Natsu 2026 Day Five
The first act of the May sumo tournament is closed, and the leaderboard has been shaped to make the last two-thirds a wild ride.
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
05 Ozeki #2 East Kirishima
34 Maegashira #13 East Kotoeiho
4 Wins
08 Komusubi East Wakatakakage
17 Maegashira #4 West Gonoyama
21 Maegashira #6 West Fujiseiun
38 Maegashira #15 East Tobizaru
40 Maegashira #16 East Wakanosho
42 Maegashira #17 East Fujiryoga
Notable Maneuvers
Okuridashi. Remarkably, three men won with the “rear push out” on Day Five, a move you sometimes don’t see in an entire Makuuchi slate. Ura pulled Asahakuryu around to shove him from behind. Yoshinofuji fought off Daieisho’s thrusts to get on his backside. Kotoshoho outrgrappled Oho, but couldn’t win until he spun around behind and shoved at the first opportunity.
Match of the Day
05 Ozeki #2 East Kirishima versus 14 Maegashira #3 East Hiradoumi
Kirishima is apparently going to keep having matches where he both looks vulnerable and impressive. In this one, it’s hard to say Hiradoumi ever had a single moment of control. The tachiai was hard, but Kirishima wrapped him up. So the Ozeki went for some throws, which Hiradoumi resisted but got both men off balance. Hiradoumi was nearly parallel to the dohyo, but dragged Kirishima around to make it look like he could win. Instead, Kirishima began a throw while Hiradoumi was already off balance to win.
Recap
Kirishima and Kotoeiho remain undefeated after five days, leading a chase pack of six rikishi on 4-1. Kirishima withstood if not everything Hiradoumi had then certainly something different. He is winning, and any victories on the board are great. He also keeps winning with nice final maneuvers, even when he has trouble, against upper Maegashira. Someone will almost certainly beat him at some point—I am NOT ever predicting a zensho yusho—but he’s definitely the favorite.
He is tied for the lead with the younger Tebakari brother, Maegashira #13 East Kotoeiho. This is just Kotoeiho’s third Makuuchi basho, and he is coming off a 9-6 after three straight Juryo basho. He may have leveled up, which can happen to a 22 year old with a solid track record in the lower divisions. On the dohyo so far this Natsu basho, Kotoeiho is showing he can go mawashi versus mawashi against fellow lower Maegashira. He bottled up Roga on Day Five, and he’s now pointing towards a much tougher second week schedule.
The batch at 4-1 can certainly overtake Kirishima and Kotoeiho. The headline one-loss man is Komusubi Wakatakakage. He is a former yusho winner, who also has been a consistent Sanyaku man when fully healthy. He lost on Day Five to Takanosho, who read him getting off balance and slapped him down. Wakatakakage is still maybe the most pertinent threat to a Kirishima yusho, both because of his rank and the fact he will absolutely face Kirishima in the second week.
The other 4-1 rikishi all won on Day Five, and they are a bunch who all need to prove themselves in some way. Gonoyama has Sanyaku ability, but has never quite proven he can stand out enough to earn a named rank. Fujiseiun is in his second Makuuchi basho and a career high rank. With injuries, he’s likely getting a Sanyaku man at some point. Tobizaru came in to this basho needing to show he can still hang as a Maegashira. Wakanosho is in his first Makuuchi basho. Fujiryoga is coming off a losing records in his first Makuuchi basho.
The Natsu basho is already topsy-turvy thanks to injury withdrawals. Kirishima and Wakatakakage are currently the rikishi making it not all about the Maegashira. A small number of upsets and surprises will turn the basho even further on its head.