Open The Forbidden Gate

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 7 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):
Asahakuryu (M15) beat Tomokaze (J2)
Fujiryoga (M17) beat Mitakeumi (M13)
Chiyoshoma (M14) beat Kinbozan (M16)
Kotoeiho (M17) beat Fujiseiun (M13)
Tobizaru (M13) beat Nishikifuji (M14)
Roga (M10) beat Asanoyama (M12)
Tamawashi (M9) beat Oshoumi (M11)
Tokihayate (M9) beat Asakoryu (M12)
Shishi (M11) beat Shodai (M8)
Gonoyama (M10) beat Ura (M8)
Hakunofuji (M7) beat Onokatsu (M6)
Kotoshoho (M5) beat Oshoma (M7)
Takanosho (M4) beat Ichiyamamoto (M6)
Churanoumi (M2) beat Wakatakakage (M1)
Yoshinofuji (M1) beat Wakamotoharu (K)
Takayasu (S) beat Daieisho (M4)
Kirishima (S) beat Hiradoumi (M3)
Kotozakura (O) beat Fujinokawa (M2)
Atamifuji (K) beat Aonishiki (O)
Hoshoryu (Y) beat Oho (M3)
Leader: 6 at 6-1
Of note: 2 of the injury absences who just returned faced of today, and based on performances either may not make it through the tournament. Hakunofuji looked much better while Onokatsu was walking gingerly afterwards. Hakunofuji was supposed to be out 3 weeks with his injury but came back after 6 days. I think this win will keep him from demotion to Juryo in worst-case. Let’s see now if Wakamotoharu can pull the miracle to save his Sanyaku rank and get to 8-7, would be more impressive now that he’s 0-7. At the top, Hoshoryu leads a pack of 6 that includes both Sekiwake and former champion Kotoshoho, but the ranks will thin tomorrow because the Sekiwake Showdown between Kirishima & Takayasu is on tap and both are 6-1. Takanosho, who again is in contention at 6-1, will face Aonishiki while Hoshoryu gets Daieisho. Kotoshoho is scheduled to face Hakunofuji.
Yokozuna Watch: It’s over. Unless it’s somehow enough for the championship, 11-4 will not get Aonishiki promoted. Ironically, it was perhaps ended by the man who he beat in January for the championship-Atamifuji. And in fact, Aonishiki must win out to keep his streak of 11+ wins in every top tier tournament so far intact.

Juryo:
Kazekeno (J14) beat Kotokuzan (J14)
Okaryu (Ms2) beat Shimazuumi (J13)
Kazuma (J11) beat Tsurugisho (J12)
Tohakuryu (J10) beat Fujitensei (J13)
Dewanoryu (J10) beat NIshikigi (J12)
Shonannoumi (J6) beat Toshinofuji (J11)
Kyokukaiyu (J7) beat Tamashoho (J9)
Hatsuyama (J9) beat Meisei (J7)
Kayo (J6) beat Kitanowaka (J6)
Nishinoryu (J4) beat Hitoshi (J6)
Daiseizan (J3) beat Shirokuma (J6)
Asasuiryu (J2) beat Kagayaki (J5)
Sadanoumi (J1) beat Takerufuji (J4)
Wakanosho (J3) beat Ryuden (J1)
Leader: Wakanosho (7-0)
Of note: In addition to consecutive championships, Wakanosho appears to be well on his way to the top tier in March. The only ones one behind now are Kazekeno who seems to be on the way to holding on to his Juryo spot, and Kazuma who seems more comfortable in his second Juryo outing and is off to a strong 6-1 start. Wakanosho gets Kayo tomorrow who is 4-3.Kazekeno & Kazuma face 2-5 Nishikigi & Kotokuzan, respectively. As for the retirement watch, tomorrow may be the start of the farewell for Tsurugisho-a loss to Makushita man Takakento means demotion from J12.

Lower tier notes: Today is what I call the start of Promotion Day in the lower tiers, when the leaders go to 4-0 and thus clinch winning records & thus promotions for the next tournament. In the Makushita, 5 are at 4-0 so far and, with Okaryu at Ms2 among them, means he has a good chance at promotion to Juryo for the first time. 5 more at 3-0 go for promotion tomorrow. Enho bounced back from his first loss-which came to Okaryu-with a win today to improve to 3-1, still with a chance for Juryo promotion. The Sandanme has 6 at 6-0 with 9 more going for promotion tomorrow. The Jonidan has 9 at 4-0 so far including former Juryo man Kiryuko, almost demoted to Jonokuchi after missing a year due to injury but now has a chance to be promoted back to the Sandanme. No Jonokuchi wrestler had their 5th match today so they have 3 at 3-0 right now.

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

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 6 of the March 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (top tier):
Chiyoshoma (M14) beat Asahakuryu (M16)
Nishikifuji (M14) beat Fujiryoga (M17)
Kinbozan (M16) beat Tobizaru (M13)
Fujiseiun (M13) beat Mitakeumi (M15)
Kotoeiho (M17) beat Asakoryu (M12)
Asanoyama (M12) beat Shishi (M11)
Oshoumi (M11) beat Tokihayate (M9)
Gonoyama (M10) beat Tamawashi (M9)
Shodai (M8) beat Roga (M10)
Ichiyamamoto (M6) beat Ura (M8)
Onokatsu (M6) beat Oshoma (M7) by DQ/judges’ reversal…HANSOKU!!! Oshoma won by grabbing & pulling Onokatsu’s topknot/hair which is illegal so the result was overturned
Kotoshoho (M5) beat Takanosho (M4)
Daieisho (M4) beat Churanoumi (M2)
Fujinokawa (M2) beat Wakamotoharu (K)
Kirishima (S) beat Yoshinofuji (M1)
Wakatakakage (M1) beat Takayasu (S)
Oho (M3) beat Aonishiki (O)
Atamifuji (K) beat Kotozakura (O)
Hoshoryu (Y) beat Hiradoumi (M3)
Leader: 6 at 5-1
RE-ENTRY: Hakunofuji (M7). Will return tomorrow. Was expected to be out the rest of the tournament after withdrawing on Day 2 due to a Lisfranc/toe injury, which is related to prior toe injuries recently. Will be the equivalent of 0-6 so he still has a chance at promotion but this may be to try and get a couple wins to prevent potential demotion to Juryo.
Of note: No unbeatens left as the remaining ones lost today, so now there’s a logjam at the top that does include Hoshoryu, and with Aonishiki 2 wins back plus no Onosato he has a real chance for that first post-promotion championship. Onokatsu won in his return after being absent 4 days so, not counting Hakunofuji and the absent Midorifuji, the only winless left otherwise is Wakamotoharu who now is 0-6 and has to go 8-1 to save his rank again after going from 0-5 to 8-7 in January. Hoshoryu has Oho tomorrow, who has beaten the Yokozuna a couple times although his last win was a fusen.
Yokozuna Watch-It’s all but over for Aonishiki this time as he fell to 3-3. Now he has to win out and at least force yet another playoff for any chance at promotion.

Juryo:
Kotokuzan (J14) beat Nishikigi (J12)
Kazekeno (J14) beat Kazuma (J11)
Toshinofuji (J11) beat Fujitensei (J13)
Dewanoryu (J10) beat Shimazuumi (J13)
Tohakuryu (J10) beat Tsurugisho (J12)
Hatsuyama (M9) beat Shonannoumi (M8)
Meisei (J7) beat Tamashoho (J9)
Hitoshi (J6) beat Kayo (J6)
Kitanowaka (J8) beat Kagayaki (J5)
Shirokuma (J5) beat Kyokukaiyu (J7)
Daiseizan (J3) beat Takerufuji (J4)
Tomokaze (J2) beat Asasuiryu (J2)
Ryuden (J1) beat Nishinoryu (J4)
Wakanosho (J3) beat Sadanoumi (J1)
Leader: Wakanosho (6-0)
Of note: Kazuma taking his first loss after a strong start to his second Juryo effort leaves Wakanosho the sole unbeaten, almost halfway to a repeat championship and a likely promotion to the top tier. Kitanowaka & Kazekeno are also in the 5-1 group. And remember Tsurugisho saying post-marriage he’ll retire when he’s demoted out of Juryo? Sounds like this is it as he’s 0-6 and seemingly on his farewell tour now. At least as a wrestler, he does qualify for elder stock when he retires.

Lower tier notes: A very odd and rare occurrence in the Jonokuchi today, a scheduled match ended in a double fusen because both wrestlers could not participate. Both withdrew due to various medical reasons last-minute. So what happens when a situation like this arises? It counts as a loss for both. Nikkan Sports reports this is only the second time in recent memory this has happened, the first being during the pandemic. Elsewhere, tomorrow starts Promotion Day in the lower tiers and with Makushita men going back up to Juryo starting tomorrow, Okaryu goes up from Ms2 for perhaps a preview of May as the Tatsunami man will clinch promotion with a win that would take him to 4-0. Enho is in the last match of the day against Himukamaru, also 2-1 and looking for a Juryo return from Ms1.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 5 of the March 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Seliwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (top tier):
Kotoeiho (M17) beat Mitakeumi (M15)
Fujiryoga (M17) beat Chiyoshoma (M14)
Kinbozan (M16) beat Fujiseiun (M13)
Asahakuryu (M16) beat Tobizaru (M13)
Asanoyama (M12) beat Nishikifuji (M14)
Asakoryu (M12) beat Roga (M10)
Gonoyama (M10) beat Oshoumi (M11)
Shishi (M11) beat Tokihayate (M9)
Tamawashi (M9) beat Ura (M8)
Shodai (M8) beat Oshoma (M7)
Takanosho (M4) beat Onokatsu (M6)
Daieisho (M4) beat Kotoshoho (M5)
Ichiyamamoto (M6) beat Oho (M3)
Hiradoumi (M1) beat Atamifuji (K)
Takayasu (S) beat Yoshinofuji (M1)
Kirishima (S) beat Wakamotoharu (K)
Wakatakakage (M1) beat Kotozakura (O)
Aonishiki (O) beat Fujinokawa (M2)
Hoshoryu (Y) beat Churanoumi (M2)
Leader: Takayasu, Takanosbo (5-0)
Of note: The leaderboard shrank from 4 to 2 at the top today, and for the first time since July 2023 Takayasu is 5-0 and teasing both another chance at that elisive first Emperor’s Cup. However…the last time he was 5-0? Demotion as he finished 7-8. As for Takanosho, he could give the former Takakeisho a championship in his first tournament as stablemaster Minatogawa. Hoshoryu is right there at 4-1 along with 7 others.
Yokozuna Watch: Aonishiki was back in the win column today and is now 3-2, still with a chance. He has Oho tomorrow who can’t be overlooked despite a 1-4 start.

Juryo:
Kotokuzan (J14) beat Tsurugisho (J12)
Nishikigi (J12) beat Fujitensei (J13)
Kazekeno (J14) beat Toshinofuji (J11)
Dewanoryu (J10) beat Tohakuryy (J10)
Hatsuyama (J9) beat Shimazuumi (J13)
Kazuma (J11) beat Tamashoho (J9)
Kitanowaka (J8) beat Kyokukaiyu (J7)
Shonannoumi (J8) beat Hitoshi (J6)
Meisei (J7) beat Shirokuma (J5)
Kayo (J6) beat Kagayaki (J5)
Wakanosho (J3) beat Takerufuji (J4)
Asasuiryu (J2) beat Nishinoryu (J4)
Daiseizan (J3) beat Sadanoumi (J1)
Ryuden (J1) beat Tomokaze (J2)
Leader: Wakanosho, Kazuma (5-0)

Lower tier notes: Enho lost to fellow Makushita promotion candidate Okaryu (Ms2) today to fall to 2-1, but still has a chance at promotion to Juryo if he finishes 6-1, maybe 5-2 but it depends on what else happens. No match tomorrow.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 4 of the March 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo

As today-March 11-is the 15th Anniversary of the Great Japan Earthquake of 2011 that decimated eastern parts of the country, especially Fukushima prefecture, each department held a moment of silence today in remembrance of the victims. The quake struck at 2:46 PM, which was 1:46 AM ET/10:46 PM PT. In sumo in recent years, the prefecture has been buoyed by the Onami brothers-Wakamotoharu & Wakatakakage-who have been mainstays in the top tier and Wakatakakage has also won the Emperor’s Cup once. Their older brother, Wakatakamoto, currently is in Makushita.

Makuuchi (top tier):
Asahakuryu (M16) beat Fujiryoga (M17)
Kotoeiho (M17) beat Kinbozan (M16)
Nishikifuji (M14) beat Mitakeumi (M15)
Fujiseiun (M13) beat Tobizaru (M13)
Asanoyama (M12) beat Chiyoshoma (M14)
Asakoryu (M12) beat Oshoumi (M11)
Tokihayate (M9) beat Roga (M10)
Shishi (M11) beat Tamawashi (M9)
Shodai (M8) beat Gonoyama (M10)
Daieisho (M4) beat Ura (M8)
Takanosho (M4) beat Oshoma (M7)
Hiradoumi (M3) beat Ichiyamamoto (M6)
Kotoshoho (M5) beat Oho (M3)
Atamifuji (K) beat Wakamotoharu (K)
Kirishima (S) beat Wakatakakage (M1)
Churanoumi (M2) beat Aonishiki (O)
Takayasu (S) beat Kotozakura (O)
Yoshinofuji (M1) beat Onosato (Y) by default/withdrawal
Fujinokawa (M2) beat Hoshoryu (Y). KINBOSHI!!! The second career-and second straight-Gold Star Victory for Fujinokawa!
Leader: Takayasu, Takanosho, Kotoshoho (4-0)
WITHDRAWAL: Onosato (Y). Dislocated shoulder. Seems to be his previously injured left shoulder per Nikkan Sports, who got comments from his stablemaster Nishonoseki on the matter. Tournament likely over. Expected to be out 3 weeks. Surgery is possible but seems unlikely and Onosato is expected back for the Spring provincial tour in April. Yoshinofuji got the fusen as a result, but not another kinboshi. This also means, if he misses 4 more days, Onosato’s run of no losing tournaments in his entire career to date is over.
RE-ENTRY: Onokatsu (M6). Will return tomorrow. He was out the last 4 days with a left ankle sprain, which was expected to keep him out 2 weeks. Will be the equivalent of 0-4 and probably needs a win to ensure he is safe from demotion to Juryo in worst-case.
Of note: Tamawashi’s latest Iron Man feat is in the books as he is now the all-time leader in top tier matches with 1471. Unfortunately the bad luck continues as he is 0-4 and is going to need some wins to keep those runs going. At M9 he probably needs just 2 wins to be safe from demotion to Juryo. Also, for a second straight day a match ended with a non-winning technique as Takanosho beat Oshoma by tsukihiza, knee touch down. Right after the match began Oshoma bent his right knee down too far and it inadverttently touched the ground. Not injured, just accidental. Elsewhere, Fujinokawa became the latest to scalp both Yokozuna in a tournament and he reportedly gave his prize money today to oyakata Kabutoyama (formerly Oikari), who is his father. He already has more kinboshi than the old man did in his career.
Yokozuna Watch: Aonishiki’s hopes aren’t gone but now it’s the danger zone at 2-2. Still early and plenty of time but he can only afford maybe one more loss.

Juryo:
Kazekeno (J14) beat Shimazuumi (J13)
Fujisentsei (J13) beat Kotokuzan (J14)
Nishikigi (J12) beat Tsurugisho (J12)
Dewanoryu (J10) beat Toshinofuji (J11)
Tohakuryu (J10) beat Tamashoho (J9)
Kazuma (J11) beat Hatsuyama (J9)
Kiwanowaka (J8) beat Shonannoumi (J8)
Kyokukaiyu (J7) beat Hitoshi (J6)
Meisei (J7) beat Kagayaki (J5)
Kayo (J6) beat Shirokuma (J5)
Nishinoryu (J4) beat Takerufuji (J4)
Wakanosho (J3) beat Asasuiryu (J2)
Daiseizan (J3) beat Ryuden (J1)
Sadanoumi (J1) beat Tomokaze (J2)
Leader: Wakanosho, Kyokukaiyu, Kazume, Fujitensei (4-0)

Lower tier notes: Enho beat Shimanoumi today for his second win and a 2-0 start, halfway to promotion in Makushita. Tomorrow he faces Okaryu, who is also 2-0 at Ms2 and looking for promotion to Juryo. Tough one for me because as a Tatsunami man prominently featured on their YouTube channel Okaryu has become one of my favorites along with Enho.