Natsu 2026 Day Three
Separation continues to happen among the top men early in the May sumo tournament.
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
Notable Maneuvers
Sukuinage. Kotoshoho had Ichiyamamoto in a locked-up stalemate, which should have favored the Sadogatake man. Except, it was a really weird, sideways clutch where Ichiyamamoto was in his chest and had his right arm lifting Kotoshoho’s chest. When they moved it was still awkward, until Kotoshoho was taken to the edge and unleashed a beautiful, beltless throw.
Match of the Day
05 Ozeki #2 East Kirishima versus 10 Maegashira #1 East Fujinokawa
Fujinokawa came out like a cannon, which didn’t send Kirishima immediately back but certainly unsettled him. Kirishima’s calm deliberate sumo found a troubling counterpoint, especially as Fujinokawa’s skill allowed him to get both arms under and deep. Then Kirishima managed to grab the back of Fujinokawa’s mawashi as he was almost thrown. Kirishima regrouped and sent Fujinokawa the other way. Fujinokawa then got a right hand belt group. Kirishima powered up and sent Fujinokawa out with one of the hardest yorikiri you will ever see.
Recap
Kirishima maintained his perfect record and his early control over an extremely chaotic basho. Kirishima faced a real test from Fujinokawa and passed it. He both has the clean record and is looking as good as anyone else. The reigning yusho winner and newly repromoted Ozeki is heading towards an awkward conversation for the Yokozuna Deliberation Council in the first few days of the basho.
Part of why Kirishima is the main story after three days is the absence of Hoshoryu, Onosato, and Aonishiki. The other reason is that very few rikishi are stepping up the same way. The competing Sanyaku has been below par. Kotozakura, Atamifuji, and Kotoshoho all got off the skid on Day Three, but 1-2 is way behind 3-0 and they all are over a week from facing each other.
Just three other rikishi are undefeated—Wakatakakage, Kotoeiho, and Tobizaru. That is certainly a weird trio. Tobizaru looked for all the world like he was on the possible Juryo drop/”So does he have an elder stock set up yet?” conversation in March. Kotoeiho is in his third Makuuchi basho, and is coming off a solid 9-6 in March after three okay Juryo tournaments. Wakatakakage missed the final day of the Haru basho. They aren’t necessarily surprises at 3-0, but they are also rikishi who entered May with big question marks.
And they are co-leaders after three days. At the other end, only Tokihayate, Tamawashi, and Ryuden are winless among the competing rikishi. While we should hope this doesn’t mean the end of Tamawashi’s Makuuchi career, he is still making history every day he competes. The larger story of this basho seems to be that everyone is able to beat anyone else.
That is equally true for Kirishima as it is for all the other rikishi. He had his hands full with Fujinokawa. Despite their struggles, Kotozakura, Atamifuji, and Kotoshoho are real threats in a single match. Kirishima has the prime position, but he is guaranteed to drop a match or two. Zensho yusho are rare for rikishi not named Hakuho for a reason. Just remember no one can really pull away after three days.