Open The Forbidden Gate

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 14-the penultimate day-of the March 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (top tier):
Asakoryu (M12) beat Kinbozan (M16)
Kotoeiho (M17) beat Shishi (M11)
Ohsoumi (M11) beat Daiseizan (J3)
Asahakuryu (M16) beat Gonoyama (M10)
Roga (M10) beat Fuyjiryoga (M17)
Chiyoshoma (M14) beat Tokihayate (M10)
Tobiuzaru (M13) beat Tamawashi (M9)
Mitakeumi (M15) beat Ura (M8)
Nishikifuji (M14) beat Shodai (M8)
Oshoma (M7) beat Fujiseiun (M13)
Abi (M5) beat Asanoyama (M12)
Fujinokawa (M2) beat Hiradoumi (M3)
Hakunofuji (M7) beat Churanoumi (M2)
Daieisho (M4) beat Wakatakakage (M1) by default/withdrawal
Oho (M3) beat Yoshinofuji (M1)
Wakamotoharu (K) beat Takanosho (M4)
Atamifuji (KJ beat Kotoshoho (M5)
Ichiyamamoto (M6) beat Takayasu (S)
Aonishiki (O) beat Kirishima (S)
Kotozakura (O) beat Hoshoryu (Y). KIRISHIMA YUSHO!!! The 3rd career Emperor’s Cup for Kirishima!
CHAMPION: Kirishima (12-2)
WITHDRAWAL: Wakatakakage (M1). Right elbow. Out 6 weeks. It happened during his win yesterday which clinched promotion as he did get to 8 wins. Hopefully he will be ready for May but that could be cutting it close. Daieisho got the fusen as a result.
Of note: It’s all over. Not how Kirishima wanted to win it I’m sure but Hoshoryu’s loss sealed the deal. Now the question is will this earn Kirishima promotion back to Ozeki? If not, the magic number in May will be 9 or 10 wins.

Juryo:
Fujitensei (J13) beat Hidenoumi (Ms3)
Nishikigi (J12) beat Enho (Ms4(
Meisei (J7) beat Tohakuryu (J10)
Kazekeno (J14) beat Hitoshi (J6)
Hatsuyama (J9) beat Kayo (J6)
Kagayaki (J5) beat Kotokuzan (J14)
Shirokuma (J5) beat Tsurugisho (J12)
Kitanowaka (J8) beat Nishinoryu (J4)
Kazuma (J11) beat Takerufuji (J4)
Wakanosho (J3) beat Toshinofuji (J11)
Kyokukaiyu (J7) beat Asasuiryu (J2)
Tomokaze (J2) beat Shonannoumi (J8)
Ryuden (J1) beat Dewanoryu (J10)
Sadanoumi (J1) beat Tamashoho (J9)
Leader: Wakanosho, Dewanoryu (11-3)
Of note: Focusing on the bottom first, NIshikigi beating Enho likely saved his Juryo spot. I can’t see him going down at 7-8. Kazekeno was already promoted before this win. Fujitensei is probably being demoted even if he can get to 6-9 now. As for Tsurugisho, now the question is can he get one win before likely retiring, or will he crash out with an 0-15 finale? Now for the top…the championship goes to the Final Day. Dewanoryu is up first and faces Takerufuji. If Dewanoryu wins, he is the champion if Wakanosho then loses to Hatsuyama. If if’s the other way around (Dewanoryu loses and Wakanosho wins), Wakanosho is the champion. If both win, there will be a playoff. Their meeting earlier this tournament was won by Dewanoryu. But if both lose AND Kazuma wins (Ryuden), there will be a 3-way playoff. Kazuma lost to both for the record. Regardless of the outcome, Wakanosho is almost certainly headed to the top tier and it looks like Ryuden is going back up as he clinched promotion today. If Dewanoryu wins the championshp at 12-3, there’s a slim chance he’ll also be promoted to the top tier.

Lower tier notes: Enho’s loss takes Juryo promotion chances down from very likely to toss-up but still leaning likely as he will finish 5-2. It looks like 4 are going down from Juryo and 3 are definitely going up. What may give him the edge is Takakento was 4-3 at Ms3. Tochitaikai, Okaryu and perhaps Hakuyozan are all going up. Best-case is Enho sneaks in at J14. Worst-case is Ms1. But I think both Takakento and Hidenoumi losing today clinched Juryo promotion for Enho. The wild card will be Wakanofuji winning the Makushita championship from Ms28. At that rank there is a very slim chance of promotion straight to Juryo.

Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 90 minutes of LIVE top tier coverage FOR FREE tomorrow, including the final matches, awards ceremony and champion’s interview with Kirishima, beginning at 12:30 AM PT/3:30 AM ET.

If the Special Prize winners are announced enough ahead of time, this post will be updated with those.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 13-Championship Day-of the March 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita, Sd-Sandanme, Jd-Jonidan, Jk-Jonokuchi

Makuuchi (top tier):
Ryuden (J1) beat Fujiryoga (M17)
Kinbozan (M16) beat Asanoyama (M12)
Nishikifuji (M14) beat Asakoryu (M12)
Chiyoshoma (M14) beat Oshoumi (M11)
Tobizaru (M13) beat Shishi (M11)
Mitakeumi (M15) beat Roga (M10)
Asahakuryu (M16) beat Tokihayate (M9)
Fujiseiun (M13) beat Shodai (M8)
Kotoeiho (M17) beat Ura (M8)
Tamawashi (M9) beat Hakunofuji (M7)
Churanoumi (M2) beat Oshoma (M7)
Ichiyamamoto (M6) beat Fujinokawa (M2)
Yoshinofuji (M1) beat Hiradoumi (M3)
Wakatakakage (M1) beat Abi (M5)
Atamifuji (K) beat Gonoyama (M10)
Daieisho (M4) beat Wakamotoharu (K)
Takanosho (M4) beat Takayasu (S)
Kirishima (S) beat Oho (M3)
Aonishiki (O) beat Kotozakura (O)
Hoshoryu (Y) beat Kotoshoho (M5)
Leader: Kirishima (12-1)
Of note: It’s Kirishima’s championship to lose. He will win the championship tomorrow if he beats Aonishiki or Hoshoryu loses to Kotozakura. That could mean Ozeki re-promotion for Kirishima. If not, right now he would need at least 10 wins in May. Hoshoryu can still force a playoff rematch, but on the last day he’ll have Aonishiki, who the Yokozuna has not yet beaten in a tournament. Elsewhere, Kotoeiho clinched promotion and will stay in the top tier in May and Atamifuji will at least remain at Komusubi, with a chance to go to Sekiwake. Wakatakakage appears poised to replace his brother in Sanyaku. Takayasu needs to win his last 2 to stay Sekiwake as he has now lost 6 straight.

Juryo:
Tochitaikai (Ms1) beat Fujitensei (J13)
Nishikigi (J12) beat Himukamaru (Ms1)
Tamashoho (J9) beat Toshinofuji (J11)
Kitanowaka (J8) beat Tsurugisho (J12)
Tohakuryu (J10) beat Kayo (J6)
Hitoshi (J6) beat Kotokuzan (J14)
Shirokuma (J5) beat Kazekeno (J14)
Takerufuji (J4) beat Shonannoumi (J8)
Nishinoryu (J4) beat Kagayaki (J5)
Wakanosho (J3) beat Kazuma (J11)
Dewanoryu (J10) beat Daiseizan (J3)
Meisei (J7) beat Tomokaze (J2)
Hatsuyama (J9) beat Asasuiryu (J2)
Kyokukaiyu (J7) beat Sadanoumi (J1)
Leader: Dewanoryu (11-2)
Of note: Dewanoryu can win the championship tomorrow if he beats Ryuden and Wakanosho loses to Toshinofuji. Toshinofuji & Kazuma can stay in with playoff chances of they win and Dewanoryu loses. Wakanosho now seems likely to be promoted to the top tier with 10 wins and if Ryuden can spoil Dewanoryu’s title hopes, he likely gets promoted back up too. Sadanoumi will not go back up as today’s loss means demotion. At the bottom, it now looks like 3 demotions for sure with Fujitensei, Tsurugisho and Kotokuzan all going down while Nishikigi has won 3 straight to try and stave off demotion, but he’s got a tough one tomorrow…Enho, who is trying to get promoted back to Juryo.

Makushita:
Wakanofuji (Ms28) beat Arashifuji (Ms7). WAKANOFUJI MAKUSHITA YUSHO!!! First career championship in only his second career tournament, he was a Ms60 debut in January.

Sandanme:
Hogasho (Sd21) beat Gyotoku (Sd5)
Nabatame (Sd3) beat Tatsubayama (Sd7). PLAYOFF!!! This means it will be Hogasho vs. Nabatame for the championship on the Final Day.

Jonidan:
Kiryuko (Jd100) beat Satumasho (Jd63)
Asahifuji (Jd8) beat Tenshoyama (Jd39). PLAYOFF!!! It was guaranteed to be a playoff but now we know the participants-it will be Kiryuko vs. Asahifuji. The former Juryo man in his first full tournament in over a year against the latest Isegahama super-rookie.

Jonokuchi:
Shosei (Jk18) beat Kazeoki (Jk6)
Aron (Jk12) beat Tamanotora (Jk5)
Kojikara (Jk12) beat Ideno (Jk3). PLAYOFF!!! This means there will be a 3-way playoff with Shosei, Aron & Kojikawa on the Final Day, all at 6-1. Ideno was also 5-1 so the match with Kojikawa turned out to be an eliminator.

As for Enho, he’ll be in Juryo tomorrow for his final match to face Nishikigi. The promotion scenario for top Makushita now looks like Okaryu is definitely going up (6-1), Himukamaru is demoted (3-4), Tochitaikai is a maybe (4-3), Hakuyozan is a maybe (4-2 at Ms2) and now with Wakanofuji winning the championship that can’t be ruled out. Slim chances from Ms28 but not impossible. If Enho wins I think he’s going up. If he loses, he needs Hakuyozan to lose his last match.

RETIREMENT: Chiyosakae (Jd3). Called it a career after his last match today, which he won. He would have been promoted back to the Sandanme in May as he finished March with a 5-2 record. Chiyosakae, from Kokonoe Beya, real name Eita Kishi, will finish his career with a record of 396-380-35 (win-loss-absent) and a career high rank of J8. He does not qualify for elder stock (not enough tournaments in Juryo) and will have his haircutting ceremony at the Kokonoe Beya Senshuraku Party after the Final Day and move on from sumo. He is the rather uncommon case of a wrestler ending his career with, excluding absent days (which are treated as losses for ranking purposes), a winning record.

Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 50 minutes of live top tier coverage FOR FREE tomorrow beginning at 1:10 AM PT/4:10 AM ET.

UPDATE: Wakatakakage has WITHDRAWN. Right elbow injury suffered in today’s match. Out 6 weeks per Nikkan Sports. He did clinch promotion with today’s win so worst-case is he maintains his rank but he’ll miss the last 2 matches. Daieisho will get the fusen tomorrow as a result.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 12 of the March 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (top tier):
Takerufuji (J4) beat Tobizaru (M13)
Asanoyama (M12) beat Kotoeiho (M17)
Oshoumi (M11) beat Fujiryoga (M17)
Chiyoshoma (M14) beat Roga (M10)
Mitakeumi (M15) beat Tokihayate (M9)
Nishikifuji (M14) beat Tamawashi (M9)
Asakoryu (M12) beat Ura (M8)
Asahakuryu (M16) beat Shodai (M8)
Shishi (M11) beat Oshoma (M7)
Kinbozan (M16) beat Hakunofuji (M7)
Takanosho (M4) beat Fujiseiun (M13)
Fujinokawa (M2) beat Churanoumi (M2)
Wakatakakage (M1) beat Ichiyamamoto (M6)
Kotoshoho (M5) beat Yoshinofuji (M1)
Abi (M5) beat Wakamotoharu (K)
Oho (M3) beat Atamifuji (K)
Hiradoumi (M3) beat Takayasu (S)
Daieisho (M4) beat Aonishiki (O)
Kotozakura (O) beat Gonoyama (M10)
Kirishima (S) beat Hoshoryu (Y)
Leader: Kirishima (11-1)
Of note: It’s almost Kirishima’s to lose but now he needs Hoshoryu to beat Kotoshoho tomorrow. They have met once this past year (September) and Hoshoryu won. Kirishima has Oho tomorrow, Oho beat Kirishima in January to stop a 3-match winning streak by Kirishima, so they are at 3-2 Kirishima this last year. Also tomorrow is the Ozeki Showdown-Kotozakura has once again protected his rank, now Aonishiki must win out just to protect his but he has won 4 straight against Kotozakura. A loss by Kirishima could also put Gonoyama back in contention. Also, another Takayasu epic collapse continues-that’s 5 straight losses after a 6-1 first week.
At the bottom, Ashakuryu has become the first to clinch promotion and protect his top tier spot at 8-4 at M16, most of the rest are taking it down to the wire.

Juryo:
Dewanoryu (J10) beat Kazuma (J11)
Tamashoho (J9) beat Fujitensei (J13)
Hatsuyama (J9) beat Kazekeno (J14)
Toshinofuji (J11) beat Kitanowaka (J8)
Kotokuzan (J14) beat Kyokukaiyu (J7)
Nishikigi (J12) beat Hitoshi (J6)
Tohakuryu (J10) beat Nishinoryu (J4)
Kagayaki (J5) beat Daiseizan (J3)
Wakanosho (J3) beat Shirokuma (J5)
Shonannoumi (J8) beat Asasuiryu (J2)
Tomokaze (J2) beat Tsurugisho (J12)
Ryuden (J1) beat Meisei (J7)
Kayo (J6) beat Sadanoumi (J1)
Leader: Dewanoryu (10-2)
Of note: Dewanoryu took control of the championship race today but it’s far from over. If Dewanoryu can win out and be champion at 13-2 he would have a slight chance at the top tier. Wakanosho probably needs one more win to get to the top tier in May. At the bottom, Fujitensei is now at risk of demotion to Makushita and needs to win out to have any chance at staying in Juryo. That means 4 probably or definitely demoted (Tsurugisho, Fujitensei, Shimazuumi, Kotokuzan) while Nishikigi is trying to hang on at 5-7. Kazekeno is safe at J14 as he has clinched promotion.

Lower tier notes: Tomorrow is Championship Day in the lower tiers and it’s going to be a lot of fun because we are virtually guaranteed a Final fay full of playoffs. First, the Makushita-if Wakanofuji beats Arashifuji, Wakanofuji is the champion. But if Wakanofuji loses, there will be AT LEAST a 6-way playoff because that means a 6-1 champion and at least 6 will have that record. But it could be 7 depending on Enho’s final match…which will not be tomorrow so he’ll have to wait a day or two. The Sandanme may be decided tomorrow with 3 left-first up, if Hogasho beats Gyotoku, there will be a playoff between Hogasho and the Tatsubayama-Nabatame winner. And if it’s Hogasho-Tatsubayama, that’s a playoff between Tokitsukaze stablemates. If Hogasho loses, Tatsubayama-Nabatame is for the championship. The Jonidan will have a playoff because there are 4 left at 6-0 and those will be narrowed down to 2 tomorrow. The Jonokichi is unsettled with 4 at 5-1, the last match involving them could be the championship match but if one of both of the other co-leaders win before that, there will be a playoff and it could be a 3-way or 4-way.

And here’s what to know about Enho’s promotion chances right now at 5-1: Of the 6 Makushita men above him (Enho is at Ms4), Okadyu is 5-1 at Ms2 and almost certainly will be promoted to Juryo. Hakuyozan is 4-2 at Ms2 and probably gets to Juryo with a win in his final match. If he loses, it’s a toss-up. At Ms1, Himukamatu & Tochitaikai are 3-3. Himukamaru will be in Juryo tomorrow to face Nishikigi. Tochitaikai also is in Juryo to face Fujitensei. Takakento is also promoted at Ms3 (4-3) while Hidenoumi is 3-3. So Enho really needs that last win to finish 6-1 then may need some help, but if one or both Ms1s lose too, Juryo chances go way up even though it means potentially fewer demotions. Worst case now will be Ms1 in May. For now it looks like Juryo demotions will open up 3-4 spots. Best-case is Nishikigi loses out and gets demoted to make 4 but that means Himukamaru likely takes a spot away. I only see 3 if Fujitensei gets to 7-8.