Here are the quick LIVE results from today’s Day 8-the Halfway Point-of the January 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo
The top tier matches can be watched on ABEMA (in Japan, which broadcasts all matches live) or NHK in Japan (broadcasts usually start with Makushita matches) or worldwide on NHK World Premium on participating cable/satellite providers or in the US & Canada on Jme. NHK World Japan will also have 50 minutes of coverage FOR FREE beginning at 12:10 AM PT/3:10 AM ET.
Updates below will begin when the Juryo matches start.
10 PM PT UPDATE: Live updates begin now.
11 PM PT UPDATE: Top tier live updates begin now.
The NHK World Premium broadcast begins here. Opens with a taped video touring Nakamura Beya.
Makuuchi (top tier):
Shishi (M14) beat Asahakuryu (M17)
Asakoryu (M15) beat Mitakeumi (M14)
Tobizaru (M13) beat Oshoumi (M16)
Ryuden (M15) beat Tomokaze (M13)
Chiyoshoma (M11) beat Hatsuyama (M17)
Nishikifuji (M11) beat Asanoyama (M16)
Abi (M12) beat Tokihayate (M10)
Midorifuji (M12) beat Roga (M9)
Shodai (M8) beat Kotoshoho (M10)
Hiradoumi (M6) beat Gonoyama (M9)
Kinbozan (M8) beat Onokatsu (M6)
The usual midway intermission pauses everything due to expecting the Emperor & family to make their way to their seats anytime now.
Fujinokawa (M7) beat Tamawashi (M5)
The NHK World Japan live broadcast begins here.
Atamifuji (M4) beat Oshoma (M7)
Churanoumi (M5) beat Takanosho (M3)
Wakatakakage (M2) beat Ura (M2)
Wakamotoharu (K) beat Yoshinofuji (M1)
Takayasu (S) beat Ichiyamamoto (M1)
Oho (K) beat Kotozakura (O)
Kirishima (S) beat Aonishiki (O)
Leader: Abi, Kirishima, (7-1)
Of note: It’s one and done in the top tier for now for Hatsuyama, he is now 0-8 and officially is the first demotion of the tournament in the top 2 tiers. Unless he wins his last 7, he’ll be back in Juryo in March. Kinbozan also gave us our first HENKA!!! of the tournament. Not illegal at all but generally fans and almost everyone else hate it.
After Midorifuji-Roga the broadcast showed earlier footage of the Emperor & Empress along with Princess Aiko entering the Kokugikan, accompanied by Hakkaku (the current chairman of the Japam Sumo Association) with all the stablemasters present. The loudest cheers seemed to be for the very popular Princess Aiko. Hakkaku stayed with them. After they entered, the matches resumed.
Juryo:
Wakanosho (J11) beat Hakuyozan (J14)
Tsurugisho (J11) beat Kyokukaiyu (J12)
Dewanoryu (J13) beat Tohakuryu (J10)
Kazuma (J14) beat Hitoshi (J9)
Hidenoumi (J13) beat Kayo (J9)
NIshikigi (J12) beat Kitanowaka (J8)
Sadanoumi (J4) beat Meisei (J8)
Shonannoumi (J4) beat Kazekeno (J10)
Asasuiryu (J7) beat Fujiryoga (J3)
Tochitaikai (J7) beat Shirokuma (J3)
Daiseizan (J2) beat Nishinoryu (J6)
Kagayaki (J2) beat Kotokuzan (J6)
Kotoeiho (J1) beat Tamashoho (J5)
Takerufuji (J5) beat Fujiseiun (J2)
Leader: Fujiseiun, Kayo, Sadanoumi, Wakanosho (6-2)
Lower tier notes: Enho won his 4th Makushita match today so that’s another promotion and he will remain among the group of co-leaders at 4-0. That group will likely have a total of 7 after today.
Today was also Shindeshi Day, where the new wrestlers debuting next tournament are introduced. There are 7 this time, most notably Bukchuulun (sp?), the latest top Mongolian super-prospect right behind now-Asahifuji, who is debuting this time out of Isegahama Beya and has clinched promotion already in Jonokuchi. Asahifuji sound familiar? If so, that was the shikona of the former Isegahama who had to retire last summer and hand the stable over to Terunofuji, although Isegahama got the 5 years provisional elder stock and is now Miyagino, taking it from the former Hakuho.