Haru 2026 Day Eight
The middle day of the March sumo tournament is here, and the leaderboard keeps shifting.
If you’re wondering where to watch all the action, check out NHK World’s Grand Sumo highlights or with the Grand Sumo App (App Store and Google Play).
Public League Leaderboard
Scores from Fantasizr
Yusho Arasoi
7 Wins
05 Sekiwake East Kirishima
16 Maegashira #4 West Takanosho
18 Maegashira #5 West Kotoshoho
27 Maegashira #10 East Gonoyama
6 Wins
01 Yokozuna East Hoshoryu
06 Sekiwake West Takayasu
42 Maegashira #17 West Kotoeiho
Notable Maneuvers
Shitatenage. On a day of impressive throws, none were as majestic as Ura’s toss of Roga. They only officially called it an underarm throw, but Ura managed to get Roga ready to roll by grabbing his head with his right and throwing with his left.
Match of the Day
05 Sekiwake East Kirishima versus 06 Sekiwake West Takayasu
These two came in tied for the lead, and they both fought like it was a must win. The match began with an awkward slapping exchange as each man tried to blow up the other’s offense. Instead, Kirishima got a deep grip with his left, Takayasu held with his right, and they had this odd position where Takayasu’s right side was in on Kirishima’s chest while each held on for dear life. They moved around the ring a little bit, then ended in a sort of stalemate. They weren’t every stoll leaning on each other, but shifted sideways and back for a long time. Kirishima looked like he could maybe trip Takayasu, but he’d lose his balance easily. Takayasu just held on and never gave an opening. Eventually, Takayasu went for a big mawashi hold in a grip shift, but that allowed Kirishima to get his arms under Takayasu’s. That finally allowed Kirishima to toss Takayasu over in an epic.
Recap
Daieisho slapped down Hoshoryu with force. Takanosho suitably unbalanced Aonishiki. Kirishima outlasted Takayasu in what might be match of the basho. Kotoshoho swatted aside an awkward Hakunofuji. Gonoyama continued his bulldozer impression against Kinbozan. Kotoeiho began the day’s throw fest with an uwatenage against Nishikifuji.
What that all adds up to is Kirishima, Takanosho, Kotoshoho, and Gonoyama are in the lead at 7-1, while Hoshoryu, Takayasu, and Kotoeiho are one loss back. This yusho arasoi favors Kirishima, who is the only Sanyaku man at one loss and just put away a close competitor. This basho also seems destined to throw the leaderboard into the spin cycle every day. Kirishima might actually be most in danger since he is the one atop the leaderboard. This March at least seems to prove that any match is a potential pitfall.
Hoshoryu was the case in point on the middle day of Haru 2026. He was just a fraction behind Daieisho the whole match. Daieisho’s hair faster tachiai blew Hoshoryu back, making him scramble. Even when the Yokozuna did get a hold, Daieisho was moving at him. Hoshoryu then went for a tackle and a leg grab, but Daieisho kept upright and knocked down Hoss. That’s a nice kinboshi for Daieisho and a tough second loss for Hoshoryu.
Takanosho, Kotoshoho, and Gonoyama all had an improved position after that loss, but they also got there because of nice wins themselves. There is still plenty of reasons to doubt each one’s long-term contender status. In the previous three tournaments, Takanosho went 22-23, Kotoshoho went 19-26, and Gonoyama went 17-28. Yet they all have always been capable. Takanosho was 12-3 in September, while Kotoshoho actually won the Nagoya 2025 basho. Gonoyama has won 11 matches before. Counting on all of them to keep pace is foolish, but one of them is likely going to end up with a gaudy win total.
There is never any rest for a leader in a sumo basho. Takanosho gets Hoshoryu on Day Eight, while Kotoeiho has a chance to knock back Gonoyama (to help his brother Kotoshoho in the bargain.) Those matches are guaranteed to either make a rikishi get a second loss or put someone further back in the chase pack. Kirishima still needs to see Hoshoryu in this tournament, as well as both Ozeki and whichever Maegashira is among the leaders over the final weekend. Even if he maintains his place on top of the yusho race, he has a ton of work ahead of him.