Category: Uncategorized

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

Makuuchi (top tier):
Daiseizan (J1) beat Tokihayate (M12)
Wakanosho (M16) beat Kinbozan (M11)
Shishi (M12) beat Abi 9M9)
Nishikifuji (M9) beat Tamawashi (M13)
Oshoma (M8) beat Roga (M14)
Asahakuryu (M8) beat Ryuden (M16)
Mitakeumi (M14) beat Chiyoshoma (M7)
Wakamotoharu (M5) beat Oshoumi (M15)
Churanoumi (M6) beat Gonoyama (M4)
Fujiseiun (M6) beat Hiradoumi (M3)
Oho (M3) beat Tobizaru (M15)
Fujiryoga (M17) beat Yoshinofuji (M2)
Daieisho (M4) beat Ichiyamamoto (M2)
Ura (M11) beat FUjinokawa (M1)
Takanosho (M1) beat Shodai (M5)
Wakatakakage (K) beat Kotoeiho (M13)
Atamifuji (S) beat Kotoshoho (S)
Hakunofuji (M10) beat Kirishima (O)
Leader; Kirishima, Wakatakakage (11-3)
Of note: It was Kirishima’s to lose, and he may have lost it today. It could mean chaos tomorrow with 2 at 11-3 but 5 at 10-4. First, the simple scenarios: If either Kirishima or Wakatakakage win and the other loses, the winner is the champion. If both win, there will be a playoff between them. They already met on Day 11 and Wakatakakage won. But if both lose, there will also be a playoff and it could be a 6-WAY playoff! It can’t be 7-way because Yoshinofuji-Kotoeiho is one of tomorrow’s matches and both are 10-4. The others with a chance to force a playoff if both leaders lose? With their opponents tomorrow-Hakunofuji (Fujiseiun), the Yoshinofuji-Kotoeiho winner, Fujiryoga (Wakatakakage), Ura (Kirishima). Based on the match order, once we get to Wakatakakage-Fujiryoga we can start looking at who might be in a playoff if there is one. Kirishima-Ura is the final match.

Juryo:
Hakuyozan (J13) beat Fujitensei (Ms1)
Nishinoryu (J9) beat Okaryu (J13)
Hitoshi (J12) beat Kayo (J9)
Shonannoumi (J8) beat Tamashoho (J12)
Shirokuma (J8) beat Enho (J14)
Meisei (J6) beat Tohakuryu (J10)
Tomokaze (J5) beat Tochitaikai (J14)
Kitanowaka (J5) beat Kyokukaiyu (J4)
Kazuma (J6) beat Asasuiryu (J4)
Dewanoryu (J3) beat Nishikigi (J11)
Hatsuyama (J3) beat Midorifuji (J10)
Sadanoumi (J2) beat Kagayaki (J7)
Takerufuji (J2) beat Kazekeno (J11)
Toshinofuji (J7) beat Onokatsu (J1)
Leader: Kazuma (11-3)
Of note: After holding it almost the entire tournament, Kazekeno lost the lead and maybe the championship today. Here are the title scenarios tomorrow: If Kazuma wins (Nishinoryu), he is the champion. If Kazuma loses, he is sill champion if both Takerufuji AND Kazekeno lose. But if Kazuma loses and one of them win, there will be a playoff-and if both Takerufuji & Kazekeno win there would be a 3-way playoff. Kazekeno faces Daiseizan and Takerufuji has Meisei.
Today’s results mean it’s pretty much definite Takerufuji will return to the top tier and, with promotion clinched today, Daiseizan may finally make it up too. Onokatsu also clinched promotion yesterday. And thank goodness Enho clinched promotion yesterday because a loss has made this a 1-4 stretch since going 7-2. He’ll try to finish 9-6 tomorrow against Kyokukaiyu. Today’s results likely mean Hakuyozan will be demoted back to Makushita and Tochitaikai must win tomorrow to stay in Juryo at 7-7. Arashifuji is the only Makushita man up tomorrow, and with promotion clinched via 4-2 at Ms2 a win tomorrow could get him to Juryo in July. He’ll go for it against Okaryu.

Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 90 minutes of LIVE top tier coverage FOR FREE tomorrow, including the final matches, playoff if necessary, awards ceremony & champion’s interview, beginning at 12:30 AM PT/3:30 AM ET. For those able to watch live either on ABEMA or NHK World Premium, the Makushita & Sandanme playoffs will happen after the Juryo matches and before the top tier matches begin.

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

Makuuchi (top tier):
Asasuiryu (J4) beat Ryuden (M16)
Oshoumi (M15) beat Tamawashi (M13)
Roga (M14) beat Tokihayate (M12)
Wakanosho (M16) beat Nishikifuji (M9)
Abi (M9) beat Mitakeumi (M14)
Shishi (M12) beat Asahakuryu (J8)
Fujiryoga (M17) beat Churanoumi (M6)
Wakamotoharu (M5) beat Kinbozan (M11)
Hakunofuji (M10) beat Gonoyama (M4)
Hiradoumi (M3) beat Daisieho (M4)
Oho (M3) beat Ichiyamamoto (M2)
Yoshinofuji (M2) beat Ura (M11)
Oshoma (M8) beat Takanosho (M1)
Fujinokawa (M1) beat Fujiseiun (M6)
Wakatakakage (K) beat Tobizaru (M15)
Kotoshoho (S) beat Shodai (M5)
Atamifuji (S) beat Chiyoshoma (M7)
Kirishima (O) beat Kotoeiho (M13)
Leader: Kirishima (11-2)
Of note: It’s now Kirishima’s to lose. But he can’t win the championship tomorrow because there are 3 at 10-3 and two of them, Kotoeiho & Wakatakakage, face off so the winner there can still force a playoff. Yoshinofuji is the other one still in it at 10-3, he has Fujiryoga. Kirishima faces Hakunofuji.
Elsewhere, I’m really starting to think Tamawashi is going to get demoted to Juryo. He is now 2-11 at M13 and I believe his only hope of staying in the top tier is to win his last 2. It may also depend on promotions/demotions, right now the only potential sure thing demotion is Ryuden, and he can still get to 7-8 which may keep him up because losing an Ozeki in July (Aonishiki) could open up one more Maegashira spot. But there also could be 4 Sekiwake with Aonishiki ther ebecause Kotoshoho clinched a winning record today and Wakatakakage could be promoted back to the rank, so it depends on Atamifuji at 7-6. At worst he’ll be demoted to Komusubi.
Finally, it should be noted that despite both being Fujis, Fujinokawa and Fujiseiun are not stablemates. Fujinokawa is an Isenoumi Beya man while Fujiseiun is a Fujishima Beya man. (Also worth noting that despite being a Fuji at the end of his ring name, Hokutofuji was never an Isegahama man. He is/was a Hakkaku man)

Juryo:
Daikisho (Ms5) beat Hakuyozan (J13)
Nishikigi (J11) beat Nishinoryu (J9)
Shirokuma (J8) beat Tochitaikai (J14)
Shonannoumi (J8) beat Hitoshi (J12)
Kagayaki (J7) beat Okaryu (J13)
Enho (J14) beat Meisei (J8)
Kazuma (J6) beat Kazekeno (J11)
Kyokukaiyu (J4) beat Tomokaze (J5)
Kitanowaka (J5) beat Hatsuyama (J3)
Dewanoryu (J3) beat Tohakuryu (J10)
Takerufuji (J2) beat Tamashoho (J12)
Kayo (J9) beat Sadanoumi (J2)
Toshinofuji (J5) beat Daiseizan (J1)
Onokatsu (J1) beat Midorifuji (J10)
Leader: Kazekeno, Kazuma (10-3)
Of note: It took 4 agonizing tries but Enho has finally clinched promotion and will stay in Juryo in July. He’s still a few tournaments from a potential top tier return but it’s a start. At the top, Kazekeno has blown his lead and Kazuma got back even at the top today. This also puts Takerufuji back in it at 9-4, which probably is enough to get him back to the top tier in July. At the bottom, Okaryu unfortunately will be demoted back to Makushita and it looks like Hakuyozan is going back down too. Tomorrow Kazekeno faces Takerufuji while Kazuma has Asasuiryu, also back in it at 9-4 following a top tier win today.

Makushita:
Mudoho (Ms15) beat Akua (Ms22). PLAYOFF!!! That means there will be a SEVEN-WAY PLAYOFF!!! Mudoho, Akua, Omori, Toshunryu, Ikarigata, Tsushimanada and Tanji are all in it at 6-1, meaning no 7-0 champion. We’ll see how that will play out but my thinking is they draw straws, long one gets to sit out the first round, the other 6 face off to narrow it down to 4, then 2, then champion. If Tanji is champion he could be promoted to Juryo from Ms6.

Sandanme:
Kiryuko (Sd77) beat Tenshoyama (Sd55)
Asahifuji (Sd6) beat Mita (Sd21). PLAYOFF!!! It was already guaranteed due to 4 left tied for the lead coming in but the question was who would be in it. This means it will be Kiryuko vs. Asahifuji again for the championship. Of course Asahifuji won their Jonidan playoff in March.

Jonidan:
Shosei (Jd37) beat Maniwayama (Jd61). SHOSEI JONIDAN YUSHO!!! First career championship in second career tournament.

Jonokuchi:
Hakugetsuro (Jk15) beat Hienriki (Jk4). HAKUGETSURO JONOKUCHI YUSHO!!! First career championship in debut tournament.

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: Nikkan Sports reports the first official retirement of the tournament came today-Asaobara, at Sd45, retired after his match today. He finished 3-4 after winning bis last 2 matches. His highest rank was Sd23 and he had a career record of 122-129-1 (win-loss-absent). He leaves at age 21 and will return home to decide on bis future plans.

There are also reports that Yuma, at Ms13, will also retire. He clinched promotion in his potential final match today. His highest rank was J13 (3 Juryo tournaments but was demoted after each one) and he had a career record of 256-208-50 with 1 Sandanme championship. He actually was on a run of 3 straight promotions including this time. But it seems the 3:10 to Yuma is no more.

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

Makuuchi (top tier):
Kyokukaiyu (J4) beat Tamawashi (M13)
Mitakeumi (M14) beat Shishi (M12)
Ryuden (M16) beat Tokihayate (M12)
Ura (M11) beat Fujiryoga (M17)
Kotoeiho (M13) beat Asanoyama (M10) by default/withdrawal
Roga (M14) beat Nishikifuji (M9)
Oshoma (M8) beat Wakanosho (M16)
Asahakuryu (M8) beat Oshoumi (M15)
Chiyoshoma (M7) beat Kinbozan (M11)
Shodai (M5) beat Abi (M9)
Oho (M3) beat Hakunofuji (M10)
Yoshinofuji (M2) beat Tobizaru (M15)
Hiradoumi (M3) beat Ichiyamamoto (M2)
Fujinokawa (M1) beat Daieisho (M4)
Takanosho (M1) beat Wakamotoharu (M5)
Wakatakakage (K) beat Gonoyama (M4)
Atamifuji (S) beat Fujiseiun (M6)
Churanoumi (M6) beat Kotozakura (O) by default/withdrawal
Kirishima (O) beat Kotoshoho (S)
Leader: Kotoeiho, Kirishima (10-2)
WITHDRAWALS: Asanoyama (M10), Kotozakura (O). Asanoyama-toe. Status uncertain. He expects to return before the tournament is over. He was 7-4 before today and needs one win to secure promotion. If he can’t return that means demotion, but not falling down much at the equivalent of 7-8. Kotozakura-lower back. Tournament likely over. Already has a losing record and will be at risk of demotion after July. He is expected to return for the retirement events later this month and be in for Paris in June. Kotoeiho & Churanoumi, respectively, got the fusen as a result.
Of note: With Kotoeiho getting the free win today, he remains tied for the lead with Kirishima ahead of their big faceoff tomorrow. It will be their first-ever meeting. The winner has a chance to clinch the championship Saturday but it’s not guaranteed because there will be 3 still in it at 10-3 including the loser tomorrow.
And no moving further up the total win charts this time for Tamawashi due to a loss today. I believe he still needs to go 2-1 the rest of the way to avoid demotion to Juryo.

Juryo:
Tokifudo (Ms5) beat Nishikigi (J11)
Tamashoho (J12) beat Tohakuryu (J10)
Hitoshi (J12) beat Nishinoryu (J9)
Kayo (J9) beat Okaryu (J13)
Shirokuma (J8) beat Hakuyozan (J13)
Toshinofuji (J7) beat Tochitaikai (J14)
Midorifuji (J10) beat Tomokaze (J6)
Asasuiryu (J4) beat Kazekeno (J11)
Shimanoumi (J8) beat Dewanoryu (J3)
Hatsuyama (J3) beat Enho (J14)
Sadanoumi (J2) beat Kitanowaka (J5)
Takerufuji (J2) beat Kagayaki (J7)
Meisei (J6) beat Onokatsu (J1)
Kazuma (J6) beat Daiseizan (J1)
Leader: Kazekeno (10-2)
Of note: Kazekeno could have all but clinched the championship today going in but that won’t happen now. But he gets a second chance tomorrow when he faces Kazuma. If Kazekeno wins, worst-case is Kazuma can still force a playoff rematch. If Kazuma wins, they’re even and it goes to the Final Day. Elsewhere, now the worrying about Enho begins as that’s 3 straight losses to miss out on clinching promotion at 7-5. Takerufuji clinched promotion today and now has a chance to return to the top tier in July. He likely needs one more win to make it certain.

Lower tier notes: Here are the more detailed Championship Day scenarios for tomorrow now that we know the schedules: In the Makushita Akua faces Mudoho and Akua will be the champion if he wins. If Akua loses there will be a SEVEN-WAY playoff! And a 6-1 champion. In the Sandanme there will be a playoff but the participants depend on tomorrow’s “final 4” results-first Tenshoyama will face Kiryuko followed by Asahifuji taking on Mita. Winners go to the playoff. That means a potential Asahifuji-Kiryuko playoff rematch from the Jonidan in March. The Jonidan Championship will be Maniwayama vs. Shosei. In the Jonokuchi, Hakugetsuro will be the champion if he beats Hienriki. If he loses, there will be a 3-way or 4-way playoff depending on other match result and also a 6-1 champion.

UPDATE: Right after I posted this I found an update on Asanoyama. Lisfranc aka left ankle sprain. Tournament over. Out about 4 weeks. That would mean questionable at best for Paris. He will finish the equivalent of 7-9 and be demoted.

UPDATE 2: Kotozakura update via Hochi Sports-lumbar spine strain. Out about 10 days.