July Basho 2026 — Bouts

DAY 7 REVIEW

Day 7, and Nagoya finally lost its last perfect record. Shishi, the only unbeaten man left, was sent out from behind by fellow maegashira Nishikifuji. Heading into the middle Sunday, seven men — Aonishiki, Kirishima, Takayasu, Takerufuji, Kotoeiho, Nishikifuji and Shishi — now share the lead at six wins and one loss, one of the most crowded races in recent memory. The top rankers did their jobs: Kirishima threw down Kotoshoho, Aonishiki forced out Fujinokawa to stay in front, Hoshoryu beat Hiratoumi with a scooping throw, and Onosato forced out the in-form Hakunofuji to climb back over .500. Kotozakura, however, lost again — beaten by Atamifuji, a man he had long dominated — and the ozeki now has more losses than wins. Takanosho, who opened the basho with four straight defeats, has quietly won three in a row. And there was sad news: 22-year-old Wakanosho, whose five straight wins lit up the first week, withdrew with a right knee injury, giving Kinbozan a walkover. No perfect records, seven men tied on top — from here on, every single bout in Nagoya matters.