Nagoya 2026 Day Ten
The July sumo tournament is two-thirds of the way done, and the yusho race is just beginning.
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
9 Wins
08 Sekiwake #2 West Aonishiki
23 Maegashira #7 East Kotoeiho
8 Wins
03 Ozeki East Kirishima
24 Maegashira #7 West Takayasu
29 Maegashira #10 East Asanoyama
36 Maegashira #13 West Takerufuji
38 Maegashira #14 West Shishi
Notable Maneuvers
Kirikaeshi. Abi started with his My-Extendable-Arms-Can-Wrap-Around-to-the-Back-of-the-Mawashi semi-henka. This kind of worked, since Abi got his hand. But Kotoeiho read it, wrapped him tight, and looped his leg around Abi’s. The move led to a knee trip and Kotoeiho’s 9th win.
Match of the Day
01 Yokozuna East Hoshoryu versus 08 Sekiwake #2 West Aonishiki
Hoshoryu and Aonishiki are both technicians, and they had a subtle, technical match full of small but important maneuvers. It began with a fairly even tachiai. Aonishiki got an outside left-hand grip, while Hoshoryu was clasping with his right and pushing on Aonishiki’s right hand with his left. This made Aonishiki have to dip down. In that, the Sekiwake quickly moved his right arm inside. It was that hold that set up the uwatenage.
Recap
Aonishiki and Kotoeiho took the lead on Day 10, both sitting at 9-1. They have five days to keep up the winning ways and stare down a yusho. For Aonishiki, this is familiar territory. He is also doing this while limping and having sat out for nearly two whole basho. One win away from a return to Ozeki, Aonishiki is aiming higher than reclaiming his rank. A third Yusho is a distinct possibility.
Kotoeiho is in his second straight basho where he’s a Maegashira contender. Kotoeiho is a youngster who looked like he needed time to adjust to Maegashira a few months ago. Now he’s clearly a major player, and he could edge towards Sanyaku with a big number. He also could possibly get a Yusho or Jun-Yusho if he keeps it up, and he is maybe one win away from a Special Prize.
Falling from the one-loss group was Shishi. He lost rather simply to Asahakuryu, who simply bodied him too much at the tachiai. Shishi has been winning and can be impressive on his day, but he also has the big man issue of having nothing once he goes backwards. He needs to get back in, and he gets the opportunity on Day Eleven. Shishi and Kotoeiho face off in a chance to prove who is a real contender.
And that’s where the basho is now. Each loss makes a difference. Hoshoryu probably saw his yusho shot slipping away when he fell to Aonishiki. He and Onosato are both at 6-4, which means they both need to win out and have lots of other rikishi lose. And they need to see each other and both already lost to Aonishiki. Kirishima is at 8-2, with Aonishiki, Kotozakura, Onosato, and Hoshoryu all unfought. The Sanyaku could determine the basho, either by winning out or playing spoiler depending on the rikishi.
Maegashira could still do this. The Kotoeiho-Shishi winner is certainly getting a massive jump in strength of schedule over the final few days. Takayasu, Takerufuji, and Asanoyama also are at 8-2 and give that chance. Takerufuji and Asanoyma also fight each other on Day Eleven to see who remains a contender. It won’t last for everybody. But someone currently on one or two losses will float above the rest in the end.