Natsu 2026 Day Eight
Nakabi-or the middle day--of the May sumo tournament brings more shifts in the number of contenders.
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
7 Wins
05 Ozeki #2 East Kirishima
08 Komusubi East Wakatakakage
38 Maegashira #15 East Tobizaru
6 Wins
17 Maegashira #4 West Gonoyama
34 Maegashira #13 East Kotoeiho
42 Maegashira #17 East Fujiryoga
Notable Maneuvers
Uwatenage—but really henka. Abi did his fly-around-sideways-to-get-the-back-of-the-mawashi sidestep against Fujiseiun. And it worked just like intended.
Match of the Day
30 Maegashira #11 East Ura versus 38 Maegashira #15 East Tobizaru
This match seemed guaranteed to be fun on paper, and it went above and beyond that. Tobizaru got the better of the merry go round that began this match to push Ura to the edge. Ura promptly bent backwards and regrouped at the tawara. From there, he was able to move Tobizaru back and gain some kind of purchase in the match. Tobizaru resisted, Ura pushed, and Ura went lateral as Tobizaru had the edge. Gyoji pointed to Ura.
Monoii. They had the awkward who stepped out (Tobizaru) or touched down first (Ura) look in slow motion, which also showed the gyoji’s view was blocked by Ura. The look of exactly when Tobizaru’s foot was off the dohyo was also somewhat unclear. So they had a redo where Tobizaru outmuscle Ura and picked up a crucial 7th win.
Recap
The key headline of Day Eight will be that Kirishima lost to Gonoyama. This is the Ozeki’s first loss, plus it means no one is undefeated anymore. Kirishima now sits in a three way tie for the lead with Wakatakakage and Tobizaru. This was about more than Kirishima losing. Gonoyama displayed excellent sumo, from getting the better of the tachiai to never giving up his pushing attack. He brought Kirishima down to 1 win, which also made him one off the pace.
Wakatakakage continued looking strong against Oho. His seventh win placed him in position to join the top of the yusho arasoi when Kirishima lost. Kirishima has seemingly had the best opportunity to claim this Emperor’s Cup with two Yokozuna and Ozeki out. All the advantages the serious number of withdrawals give Kirishima apply just as equally to Komusubi Wakatakakage. He is also a former yusho winner who seems fully locked in this basho.
Tobizaru seems less assured, although he too is at 7-1. His strength of schedule is nowhere near that of Wakatakakage and Kirishima, and it won’t be for awhile. He is Maegashira #15, and he hasn't seen anyone ranked above Maegashira #11. He also is fighting well enough to scrape out a win most days. Still, he has 7 wins locked down already, and all he can do is win each match as it comes along.
The 6-2 trio of Gonoyama, Kotoeiho, and Fujiryoga are all surprise contenders. Gonoyama has been struggling to establish himself among the highest ranked rikishi. Kotoeiho and Fujiryoga are both trying to establish themselves as Maegashira still. Fujiryoga actually pulled Kotoeiho back from the one-loss group with a nice thigh grabbing pull down. It’s hard to say what to expect from them over the final week, since they’re all new to this kind of contention.
Kirishima’s first loss is a blow for him, but shouldn’t be a complete shocker. He was bound to drop one along the way somewhere. It’s how he responds now that matters. It also doesn’t take away the pressure for Wakatakakage or Tobizaru. Kirishima has no more room for error if he wants to maintain his position atop the leaderboard, but he and the other 7-1 rikishi also have the simplest way to earn the Yusho. Just win out.