Asanoyama, both 3-1. Onosato now leads the title odds at 30.6 percent, ahead of Kirishima at 20.8 and Atamifuji at 19.5. On day five Atamifuji meets fellow sekiwake Fujinokawa and Onosato faces Ura.

熱海富士 →大の里 →

West maegashira one Fujiryoga beat ozeki Aonishiki, a first meeting, with an overarm throw to go 3-1. After Kotozakura on day one and Hoshoryu on day three, the 23-year-old has now beaten a yokozuna and two ozeki in a single basho. He came out thrusting, stood Aonishiki up as the ozeki tried to get in low, got his left arm inside and drove him to the edge. He rode out Aonishiki's attempt at a counter throw and, never letting go of his right overarm grip, threw him down. Fujiryoga said what worked was attacking forward without stopping, and that against low opponents he wanted pushing sumo that did not give way, because all he does is go forward. The left-arm grip was not planned, he said, it just came in the flow, and if he could keep pressing with the forearm he thought he could go higher still. Even after beating an ozeki he kept a straight face, saying the joy lasted only today and he would stay on guard. His stablemaster Fujishima had not praised the previous day's gold star either, and Fujiryoga said he and his master felt the same way: all he hears is about the next bout. Aonishiki dropped to 2-2. On day five Fujiryoga meets Takerufuji and Aonishiki faces Hakunofuji.

藤凌駕 →安青錦 →

Yokozuna Hoshoryu, back after three straight basho out, was pushed out by east maegashira two Ura in the final bout and conceded a gold star for the second day running. Ura drove in low from the tachiai, Hoshoryu pulled back of his own accord, and Ura hit him on the retreat and ran him straight out in about two seconds. Ura had lost his first three bouts; this first win of the basho was his third gold star and his first since beating Terunofuji in September 2022, four years ago, and he said only that he did not know how to describe the feeling. Hoshoryu is 2-2 and again did not speak to reporters in the dressing room. His stablemaster Tatsunami said it was no good and that he would have a word with him, and when asked about a mid-basho withdrawal replied that withdrawing was not an option. Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku had said before the bout that winning was all that mattered this basho and that content was beside the point, but afterwards said the yokozuna seemed too eager to win and had to produce sumo with substance. Asakayama, the chief judge, said Hoshoryu had pulled straight away and shown his worst sumo, that he did not know the state of the injury, but that if the knee was bad a withdrawal would have to be considered, and if not the yokozuna had to rebuild once more. Hoshoryu meets Fujiseiun on day five, while Ura faces yokozuna Onosato.

豊昇龍 →宇良 →

After three days four men are unbeaten: sekiwake Atamifuji, Takanosho at maegashira eleven, Kinbozan at maegashira seven and debutant Dewanoryu. Atamifuji pushed out Daieisho, Takanosho slapped down Ichiyamamoto and Dewanoryu beat Kitanowaka with a pulling overarm throw. Kinbozan won by default when his opponent Kotoeiho withdrew; Kotoeiho is not on the day-four card either. Fujinokawa, 11-4 as a new sekiwake last time, lost to new komusubi Minoumi's overarm throw for a third straight defeat, giving Minoumi his first win of the basho. In juryo Wakatakakage forced out Shonannoumi to go 3-0. New juryo Asahifuji pushed out Meisei for his second win, while Ryuho was forced down by Tamashoho for his first loss.

熱海富士 →隆の勝 →金峰山 →出羽ノ龍 →琴栄峰 →藤ノ川 →美ノ海 →若隆景 →

Yokozuna Onosato forced down Asanoyama, meeting him in a regular tournament bout for the first time, for his second win. Asanoyama got a left overarm grip at the tachiai, but Onosato rode his overarm throw, pulled in close and forced him down, bleeding from the mouth during the bout. The two trained together at Nishonoseki stable before Onosato reached the top division, but with Asanoyama tearing a cruciate ligament in his left knee in July 2024, they had never met on the dohyo. Onosato said they had finally faced each other and he was glad to win the first meeting; Asanoyama, from neighbouring Toyama, had been on his way out just as he was coming up, so they had kept missing each other. He added that he finally has more wins than losses and will keep going tomorrow. Ozeki Kirishima, 2-0 until today, was thrown by komusubi Yoshinofuji with an overarm throw — the komusubi's second scalp of a yokozuna or ozeki this basho after Onosato on day one. Three days in, every yokozuna and ozeki has a loss. Aonishiki forced out Ura and Kotozakura threw Fujiseiun, both moving to 2-1.

大の里 →朝乃山 →霧島 →義ノ富士 →安青錦 →琴櫻 →

Fujiryoga, west maegashira one, beat yokozuna Hoshoryu in their first meeting for his first gold star, driving forward without pause from the tachiai and pushing the yokozuna off the dohyo onto the seat of his pants. Fujiryoga said he was delighted, that it was quite something, and that he did not want to stop at one but to keep adding to it; asked why he kept a straight face, he said there was an opponent to think of. It is the seventh-fastest gold star for a man who started as a makushita tsukedashi, in his eleventh basho, and the first by a wrestler from Aichi since Kotomitsuki in September 2001, 25 years ago. His stablemaster Fujishima, the former ozeki Musoyama, said not being clever is what makes him good — he just hits and pushes. Hoshoryu, back after three straight basho with absences, took his first loss and did not speak to reporters. Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku, the former yokozuna Hokutoumi, said the defeat came from not getting a belt grip, that the yokozuna's legs are not fully there yet, and that he has to return to the mindset of day one. Hoshoryu meets Ura on day four.

藤凌駕 →豊昇龍 →

Tamawashi, 41, who returned to the top division as the oldest re-promotion since the start of the Showa era, thrust out Tokihayate for his first win of the basho. It was his 715th top-division win, taking him past Kisenosato into sole seventh place on the all-time list. The three makuuchi debutants are going well: Fukuoka's own Arashifuji pushed out Daiseizan to go 2-0, and Dewanoryu forced out Asasuiryu for his second straight win, while Kyokukaiyu was sent out from behind by Kitanowaka for his first defeat. In juryo Wakatakakage pushed out Namatame to stay perfect. New juryo man Ryuho forced out makushita Inami to go 2-0, and Asahifuji pushed out Hatsuyama for his first win as a sekitori. Hitoshi withdrew, giving Shonannoumi a default win, and Meisei picked up his first win when Tohakuryu was disqualified for a foul.

玉鷲 →時疾風 →嵐富士 →若隆景 →竜鳳 →

旭

旭富士 →

In the final bout yokozuna Hoshoryu forced down Asanoyama, who had beaten ozeki Aonishiki on day one, to go 2-0. He drove in low into a right-hand-inside grip, let go of the left overarm he had only just taken, swung Asanoyama round with his right underarm to put his back to the edge, and fell on him to finish. Hoshoryu said he had been nervous yesterday after so long away but not today, that he had been able to train before the basho and wanted to keep this focus one bout at a time. It was their first meeting in two years and eight months, and he is now 6-0 against Asanoyama. The day also marked his 500th top-division appearance. The other yokozuna, Onosato, got his first win by forcing out Fujiryoga at maegashira one. He backed off straight after the tachiai and let Fujiryoga inside, but got his right arm in, stopped him and forced him out. Onosato said the content was what it was but he would keep working tomorrow, and that fifteen days is a long time, so he would reset and focus on one bout a day. On day three Onosato meets Asanoyama and Hoshoryu faces Fujiryoga.

豊昇龍 →朝乃山 →大の里 →藤凌駕 →

Ozeki Aonishiki, beaten by Asanoyama on day one, got off the mark by felling komusubi Yoshinofuji — the man who beat Onosato the day before — with an inner thigh propping twist. He absorbed Yoshinofuji's forearm blow without being stood up, took a left underarm grip straight away, twisted down on it while staying low and swept the inside of Yoshinofuji's left leg with his right hand. Tamanoi oyakata, the former ozeki Tochiazuma, said the bout was decided the moment Aonishiki got the left underarm grip, and that the win matters a lot for an ozeki who stumbled on day one. Kasugano oyakata, the former sekiwake Tochinowaka, commentating for NHK, noted that although Aonishiki won, Yoshinofuji had got himself into a favourable position and it was a close call. Including bouts below the top division, Aonishiki had a 3-5 record against him. On day three he meets Ura.

安青錦 →義ノ富士 →

Former sekiwake Wakatakakage, who had surgery on his left leg in July and missed two whole basho, returned at west juryo five and forced out Ryuden. He went in low, got his right arm inside and drove forward while lifting Ryuden up. Wakatakakage said he had tried to do his own kind of sumo, had focused on the bouts now the basho was under way, and that his body had moved well. He felt something wrong in his left leg in training during the July basho, was diagnosed with compartment syndrome and needed four operations; had treatment been later, he could have lost the leg. He also said he wanted to step on the dohyo grateful to his family, supporters, his stablemaster and everyone who had helped him. It is his first bout since winning his second title as a komusubi in May. The two new juryo men went different ways: 19-year-old Ryuho forced out Hatsuyama, while Asahifuji was pulled down by Tamashoho. Shirokuma withdrew, giving Mitakeumi a default win.

若隆景 →竜電 →竜鳳 →

旭

旭富士 →玉正鳳 →

Two of the three ozeki lost on day one. Aonishiki met former ozeki Asanoyama for the first time and was forced down: he came in low as usual, but was driven back and, try as he might to get underneath, never escaped the pressure. It is his first opening-day defeat since September last year. Former ozeki Kotokaze, commentating for NHK, said of the bout that apart from Onosato he could not think of anyone who had beaten Aonishiki so completely. Kotozakura was pushed out by Fujiryoga at maegashira one, leaving their head-to-head at 1-1. Only Kirishima won, pushing down Ura. Among the sekiwake, Atamifuji sent Takayasu out from behind, while Fujinokawa, 11-4 as a new sekiwake last time, was forced out by Fujiseiun. On day two Aonishiki faces Yoshinofuji, Kotozakura meets Minoumi and Kirishima takes on Fujiseiun.

安青錦 →朝乃山 →琴櫻 →藤凌駕 →霧島 →藤ノ川 →

Yokozuna Hoshoryu, back after knee surgery and absences in three straight basho, opened with a push-out of new komusubi Minoumi. He was rocked back hard by a throat thrust, but deflected Minoumi off balance and calmly pushed him out. In the dressing room Hoshoryu said he felt a bit relieved after sitting out the whole of last basho, that he had been far more nervous than usual but much less so once he stepped on the dohyo, and that it was not good sumo but winning was what mattered. He added that he wants to focus on one bout a day and show the fans he is well. He is now 7-0 against Minoumi. Ten basho into his yokozuna career he still has no championship, and a poor showing here could raise questions about his future. On day two he faces Asanoyama, who toppled ozeki Aonishiki today.

豊昇龍 →美ノ海 →朝乃山 →

Champion Onosato lost the final bout of day one to komusubi Yoshinofuji. He charged him straight to the edge, but was thrust down from the left and touched down first. A mono-ii was called and, after a video review, the referee's decision for Yoshinofuji stood. Chief judge Asakayama, the former ozeki Kaio, explained that Yoshinofuji's left foot was still in, his heel not out, and that Onosato's hand appeared to land first. Onosato said flatly that he had not got the win and would reset properly for tomorrow, and when asked how his body felt said only that he would get his mind right again for the next day. He beat Yoshinofuji for the first time only last basho, and now trails him 1-5 including one default; he also lost to him on day one in Nagoya in July. On day two he meets Fujiryoga at maegashira one, who pushed out ozeki Kotozakura today.

大の里 →義ノ富士 →藤凌駕 →

The top men's preparation went smoothly. Fujinokawa, eleven wins as a new sekiwake, trained away from home four days running: at Sadogatake stable on October 28 and 29, at Tokitsukaze against Kirishima on the 30th, and back at Sadogatake on the 31st, where he went 6-13 against Kotozakura, Kotoshoho and Kotoeiho — he wants to wrestle the ozeki, he said, the strong ones. A fever cost him a few days, but he recovered and wound up his away sessions on the fifth. Kotozakura, who took him on, won 13 of 17 bouts on the 31st including seven in a row. Onosato joined the Nishonoseki group's joint practice at Sadogatake's Fukuoka lodgings on the second and is in good order; Aonishiki finished his away training on the first and has been adjusting at his own stable. Atamifuji vowed on his stable's video channel to go in meaning to win every bout. The men who made the banzuke news are ready too. Tamawashi, back in makuuchi at 41 years 11 months, went 7-4 against juryo man Tamashoho at Kataonami's lodgings in Asakura on October 28 and said he wants to show a new side of himself; Asakura, where he has been goodwill ambassador since 2019, is his second home, and he turns 42 on November 16, mid-basho. His 101 basho in makuuchi rank third all time behind Kaio and Hakuho, and with 1,497 top-division bouts he reaches 1,500 on day three if he wrestles each day. Day one is debutant Dewanoryu, 2-0 in Tamawashi's favour. Arashifuji of Umi, Fukuoka, held his press conference at Dazaifu Tenmangu, where the stable lodges, and said he wants double figures — and, if things fall right, the title — wrestling head-on; he is Fukuoka's first new makuuchi man in thirteen years and came to watch the Kyushu basho every year as a child. With ten sekitori at Isegahama, every day feels like away training, he said. Day one is Kitanowaka, who beat him in their only meeting. Minoumi, Okinawa's first sanyaku wrestler, opens straight against yokozuna Hoshoryu.

藤ノ川 →琴櫻 →霧島 →大の里 →安青錦 →熱海富士 →玉鷲 →出羽ノ龍 →嵐富士 →北の若 →美ノ海 →

Former sekiwake Wakatakakage, who won his second championship in May, returns at west juryo five. He hurt his left leg in training on July 1, was diagnosed with compartment syndrome of the thigh and had emergency surgery; according to his master Arashio, a delay of ninety minutes to two hours could have cost him the leg, and the bleeding would not stop, so he went through four major operations in all. He missed Nagoya and September entirely and dropped from sekiwake to juryo five; another absence would have meant makushita in January. In practice at the stable in Sue, Fukuoka, on the third he went 6-0 in a round-robin against Tanji, Daiseizan and Hatsuyama among others, including 2-0 against his brother Wakamotoharu, a day after beating Daieisho and others in a joint session of the Tokitsukaze group. Nothing unusual, he said; it is not about winning or losing but wrestling his own sumo. On the fourth Arashio said they had talked and he would compete, and on the fifth Wakatakakage said that whatever his feelings, all he can do is wrestle with everything he has — there is no point looking back now. Day one is Ryuden, whom he has beaten all three times. His rating of 1878 is far above anyone else in juryo, and our simulation gives him a 77.8% chance of the juryo title, with new sekitori Asahifuji at 10.3% and Wakanokatsu, back from a full basho out, at 7.7%. Elsewhere in juryo, Shodai, down from makuuchi for the first time in eleven years, opens against Kagayaki (6-2), Asahifuji meets Tamashoho for the first time, and 19-year-old Ryuho meets Hatsuyama.

若隆景 →竜電 →正代 →輝 →

旭

旭富士 →玉正鳳 →竜鳳 →

The Japan Sumo Association set the day-one and day-two cards on the sixth. The final bout pits yokozuna Onosato against komusubi Yoshinofuji, who leads their series 3-1 and beat him on day four in September. Onosato, whose September title was his sixth, has never won in Kyushu; on day two he meets Fujiryoga. Among the ozeki, Aonishiki faces Asanoyama at maegashira one for the first time, Kotozakura meets Fujiryoga and Kirishima meets Ura (11-4). The sekiwake draw Fujinokawa against Fujiseiun (2-2) and Atamifuji, restarting his ozeki run, against Takayasu (5-4). Day two has Aonishiki against Yoshinofuji (2-5), Kotozakura against Minoumi (5-3) and Atamifuji against Ura for the first time. Our simulation, run on the official banzuke and the day-one card, puts ozeki Aonishiki top at 27.4%, then Onosato 23.6%, Kirishima 16.1%, Hoshoryu 9.1% and Atamifuji 5.8%. The ratings run Aonishiki 1952, Onosato 1942, Kirishima 1917 — almost nothing separates the yokozuna and the ozeki. Kirishima leads the year's win count with 55, Atamifuji next on 50. As for Aonishiki, chief judge Asakayama said after September that eleven wins made a rope run hard to justify, and this basho is not being treated as one.

大の里 →義ノ富士 →安青錦 →朝乃山 →琴櫻 →藤凌駕 →霧島 →宇良 →藤ノ川 →藤青雲 →熱海富士 →高安 →

West yokozuna Hoshoryu will compete in Kyushu. He withdrew mid-basho in May and July, had surgery on his right knee in late July and missed all of September, so he returns after absences in three straight basho — his first appearance in two. After training at Tatsunami stable on November 5 he said he had talked it over with his master and would compete, and that he wants to show fans he is well; the knee, he said, is fine for now. His master Tatsunami sent him off with a reminder not to get hurt. Since arriving in Fukuoka he has trained away from home against Hiradoumi and others, and his final session on the seventh was light — shiko and stretching. Ten basho into his yokozuna career he has yet to win a championship; another miss would make it eleven, tying Asashio, Kashiwado and the third Wakanohana for the longest such run since 1958. Otowayama oyakata, the former yokozuna Kakuryu, said another withdrawal is unthinkable, and the expectation around him is double figures even in a comeback basho. Hidenoyama oyakata, who watched him on the autumn tour, judged him not yet at full strength and said sitting out one more basho would have been a defensible choice. Day one is new komusubi Minoumi, whom he has beaten in all six meetings; day two is Asanoyama at maegashira one, 5-0 in his favour. Our pre-basho simulation gives Hoshoryu a 9.1% title chance, fourth in makuuchi.

豊昇龍 →美ノ海 →朝乃山 →

We checked the Kyushu forecast published on the night of senshuraku against the real sheet. All nine men from yokozuna to komusubi are exactly where we put them, east and west included. Asanoyama at maegashira one, debutants Dewanoryu and Arashifuji, returnees Tamawashi (east fifteen) and Kitanowaka (west fifteen) and new juryo man Asahifuji (east twelve) all matched to the rank. Of the 42 makuuchi wrestlers, 43% matched exactly, 83% were within one rank and 93% within two; in juryo 71% were within one and 93% within two. The misses were at the makuuchi–juryo border: we kept Chiyoshoma, 5-10 at maegashira fourteen, in the top division, but he fell to east juryo one and Daiseizan, 8-7 at juryo two, went up to east maegashira seventeen instead. Takerufuji is three ranks higher than forecast at east four and Wakamotoharu two and a half lower at east seven. Inami, who won the makushita title at 7-0 from the twenty-fifth rank, was placed at east makushita one, above our west three, so a winning record in Kyushu would put juryo in reach; Tenshozan, the runner-up, is west makushita one, the two champions sharing the top of the division. Lower down, 57% of makushita, 23% of sandanme and 24% of jonidan were within one rank, with the nine retirements (including former maegashira Yago and Dewanojo) and four new recruits among the sources of error.

伊波 →

天

天昇山 →千代翔馬 →大青山 →尊富士 →若元春 →矢後 →

出

出羽ノ城 →

Six men swap between makuuchi and juryo. Tamawashi, 10-5 at juryo three, is back at east maegashira fifteen; at 41 years 11 months this is the oldest return to the top division since the Showa era, past Aminishiki's 39 years 6 months, and his first makuuchi basho in three. Three men make their makuuchi debuts: Dewanoryu (Dewanoumi), ten wins at juryo one, at west maegashira fourteen; Arashifuji (Isegahama) at east sixteen; and Kyokukaiyu (Oshima) at west sixteen. Kitanowaka (Hakkaku), the juryo playoff winner, returns at west fifteen and Daiseizan (Arashio) at east seventeen. Going the other way are Chiyoshoma (east juryo one), Tobizaru (west two), Shodai (west three), Wakatakakage (west five), Shonannoumi (east six) and Wakanokatsu (west ten). Former ozeki Shodai, 3-12, loses the makuuchi place he had held for 64 basho since 2015 and is in juryo for the first time in eleven years. Wakatakakage drops after sitting out two basho following leg surgery, and whether he can compete in Kyushu has not been announced. The new juryo men are Asahifuji (Isegahama) and Ryuho (Otowayama). Asahifuji's six basho from last November's debut ties the fastest rise since 1958 excluding tsukedashi entrants; Ryuho also took six, and is the first new sekitori from Otowayama since the stable was founded. Nishikigi and Tochitaikai fall from juryo to makushita; Nishikigi, a sekitori since May 2015, starts Kyushu at east makushita two.

玉鷲 →出羽ノ龍 →北の若 →嵐富士 →旭海雄 →大青山 →千代翔馬 →翔猿 →正代 →若隆景 →湘南乃海 →若ノ勝 →

旭

旭富士 →竜鳳 →錦木 →栃大海 →

The Japan Sumo Association released the banzuke for the Kyushu basho (opening November 8 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center) on October 26. Minoumi is east komusubi, his first sanyaku rank after 10-5 at maegashira three and a Fighting Spirit prize. He is the first sanyaku wrestler ever from Okinawa, which means every one of Japan's 47 prefectures has now produced one. At 33 years 5 months he is the fourth-oldest new sanyaku man since the war, and 63 basho from debut is the slowest climb by a former collegiate wrestler, past Yoshikaze's 61. Yoshinofuji, 9-6 at maegashira two, returns to west komusubi after one basho away. Fujinokawa, with eleven wins, is east sekiwake and Atamifuji, 8-7, west. Among the ozeki, Aonishiki's 11-4 earns him the senior east position, Kotozakura is west, and Kirishima, 8-7, drops to the extra east slot. Champion Onosato is east yokozuna and Hoshoryu, who sat out September, is west. Asanoyama is east maegashira one with Fujiryoga, up half a rank, on the west; Daieisho and Hakunofuji, both out of komusubi, land at maegashira three.

美ノ海 →義ノ富士 →藤ノ川 →熱海富士 →安青錦 →琴櫻 →霧島 →大の里 →豊昇龍 →朝乃山 →藤凌駕 →大栄翔 →伯乃富士 →