July Basho 2026 — Bouts

DAY 12 REVIEW

Day 12 blew the race wide open. Aonishiki, seemingly cruising, was driven out in the sekiwake showdown by Kotoshoho for his second loss — and the chase pack pounced as one. The masterpiece belonged to Kirishima: facing Onosato, a man he had never beaten in ten career tries, he finally broke through at the eleventh attempt, rolling the yokozuna with his trademark tottari arm bar to keep his rope run alive. Takerufuji threw down Takayasu, Shishi beat Asanoyama with an underarm throw, and suddenly four men — Aonishiki, Kirishima, Takerufuji and Shishi — share the lead at ten wins and two losses: a sekiwake, an ozeki and two rank-and-filers, a leaderboard rarely seen in recent years. Kotoeiho, whose nine-game run lit up the middle days, was forced out by Atamifuji and dropped back. Kotozakura showed his pride with a pulling overarm throw of Hoshoryu, while Onosato slipped to an even record. Three days remain, and the Emperor's Cup is anyone's to take.