Haru 2026 Day Six
The March sumo tournament rolls on with a large number of rikishi coming and going from contention.
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
01 Yokozuna East Hoshoryu
05 Sekiwake East Kirishima
06 Sekiwake West Takayasu
16 Maegashira #4 West Takanosho
18 Maegashira #5 West Kotoshoho
24 Maegashira #8 West Shodai
27 Maegashira #10 East Gonoyama
4 Wins
13 Maegashira #3 East Hiradoumi
19 Maegashira #6 East Ichiyamamoto
31 Maegashira #12 East Asakoryu
32 Maegashira #12 West Asanoyama
34 Maegashira #13 West Fujiseiun
36 Maegashira #14 West Nishikifuji
39 Maegashira #16 East Asahakuryu
40 Maegashira #16 West Kinbozan
42 Maegashira #17 West Kotoeiho
Notable Maneuvers
Hansoku. Onokatsu has come back to the basho but clearly still bothered by his Day One ankle injury. He absolutely lost to Oshoma on Day Six. Except that as Onokatsu was falling down, Oshoma grabbed his hair. So Onokatsu gets the DQ win.
Match of the Day
09 Maegashira #1 East Wakatakakage versus 06 Sekiwake West Takayasu
Takayasu came in knowing he could be the sole leader with a victory over Wakatakakage. Pre-match, he looked extremely slow to get ready while Wakatakakage was up for it. At the tachiai, Wakatakakage again seemed more up for it, but Takayasu got a slim hold. Despite that, Takayasu was clearly never comfortable as Wakatakakage got lower and began to work. As Takayasu went backwards, he moved to shift the match to no avail. Instead, he picked up his first loss by getting thrown over awkwardly.
Recap
No one remains undefeated. Takanosho got swatted aside by Kotoshoho a little too easily. Kotoshoho is a good rikishi, and he is now one of the co-leaders, but he merely had to move sideways and keep his hands in front to beat an overextended Takanosho. Takayasu never quite got into his sumo, which can happen against Wakatakakage. His fall to a dramatic uwatedashinage looked worse than it probably was, but it’s still the first loss for the former Ozeki.
Now an astonishing 7 rikishi sit tied for the lead at 5-1. That includes the remaining Yokozuna Hoshoryu, as well as both Sekiwake in Kirishima and Takayasu. Aside that Sanyaku trio with one loss are the Maegashira quartet of Takanosho, Kotoshoho, Shodai, and Gonoyama. None of that foursome have been a model of consistency in recent years. They likely won’t all remain in the yusho race, but any single one in that group being a yusho contender wouldn’t be terribly surprising.
Shifts in the yusho race are basically guaranteed to happen, especially because nine Maegashira are at 4-2. Leaders will be squaring off in important matches, simply because there are too many to be avoided. The fact the 4-2 group is all rank-and-filers also means eliminator bouts will quickly thin the chase pack. Lower Maegashira will be especially topsy-turvy, since seven men ranked Maegashira #12 or below are on two losses.
Two notable names who are further off the pace are Aonishiki and Kotozakura. Both Ozeki picked up a third loss on Day Six. 12-3 can be a yusho winning record, so neither man is out of it. They just now have to be perfect to get to that record. Both have struggled too much to predict perfection. Aonishiki got bottled up by Oho, who admittedly had a nice double-arm grip. (Aonishiki also has a weird bruise over his left shoulder blade.) Kotozakura got absolutely bulldozed by Atamifuji.
The Haru basho has opened back wide as we head towards the middle weekend. Place Hoshoryu as the favorite, almost by default since he is a Yokozuna tied for the lead. But he’s got a lot to work to do and half the division can convince themselves they are true contenders. The next few days will be all about surviving.