Natsu 2026 Day Eleven
The May sumo tournament heads towards its finish and keeps thinning out the leadership group.
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
05 Ozeki #2 East Kirishima
34 Maegashira #13 East Kotoeiho
38 Maegashira #15 East Tobizaru
8 Wins
08 Komusubi East Wakatakakage
12 Maegashira #2 East Yoshinofuji
17 Maegashira #4 West Gonoyama
29 Maegashira #10 West Hakunofuji
30 Maegashira #11 East Ura
42 Maegashira #17 East Fujiryoga
Notable Maneuvers
Okurinage—or “rear throw down.” When a rikishi gets behind another, they usually don’t go for a throw. But Kotoeiho twisted behind Oshoma while holding his arm, so he could throw Oshoma over from the rear.
Match of the Day
28 Maegashira #10 East Asanoyama versus 38 Maegashira #15 East Tobizaru
Asanoyama, and really the whole building, knew the match would be better for him if he could wrap Tobizaru up. Tobizaru wasn’t letting that happen, but he also couldn’t find a way into the match. He was getting backed up until he did Tobizaru things. He moved to the side at the edge and pulled down Asanoyama over the edge to keep his share of the lead.
Recap
Three men fell from the 2-loss leadership group to the 3-loss chase group. One man falling off was guaranteed, as Wakatakakage faced Kirishima in the penultimate match with identical 8-2 records. Kirishima got the better of Wakatakakage with little fuss, showing he was back on form after looking slightly shaky. Tobizaru and Kotoeiho shined while advancing to 9 wins themselves.
Wakatakage is joined in going from 2 to 3 losses by Gonoyama and Fujiryoga. Gonoyama just couldn’t find his way against fellow pusher Ichiyamamoto. Fujiryoga was tossed over by Hakunofuji, who is getting it done with nice finishes after so-so tachiai. Hakunofuji is also at 8-3, as are Yoshinofuji and Ura. One loss back with four matches remaining can be a place to strike, and everyone of the six men with that record have already had moments.
The problem for those rikishi is that there are six of them, while three men have the one win advantage. Lifting an Emperor’s Cup for anyone at 8-3 not only requires winning out, but getting a lot of luck in other matches. Winning out should mean putting dirt on rivals, but there are only four days left and 9 nominal contenders. It’s guaranteed to be complicated.
Day Twelve will be a bit of an eliminator. Wakatakakage and Gonoyama face each other. Yoshinofuji and Tobizaru have their first ever match in a consequential one. Kotoeiho sees former Ozeki Asanoyama (who is at 7-4), who he has never beaten. The leaderboard will likely be a little less crowded after Day Twelve, and that trend should continue for all the following days.
Kirishima sees Sekiwake Kotoshoho on Day Twelve, which opens up the questions about who the Ozeki’s final opponents may be. Kirishima in theory should be seeing Sekiwake Atamifuji and Ozeki Kotozakura still. That leaves one additional slot to face Kirishima. Yet Kotozakura also picked up his eighth loss and literally has nothing left to fight for. Kirishima also has yet to face Kotoeiho or Tobizaru—who have faced each other already. So future matches won’t only change the leaderboard each day. They’ll set up the final bouts for the leaders.