Open The Forbidden Gate

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

Makuuchi (top tier):
Onokatsu (M15) beat Asshaluryu (M12)
Mitakeumi (M11) beat Kazuma (M15)
Kinbozan (M14) beat Chiyoshoma (M10)
Tobizaru (M9) beat Daiseizan (M16)
Asakoryu (M16) beat Wakamotoharu (M8)
Nishikifuji (M16) beat Fujiseiun (M6)
Abi (M13) beat Shodai (M9)
Asanoyama (M10) beat Oshoma (M5)
Fujiryoga (M9) beat Ura (M5)
Roga (M8) beat Ichiyamamoto (M4)
Gonoyama (M2) beat Hakunofuji (M3)
Daieisho (M4) beat Takanosho (M1)
Churanoumi (M2) beat Fujinokawa (M1)
Hiradoumi (M3) beat Oho (K)
Yoshinofuji (K) beat Kotoeiho (M7)
Kotoshoho (S) beat Takayasu (M7)
Kotozakura (O) beat Shishi (M14)
Aonishiki (S) beat Kirishima (O)
Onosato (Y) beat Takerufuji (M13)
Atamifuji (S) beat Hosboryu (Y)
Leader: Aonishiki (11-2)
Of note: It’s now Aonishiki’s to lose but he can’t win the championship tomorrow because there are 4 at 10-3 including two Isegahama men. And it looks like that’s his final path be he faces Takerufuji tomorrow. It looks like that will be a first-time meeting. Atamifuji faces Shishi (also likely first-time) and Kirishima gets Hoshoryu (2-2 in the last 4 tournaments but Kirishima has won the last 2).
Elsewhere, getting his 8th win today means Kotozakura is out of kadoban status and will remain a full Ozeki in September. At the bottom, Kazuma will be demoted back to Juryo after a tough top tier debut but I expect he’ll be back up by November or, at worst, January. There are also rumors that Oho’s disastrous record this time may be due in large part to injuries
Yokozuna Watch: The path is very narrow now but still there-Kirishima must win his last 2 and needs Aonishiki to lose at least once because Kirishima needs to at least force a playoff, ideally at 12-3, to have any chance for promotion. Championship is best-case. But if Kirishima was going to lose bis chance at promotion it would have been today, he only has one win vs. Aonishiki.

Juryo:
Tochitaikai (J14) beat Tokifudo (Ms2)
Tanji (Ms1) beat Kayo (J12)
Tamashoho (J10) beat Hitoshi (J10)
Kagayaki (J11) beat Nishinoryu (J9)
Shonannoumi (J6) beat Shirokuma (J9)
Kitanowaka (J5) beat Nishikigi (J14)
Togakuryu (J12) beat Toshinofuji (J4)
Tomokaze (J4) beat Enho (J11)
Dewanoryu (J3) beat Arashifuji (J13)
Hatsuyama (J6) beat Ryuden (J3)
Meisei (J7) beat Sadanoumi (J2)
Tamawashi (J7) beat Tokihayate (J2)
Kyokukaiyu (J1) beat Kazekeno (J6)
Asasuiryu (J1) beat Midorifuji (J8)
Leader: Arashifuji, Shonannoumi (10-3)
Of note: The Isegahama stranglehold on the championship is gone. Arashifuji still leads but Shonannoumi now has a share of the lead and Toshinoffuji fell to 9-4, part of a group of 4. The co-leaders already met yesterday with Shonannoumi winning so a playoff is the only way there will be a rematch. Shonannoumi has won 5 straight to get here. At the bottom, Enho took another loss to fall to 6-7 and needs to win his last 2 to avoid demotion, but I believe his Juryo spot is safe even with 6-9. Tanji, the Makushita man up for the day, won to clinch promotion and should make his Juryo debut in September along with the returning Nabatame, meaning if Nishikigi loses one more match whether or not his reputation spares him demotion again may depend on how Tochitaikai finishes (also 6-7) and if Oshoumi, who will be equal to 0-15 due to withdrawal, gets demoted or not (Hakuyozan will be demoted from J13 as he missed the tournament). So it looks right now like a 2 for 2 exchange as Tokifudo’s loss probably means he misses out on Juryo despite promotion from Ms2 as he’s 4-3.

Makushita:
Hananouni (Ms56) beat Asagyokusei (Sd2)
Mita (Ms41) beat Shimazuumi (Ms49)
Wakamiyabi (Ms36) beat Goseizan (Ms42)
Fudoho (Ms30) beat Omori (Ms26)
Ryuho (Ms17) beat Anhibiki (Ms32)
Asahifuji (Ms11) beat Himukamaru (Ms6)
No match for sole leader Nabatame (Ms3) at 6-0 because he will be in Juryo tomorrow. But here’s what today means-if Nabatame wins tomorrow, he is the champion. If he loses, there will be a 7-way playoff. Which will include stablemate Mita and a chance for revenge for Asahifuji because Nabatame handed the Isegahama super-rookie his first career loss earlier this week.

Sandanme:
Tochimusashi (Sd29) beat Kazemitsuki (Sd16)
Tenshoyama (Sd3) beat Ohata (Sd12). PLAYOFF!!! This means Tochimusashi-Tenshoyama on Sunday for the championship. Had Tochimusashi lost the Tenshoyama-Ohata match would have been for the championship.

Jonidan:
Kakizoe (Jk16) beat Asahabataki (Jd88). KAKIZOE JONOKUCHI YUSHO!!! 1st championship in debut tournament.
Hakugetsuro (Jd6) beat Nakazawa (Jd38). HAKUGETSURO JONIDAN YUSHO!!! 2nd career championship, 1st Jonidan in 2 tournaments. Kakizoe’s win also meant Hakugetsuro-Nakazawa was for the championship.

Jonokuchi: See Jonidan above

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. You can also watch all of the present day’s matches LIVE and on demand on Jme, which has a 5-day free trial for new subscribers.

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

Makuuchi (top tier):
Asahakuryu (M12) beat Kaxuma (M15)
Asakoryu (M16) beat Abi (M15)
Daiseizan (M16) beat Mitakeumi (M11)
Shishi (M14) beat Asanoyama (M10)
Fujiryoga (M9) beat Nishikifuji (M13)
Tobizaru (M9) beat Onokatsu (M15)
Takerufuji (M13) beat Takayasu (M7)
Kinbozan (M14) beat Shodai (M6!
Roga (M8) beat Ura (M5)
Chiyoshoma (M10) beat Oshoma (M5)
Daieisho (M4) beat Fujiseiun (M6)
Wakamotoharu (M8) beat Ichiyamamoto (M4)
Fujinokawa (M1) beat Gonoyama (M2)
Takanosho (M1) beat Hakunofuji (M3)
Hiradoumi (M3) beat Yoshinofuji (K)
Churanoumi (M2) beat Oho (K)
Atamifuji (S) beat Kotoeiho (M1)
Kotoshoho (S) beat Aonishiki (S)
Kotozakura (O) beat Hoshoryu (Y)
Kirishima (O) beat Onosato (Y)
Leader: Kirishima, Aonishiki, Takerufuji, Shishi (10-2)
Of note: Thanks to Kotoshoho it’s now wide open as he handed Aonishiki only hos second loss, which means 4 are now tied for the lead and 3 are not quite out yet at 9-3 the big change comes tomorrow-they finally stop feeding Shishi bottom rank guys and will test him with Kotozakura, who needs one more win to get out of kadoban status and remain Ozeki. Onosato is officially out of title contention now at 6-6 while Hoshoryu is out of it at 7-5 due to tomorrow’s matches between co-leaders, meaning 11 wins will be the minimum for the championship. This also has allowed Takerufuji to get into a share of the lead as he chased his second championship and first since his top tier debut, when despite a last day withdrawal due to injury he held on for the Emperor’s Cup before falling down the ranks.
Yokozuna Watch: It almost certainly comes down to tomorrow for Kirishima-the eagerly-awaited match against Aonishiki. A win and Kirishima stays in the title lead at 11-2. A loss and he would have to get to 12-3 and force a playoff for any real chance at promotion. History is not on the Ozeki’s side though-they have met 5 times before and Aonishiki has won 4.
Ozeki Watch: Since he reached 10 wins yesterday Aonishiki will get re-promoted even if he loses out.

Juryo:
Hitoshi (J10) beat Kayo (J12)
Tohakuryu (J12) beat Nishinoryu (J9)
Tochitaikai (J14) beat Meisei (J7)
Shonannoumi (J6) beat Arashifuji (J13)
Kazekeno (J6) beat Nishikigi (J14)
Tomokaze (J4) beat Kagayaki (J11)
Shirokuma (J9) beat Toshinofuji (J4)
Tamashoho (J10) beat Ryuden (J3)
Dewanoryu (J3) beat Kitanowaka (J5)
Tokihayate (J2) beat Midorifuji (J8)
Enho (J11) beat Sadanoumi (J2)
Asasuiryu (J1) beat Tamawashi (J7)
Kyokukaiyu (J1) beat Hatsuyama (J8)
Leader: Arashifuji (10-2)
Of note: It’s still an Isegahama title to lose but both lost today so Shirokuma & Shonannoumi join Toshinofuji at 9-3. There will be a potential eliminator tomorrow between Shonannoumi & Shirokuma, Toshinofuji faces Tohakuryu and Arashifuji gets Dewanoryu, who clinched promotion today and now has a chance to reach the top tier with probably at least 2 more wins. Elsewhere, Enho spoiled Sadanoumi’s promotion hopes with a win to get to 6-6, meaning his Juryo rank is likely safe even if he loses out. He faces Tomokaze tomorrow. Asasuiryu has likely clinched promotion to the top tier as he finally got bis 8th win today which could mean 4 Takasago men up there in September (if Asahakuryu & Asakoryu can stay up there, Asanoyama has already clinched promotion). Tokihayate also has a chance at a top tier return now with promotion secured but probably needs one more win. Also, Tamawashi’s Iron Man streak is now at 1805, meaning tomorrow he will move into sole possession of 3rd place on the all-time appearances list. He is 6-6 so if he keeps going in September he will remain in Juryo even if demoted from J7.
The Makushita men will start coning up again tomorrow for the final days, with Ms1 Tanji & Ms2 Tokifudo up first. Tanji will be promoted to Juryo with a win at 3-3 while Tokifudo already has promotion at 4-2 but would make it certain with a win.

Lower tier notes: Tomorrow is Championship Day in the lower tiers. Here’s how everything looks: In the Makushita…unusually, it won’t be. Nabatame is the sole leader at 6-0 but, in a first time occurrence since I have been following sumo, has no match tomorrow. But we will know one thing-if Nabatame loses his last match there will be a playoff and after tomorrow we’ll know how many could be involved. It’s guaranteed to be a 6-way playoff if it happens and could be 7. And that could include Asahifuji and/or Mita, meaning Asahifuji could still have a chance at Juryo promotion. Kiryuko, who will be demoted due to withdrawing earlier at 1-1 at the time, will return tomorrow to try and get a second win. In the Snadanme there are 3 left at 6-0 so there are two scenarios: First ip is Tochimusashi. If he beats Kazemitsuki (5-1), there will be a playoff as he would face the Tenshoyama-Ohata winner. If Tochimusashi loses, Tenshoyama-Ohata is for the championship. There is a similar scenario in the Jonidan, which also has 3 at 6-0. First, Asahabataki faces Kakizoe, who is up as the Jonokuchi leader. If Asahabataki wins, there will be a playoff as he would face Hakugetsuro-Nakazawa winner and there will be a Jonokuchi playoff which could be a 3-way playoff. If Kakizoe wins, he is the Jonokuchi champion and Hakugetsuro-Nakazawa will be for the Jonidan championship.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 11 of the July 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (top tier):
Daiseizan (M16) beat Abi (M12)
Asakoryu (M16) beat Chiyoshoma (M10)
Takerufuji (M13) beat Asanoyama (M10)
Fujiryoga (M9) beat Kazuma (M15)
Roga (M8) beat Onokatsu (M15)
Wakamotoharu (M8) beat Kinbozan (M14)
Shishi (M14) beat Kotoeiho (M7)
Fujiseiun (M6) beat Mitakeumi (M11)
Asahakuryu (M12) beat Shodai (M7)
Oshoma (M5) beat Tobizaru (M9)
Nishikifuji (M13) beat Daieisho (M4)
Takayasu (M7) beat Hakunofuji (M3)
Fujinokawa (M1) beat Hiradoumi (M3)
Takanosho (M1) beat Oho (K)
Churanoumi (M2) beat Yoshinofuji (K)
Aonishiki (S) beat Gonogama (M2)
Kotozakura (O) beat Ura (M5)
Kirishima (O) beat Ichiyamamoto (M4)
Atamifuji (S) beat Onosato (Y)
Hosboryu (Y) beat Kotoshoho (S)
Leader: Aonishiki (10-1)
Of note: Clearly they are saving Aonishiki-Kirishima for the final day if possible as that seems to be Aonishiki’s last obstacle to another championship despite several others still in it at 9-2. However, tomorrow’s matches will narrow that group by at least one or two. The Yokozuna are pretty much out of it now, Hoshoryu still has a slim chance at 7-4 but Onosato is now 6-5 and could only force a playoff. Tomorrow Aonishiki faces Kotoshoho, with a loss meaning demotion from Sekiwake for Kotoshoho. Kirishima starts his Yokozuna slate with Onosato. Kotoeiho, who remains 9-2 despite the loss to Shishi, faces Atamifuji who has protected his Sekiwake ranking and now will be on Ozeki Watch in September, but right now the only way he can get promotion will be to win the championship. Shishi remains facing the bottom ranks but that doesn’t mean easier-he’s got Asanoyama tomorrow.
Yokozuna Watch: Kirishima keeps hanging in there, at 9-2 the promotion hopes remain alive. But now he has to go through the Yokozuna and still Aonishiki. First, Onosato and history suggests the bid ends here-they have met, by my count, 11 times before. Kirishima is 0-nosato. Onosato has won them all.
Ozeki Watch: Successful second chance! Because he now has the required 10 wins, Aonishiki will be promoted back to Ozeki immediately after the tournament regardless of the final result.

Juryo:
Nishikigi (J14) beat Hitoshi (J10)
Nishinoryu (J9) beat Tochitaikai (J14)
Shirokuma (J9) beat Enho (J11)
Kayo (J12) beat Hatsuyama (J8)
Shonannoumi (J6) beat Tohakuryu (J12)
Kitanowaka (J5) beat Kagayaki (J11)
Toshinofuji (J4) beat Tomokaze (J4)
Dewanoryu (J3) beat Midorifuji (J8)
Meisei (J7) beat Ryuden (J3)
Tamashoho (J10) beat Sadanoumi (J2)
Arashifuji (J13) beat Tokihayate (J2)
Tamawashi (J7) beat Kyokukaiyu (J1)
Kazekeno (J6) beat Asasuiryu (J1)
Leader: Arashifuji (10-1)
Of note: While he likely would have lost anyway based on the video, Enho took a second straight loss which today was unfortunately by a non-winning technique-tsukihiza, knee touch down. It was inadvertent and his left knee barely touched down but long enough to count against him. He’s now 5-6 and still on the Juryo bubble if he can’t get to 8 wins. At the top, it’s looking more like an Isegahama championship with Arashifuji still leading and Toshinofuji one back. The only other ones within range now are Shonannoumi & Shirokuma at 8-3. Elsewhere, Asasuiryu again misses out on a chance for promotion with another loss and it’s looking like Sadanoumi will miss out on another top tier return chance as he is now 4-7.

Lower tier notes: The Makushita is now Nabatame’s to lose as the only 6-0 after he beat Fudoho and Mita lost. If he wins his last match, he is the champion. If he loses, there almost certainly will be a playoff and the door re-opens for Asahifuji as, even at 6-1, a championship could still mean Juryo promotion. At Ms3, Nabatame is headed back to Juryo a year after demotion due to injury. The Sandanme has 3 left at 6-0 making a playoff possible. The Jonidan also has 3 left at 3-0 while in the Jonokuchi Kakizoe is the only 6-0 and just needs to win bis last match for the championship. And then presumably get an Ikazuchi-something name as part of that stable (although Shishi still hasn’t…). Finally, for those keeping score, Moriurara is now 1-5 after another loss. That’ll be 4 straight tournaments with only 1-2 wins.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 10 of the July 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (top tier):
Daiseizan (M16) beat Kinbozan (M14)
Nishikifuji (M13) beat Onokatsu (M15)
Asahakuryu (J12) beat Shishi (J14)
Asakoryu (M16) beat Mitakeumi (M11)
Takerufuji (M12) beat Chiyoshima (M10)
Wakamotoharu (M8) beat Kazuma (M15)
Kotoeiho (M7) beat Abi (M12)
Takayasu (M7) beat Tobizaru (M9)
Roga (M8) beat Shodai (M6)
Asanoyama (M10) beat Fujiseiun (M6)
Fujiryoga (M9) beat Oshoma (M5)
Ura (M5) beat Hiradoumi (M3)
Takanosho (M1) beat Fujinokawa (M1)
Gonoyama (M2) beat Yoshinofuji (K)
Ichiyamamoto (M4) beat Kotoshoho (S)
Atamifuji (S) beat Churanoumi (M2)
Kirishima (O) beat Hakunofuji (M2)
Kotozakura (O) beat Oho (K)
Aonishiki (S) beat Hoshoryu (Y)
Onosato (Y) beat Daieisho (M4)
Leader: Aonishiki, Fujinokawa (9-1)
Of note: Injury worries aside, the old Aonishiki clearly is back. Only an apocalyptic collapse will keep him from promotion now, and he could claim his 3rd championship if he keeps winning. It’ll help that he’s done with the Yokozuna who at 6-4 are both about out of it and the only real obstacle left in his path now is Kirishima. But he can’t let his guard down until then as he has to beat everyone else in his way starting tomorrow with Gonoyama. Kotoeiho is keeping pace at 9-1 but also has to beat Shishi tomorrow. 5 are right behind at 8-2 including back-in-it Takayasu, still in eternal pursuit of elusive title 1. At the bottom, Onokatsu will probably be headed back to Juryo as he clinched demotion from M15 while Kazuma is one loss from possibly going back down too at 3-7 in his debut effort.
Yokozuna Watch: Kirishima is at 8-2 and hope for promotion remains alive but he still likely needs to win out and ideally beat Aonishiki. Tomorrow’s opponent is Ichiyamamoto, they have met 2 times this past year and Kirishima won both.
Ozeki Watch: Aonishiki now needs just one more win for re-promotion and could get it tomorrow against Gonoyama. This may be a first-time meeting. In fact, Aonishiki can only miss out if he goes 0-6 the rest of the way.

Juryo:
Arashifuji (J13) beat Tamashoho (J10)
Shirokuma (J9) beat Kayo (J12)
Nishikigi (J14) beat Nishinoryu (J9)
Hatsuyama (J8) beat Tochitaikai (J14)
Kagayaki (J11) beat Tamawashi (J7)
Tohakuryu (J12) beat Meisei (J7)
Tomokaze (J4) beat Midorifuji (J8)
Ryuden (J3) beat Enho (J11)
Hitoshi (J10) beat Dewanoryu (J3)
Tokihayate (J2) beat Kazekeno (J6)
Toshinofuji (J4) beat Sadanoumi (J2)
Shonannoumi (J6) beat Asasuiryu (J1)
Kyokukaiyu (J1) beat Kitanowaka (J5)
Leader: Arashifuji (9-1)
Of note: Unfortunately Ryuden decided to try today and ended his 7-match losing streak by ending Enho’s current 3-match winning streak so Enho is back down to 5-5. Asasuiryu had a potential top tier promotion spoiled by Shonannoumi so at 7-3 he’ll have to try again tomorrow. It’s turning into an Isegahama leaderboard as Arashifuji remains on top at 9-1 with Toshinofuji at 8-2, the latter now with a chance for top tier promotion if he can get enough wins. Arashifuji faces Tokihayate tomorrow with the latter having a chance at promotion back to the top tier with a win, Toshinofuji has Tomokaze who is looking to avoid demotion.