Here are the quick results from today’s Day 8-the Halfway Point- 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):
Asakoryu (M16) beat Daiseizan (M16)
Shishi (M14) beat Kinbozan (M14)|
Kazuma (M15) beat Nishikifuji (M13)
Mitakeumi (M11) beat Takerufuji (M13)
Asanoyama (M10) beat Onokatsu (M15)
Abi (M12) beat Chiyoshoma (M10)
Tobizaru (M9) beat Asahakuryu (M12)
Shodai (M6) beat Fujiryoga (M9)
Roga (M8) beat Fujiseiun (M6)
Ura (M5) beat Takayasu (M7)
Oshoma (M5) beat Wakamotoharu (M8)
Kotoeiho (M7) beat Ichiyamamoto (M4)
Churanoumi (M2) beat Gonoyama (M2)
Yoshinofuji (K) beat Fujinokawa (M1)
Aonishiki (S) beat Takanosho (M1)
Hakunofuji (M3) beat Kotoshoho (S)
Kirishima (O) beat Atamifuji (S)
Kotozakura (O) beat Hiradoumi (M3)
Hoshoryu (Y) beat Daieisho (M4)
Onosato (Y) beat Oho (K)
Leader: Kirishima, Aonishiki, Shishi, Kotoeiho (7-1)
Of note: The 6-way leaderboard yesterday narrowed down to 4 today with 2 perhaps expected-Kirishima & Aonishiki-and 2 unexpected-Shishi & Kotoeiho. The first demotion that could have happened today will not as Mitakeumi finally got his first win of the tournament to get to 1-7. Hiradoumi, Oho & Onokatsu are all now in demotion danger at 1-7, Onokatsu could be demoted to Juryo if he can’t win out. The Yokozuna are winning again and still in it, with Hoshoryu at 6-2 and Onosato now up to 5-3 with a more Onosato-like 4 straight wins.
An update on Wakanosho injury per Nikkan Sports-right knee bone contusion. Tournament over. Out at least 2 weeks for treatment. Status uncertain for September. He will finish the equivalent of 5-10 and it’s heartbreaking because he was 5-0 before Day 6 when the injury happened in his first loss.
Now the question is will that be enough to keep him in the top tier in November, I think it’s going to be a toss-up.
Yokozuna Watch: Kirishima remains alive at 7-1, he can still afford maybe one more loss. He has Churanoumi tomorrow (2-6), who won their last meeting in March.
Ozeki Watch: Aonishiki now needs 3 more for re-promotion. He has breathing room now and may need it for tomorrow-Onosato is next and the Yokozuna has never lose to Aonishiki (4-0). If Aonishiki gets one more win he will at least protect his Sekiwake ranking.
Juryo:
Tohakuryu J12) beat Kayo (J12)
Tochitaikai (J14) beat Shirokuma (J9)
Nishinoryu (J9) beat Arashifuji (J13)
Midorifuji (J8) beat Tamashoho (J10)
Hatsuyama (J8) beat Nishikigi (J14)
Kagayaki (J11) beat Meisei (J7)
Enho (J11) beat Kazekeno (J6)
Dewanoryu (J3) beat Ryuden (J3)
Tokihayate (J2) beat Kitanowaka (J5)
Sadanoumi (J2) beat Shonannoumi (J6)
Asasuiryu (J1) beat Tomokaze (J4)
Tohsinofuji (J4) beat Kyokukaiyu (J1)
Leader: Arashifuji (7-1)
Of note: Nobody will go 16-0 and tough first loss for Arashifuji as it came by a non-winning technique-isamiashi, forward step out, which usually is inadvertent. But he kept the lead as Shirokuma lost again and is now in a group of 5 at 6-2. Tamawashi seems to be back in the zone now as the Iron Man improved to 5-3 with a win, he won’t get back to the top tier this time unless he somehow wins the championship at 12-3 but if he slumps his Juryo position and salary is probably safe now. Enho got another win to improve to 4-4 at halfway, he probably needs at least 2 more wins to be safe.
Lower tier notes: The Makushita is down to 7 leaders after the second half of Promotion Day at 4-0. Before the Sandanme lead…RARE KIMARITE ALERT!!! One for the pro wrestling fans out there as Asakiryu at Sd28 beat Minorufuji at Ss25 by another new-to-me-technique: izori, backwards body drop. No video that I know of but based on the description it’s like in pro wrestling when a wrestler is running towards a standing opponent and the standing one hoists them up in the air and over them so the flying one lands on his back. I think a better example is in the old 80s videogame “Double Dragon” when the giant Abobo enemy grabs the player by their knees and tosses them back and over like a ragdoll. As for the leaderboard, there are 10 tied at 4-0 including former Juryo champion Tochimusashi. The Jonidan has 12 tied at 4-0 while the Jonokuchi has two in the lad at 4-0