September Basho 2026 — Bouts

DAY 1 REVIEW

Onosato opened as the lone yokozuna and got through, just: he failed to get his right arm inside at the tachiai, pulled — his bad habit — and only won with a leaping slap-down of komusubi Daieisho at the edge. It is his first opening-day win since January, and he led with the self-criticism: it had given him a scare and he would fix it for tomorrow. Kirishima, chasing yokozuna promotion, was driven to the bales by Kotoshoho's thrusts before a saving overarm throw; he called it a scrambled start but was relieved his body moved. Aonishiki, back at ozeki, forced out Kotoeiho, and Kotozakura forced out Takayasu, so all three ozeki won. Sekiwake Atamifuji, on an ozeki run, absorbed Gonoyama's charge, took a left outside grip and forced him out to a roar. New sekiwake Fujinokawa beat Yoshinofuji for the first time in six meetings — no more calling him a bad match-up, he said. New komusubi Hakunofuji lost, forced out by Minoumi. Lower down, the brothers Asasuiryu and Asakoryu exchanged ceremonial water for the first time and both won, the debutant forcing out Chiyoshoma and his elder brother throwing Tobizaru; the other newcomer, Kotobukinofuji, fell to Tokihayate. Hoshoryu, Wakatakakage and Wakanokatsu are out from day one.