Haru 2026 Day Five

We are one-third of the way through the basho, and the March sumo tournament keeps surprising.

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

5 Wins

06 Sekiwake West Takayasu

16 Maegashira #4 West Takanosho

4 Wins

01 Yokozuna East Hoshoryu

05 Sekiwake East Kirishima

13 Maegashira #3 East Hiradoumi

18 Maegashira #5 West Kotoshoho

24 Maegashira #8 West Shodai

27 Maegashira #10 East Gonoyama

31 Maegashira #12 East Asakoryu

39 Maegashira #16 East Asahakuryu

Notable Maneuvers

Sukuinage. Hoshoryu proved he is still the best thrower in sumo by flipping over Churanoumi with a model beltless arm throw.

Match of the Day

09 Maegashira #1 East Wakatakakage versus 04 Ozeki West Kotozakura

This one was both as expected and completely surprising. Kotozakura did his somewhat effective catch tachiai, which Wakatakakage didn’t really mind since he too wants a mawashi battle. Wakatakakage got in somewhat lower, but Kotozakura had the deep grip that allowed him to learn. Wakatakakage did his hip swivel movement trick that got the Ozeki going, but not enough to win. Kotozakura seemed to have a better grip to work Wakatakakage—until the gyoji stopped it. Wakatakakage’s mawashi was loose, so the referee had to fix it while Kotozakura and Wakatakakage were in a frozen grip. Kotozakura had his right hand over Wakatakakage’s left, but both men had a hold of the other’s mawashi while their opposite hands were high on the body. When the gyoji restarted, Wakatakage came out better, getting his right hand on Kotozakura’s belt and getting an easy yorikiri from there.

Recap

Takayasu and Takanosho remain undefeated after a third of the basho. Whether the current co-leaders will be in the yusho race remains to be seen. Takayasu has faded during the second week over the last year. He also still needs to face Kirishima, Aonishiki, and Hoshoryu this basho, so his strength of schedule will get worse. Takanosho has only ever really been in one yusho race, and his best performance was a 12-3 playoff loss to Terunofuji in July 2024.

They also are the ones topping the yusho race right now. Hoshoryu should be the biggest threat to emerge from the immensely large pack at 4-1. Not only is he a Yokozuna, he has been on form the past two days. The re-emergence of the throwing monster is bad news for anyone else. Although he is one loss off the leaders, Hoshoryu still effectively controls his own fate. He will see Takayasu before this is all done, and probably will face Takanosho if the Minatogawa-man keeps winning.

Kirishima should also be perceived as a threat. He is shooting for a return to Ozeki just before he turns 30. And regarding this basho, he’s been extremely solid. He very easily handled Wakamotoharu on Day Five. He, too, will face any other leaders as he keeps going through the basho. Apart from Hoshoryu and maybe Aonishiki, he should be favored against whoever he sees across the dohyo.

The real reason to think someone else will usurp the leaders over the next ten days is that eight men sit at 4-1. The Maegashira just off the pace are an interesting sextet. Hiradoumi may have just cooled his all-out sumo enough to find a focused way to topple opponents like he did against the massive Atamifuji. Kotoshoho has mostly been his good self, except when he dropped his hands to the clay on Day Five and fell off the leader group. Shodai is showing enough of the old Ozeki form to be dangerous. Gonoyama is back to charging into his opponents’ chest, rather than simply charging. Asakoryu and Asahakuryu are a pair of Takasago rikishi establishing themselves in Makuuchi.

None of those guys seem like they’ll be yusho contenders in the end. Someone will, though, because a Maegashira always keeps winning. Takayasu, Hoshoryu, and Kirishima have been here before more often, and they have the benefit of a high rank. There is still two-thirds of the basho, but already this one is setup for wild shifts in the yusho race.

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