Haru 2026 Day Seven
One week is done in the March sumo tournament, 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
6 Wins
01 Yokozuna East Hoshoryu
05 Sekiwake East Kirishima
06 Sekiwake West Takayasu
16 Maegashira #4 West Takanosho
18 Maegashira #5 West Kotoshoho
27 Maegashira #10 East Gonoyama
5 Wins
24 Maegashira #8 West Shodai
39 Maegashira #16 East Asahakuryu
42 Maegashira #17 West Kotoeiho
Notable Maneuvers
Midorifuji is out for this tournament—and possibly more—with a heart condition. But his signature katasukashi made an appearance when Tobizaru unleashed the under-shoulder-swing-down to eventually defeat Nishikifuji after a long one.
Match of the Day
11 Maegashira #2 East Fujinokawa versus 04 Ozeki West Kotozakura
On a day of excellent matches in Sanyaku, Fujinokawa and Kotozakura had the most eye popping display of frantic sumo we may see all tournament. Fujinokawa launched himself from the tachiai into a furious slapping attack. This strategy makes sense, as the much bigger and more technical Ozeki would be favored in a straight ahead sumo match. Kotozakura stood his ground, but Fujinokawa wouldn’t let up. Kotozakura started replying in kind, which Fujinokawa took okay but had to step backwards. It was Kotozkura’s wide base and forward motion that once again earned the victory, even if it is was in the least Kotozakura style match imaginable.
Recap
Only one rikishi picked up a second loss on Day Seven. That was Shodai, who dropped his match to Shishi. Otherwise, Hoshoryu, Kirishima, Takayasu, Takanosho, Kotoshoho, and Gonoyama got their sixth wins and remain in a tie for the leadership of the yusho race. The Sanyaku men were all in control. The Maegashira also all had good showings. Gonoyama continues to be a bulldozer, Kotoshoho parried Oshoma, and Takanosho out-thrusted Ichiyamoto to the point of engaging close enough to win by yorikiri.
The real story of Day Seven was that seven men picked up a third loss and moved further away from the leaders. Hiradoumi, Ichiyamamoto, Asakoryu, Asanoyama, Fujiseiun, Nishikifuji, and Kinbozan all effectively fell out of the yusho race before the middle of the basho. That doesn’t make the job much easier for the sextet leading the basho right now. They still need to outlast each other and another three rikishi just below them.
Hoshoryu does remain the favorite, but the pair of former Ozeki ranked at Sekiwake this basho are legitimate threats. Kirishima is looking to return to Ozeki this basho, and he now probably just needs to go 5-3 to do that. 6-2 would make it a lock and likely have him with a Jun-Yusho or Yusho. His demolition of Hiradoumi shows he’s capable. Takayasu has tended to fade in the second week recently, but he looked excellent in parrying back Daieisho. He was so good, he effectively won twice. Daieisho backed into the Gyoji, sending him off the edge, before Takayasu reloaded and won by tsukidashi.
Yet it was probably Hoshoryu who looked the best on Day Seven. Both Ozeki were given all they could handle. Aonishiki was overwhelmed despite maximum effort, in a replay of last basho’s playoff against Atamifuji. Kotozakura won, but was relentlessly slapped by Fujinokawa. By contrast, Hoshoryu trucked Oho from the tachiai and gave him no opening. It was dominant Yokozuna sumo to remain on top of the yusho Arasoi.
He does need to keep it up for another eight days, which is easier said than done. This is especially true for Hoshoryu, whose biggest issue as a Yokozuna has been having three or four days per basho where his sumo doesn’t quite click. He picked up wins despite that in the first few days of the basho, and now he’s been able to find form. Hoshoryu has recently been overshadowed by both Onosato and Aonishiki, but he can assert himself as the top man in sumo now as long as he keeps his Day Seven form.