Haru 2026 Day Nine
The March sumo tournament is officially in its closing stretch, but it isn't settling down.
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Public League Leaderboard
Scores from Fantasizr
Yusho Arasoi
8 Wins
05 Sekiwake East Kirishima
18 Maegashira #5 West Kotoshoho
27 Maegashira #10 East Gonoyama
7 Wins
01 Yokozuna East Hoshoryu
16 Maegashira #4 West Takanosho
Notable Maneuvers
Utchari. The backward pivot throw isn’t how anyone would choose to win a match, but Wakatakakage showed that he may be most dangerous with his feet against the tawara. Hiradoumi was coming at him, and Wakatakakage grabbed his arms, twisted, and sent him over the edge for a model of how to win at the edge.
Match of the Day
11 Maegashira #2 East Fujinokawa versus 08 Komusubi West Atamifuji
These two are about the most remarkable visual difference of any two Makuuchi rikishi, and clashes make interesting matchups. Fujinokawa came at Atamifuji with full force, as is his wont, but Atamifuji seemed ready for it. The Giant from Isegahama attempted to swallow Fujinokawa up, and nearly succeeded. Repeatedly, Atamifuji looked like he could swat Fujinokawa aside or down. Instead, Fujinokawa just kept coming and launching into Atamifuji. At the tawara, Atamifuji seemed like he may be was going to regroup, but Fujinokawa found an extra reserve of strength.
Recap
Hoshoryu beat Takanosho in the final match, bringing Takanosho into a 7-2 tie and one loss behind the leadership trio of Kirishima, Kotoshoho, and Gonoyama. By far, the main event was the most consequential match. Takanosho got a decent tachiai, but Hoshoryu got under Takanosho’s flailing arms to rock him back efficiently if not attractively. Hoshoryu’s advantage over everyone else has always been he gets to beat direct rivals, and he did just that on Day Nine to stay in the yusho race.
Every rikishi besides a Yokozuna has the minimum goal before each basho of 8 wins. A kachi-koshi guarantees no demotion, and Kirishima, Kotoshoho, and Gonoyama have secured their ranks. They all want much more, of course. Kirishima especially is fighting to do more than hold his Sekiwake rank. He wants to come back to Ozeki, and 8-1 means he can focus on getting the 11 or 12 wins he needs to lift the giant fish again.
Kotoshoho and Gonoyama are Maegashira with obvious talent but up-and-down performances. They are also in their primes and both have been absolutely on form this basho. Gonoyama steamrolled Kotoeiho—Kotoshoho’s younger brother—on Day Nine to keep his one-loss status. In theory, a bulldozing pusher-thruster should be able to be sidestepped or fall to a hit-and-shift. Gonoyama’s tachiai has been too fast this basho to allow the opponents to do much of anything.
Kotoshoho is a co-leader because he is keeping his fundamentals strong so far. On Day Nine, he was well aware of Ura’s preference for going up-and-under. Kotoshoho kept his base wide, put his hands on Ura as they were moving, and followed him until Ura dramatically went off the dohyo. When he is fighting within himself like this, Kotoshoho’s athleticism and skill are often too much for most people.
Before this basho is over, Hoshoryu will probably have to face Kotoshoho and Gonoyama. He definitely will need to beat Kirishima head to head. One or both Ozeki may be off the Yokozuna’s dance card because of middling performances, and direct yusho contenders are always a bigger must-fight match. Don’t rule out surprises in this tournament, because odd things keep happening. On Day Nine, Abi came back from kyujo to get a win, while Onokatsu meanwhile went out kyujo for a second time this basho. Weirdness seems to be expected in Osaka, but the list of possible winners is getting slimmer and slimmer.