Pink Mawashi Sumo

Hatsu 2026: SENSHURAKU

This is the first time in a while I’ve been actively nervous heading into the final day. There was definitely the usual mix of sadness and excitement, but man, I was actually scared for my boys in the yusho race. That said… let’s get into it.

MATCH OF THE DAY: It could be no other than Atamifuji vs Oshoumi. This was by far the most I’ve been nervous for a match that wasn’t Ura’s this basho–I like Oshoumi and I, of course, am very partial to the round qualities of Atamifuji. Oshoumi put up a good fight but the young man from Isegahama was just bigger and better. Atamifuji had a Fighting Spirit prize going in and Oshoumi would have gotten one as well if he had one; Atamifuji had another one on the line if he won the yusho.

KIMARITE OF THE DAY: Ex-Ozeki playoff Part 2; I thought Asanoyama would destroy the Wall of Daikon, but Shodai proved the stronger rikishi. Asanoyama forced Shodai up to the edge and got his hand under Asanoyama’s armpit for a katasukashi victory. It’s always nice to see a Shodai win, though he’s make-koshi at 7-8. I’m choosing to cover them instead of Wakamotoharu’s uwatehineri, because I like them more.

PINK MAWASHI DAY FIFTEEN: Ura went up against the Iron Man today. I like Tamawashi, but my heart lies (as ever) with Ura. I thought Tamawashi had finished him, but no! Ura wriggled out of his grasp and shoved Tamawashi out and into the crowd. Ura attempted to take flight by waving his arms to gain momentum, and Tamawashi seemed a little hesitant to get up. So many people are tweaking things this basho, but he looks okay. And he has two months to rest, so rest well, Iron Man.

OVERALL SUMMARY: Asakoryu blew out his shoulder again, and Asanoyama’s knee went down hard too. Great day for Takasago-beya. Kirishima beat Abi for a Fighting Spirit Prize and a strong case for May Ozeki. The relevant match of today was, of course, Aonishiki vs Kotozakura. Kotozakura pulled Aonishiki, but it wasn’t going anywhere; Kotozakura did his best, but Aonishiki did better. Rough. Aonishiki won and advanced to the playoff; Onosato and Hoshoryu fought while he had his hair redone. Hosh won with a strong migi-yotsu.

Playoff! Atamifuji, to his credit, didn’t look too nervous and put up a good fight. Atamifuji tried a bear hug and a little belt, but Aonishiki outskilled and outmaneuvered him, forcing each other to a brief stalemate on the tawara. Atamifuji shifted forward to push Aonishiki, who promptly realized what was going on and slammed Atami down by kubinage. Wow. Just… wow. Aonishiki takes the 2026 Hatsu basho yusho.

Sorry, very busy tonight; more on this in the usual wrap-up post, probably after the Juryo promotions are announced. Thank you for reading and for a fantastic tournament, and congratulations to prize winners Maegashira 4 Atamifuji (with additional congratulations for the Jun-yusho), Maegashira 1 Yoshinofuji, and Sekiwake Kirishima. And most of all, congratulations to Ozeki Aonishiki for his second straight yusho.

And congratulations, Ura, for that fantastic 4-11.

More soon! Thanks for a fantastic basho.

Don’t forget to leave a comment!

Comments

4 responses

  1. Jeb Avatar
    Jeb

    Hey, I just wanted to let you know that a random person in the US enjoys reading your thoughts about sumo. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    1. Emma Avatar
      Emma

      Thank you so much! I love writing this blog and am so glad that it’s reaching people.

      Reply
  2. Wakatakapapabear Avatar
    Wakatakapapabear

    Great Basho, yo. Lots of excitement. I was mostly moved by the ruefulness of Takayasu, who looks healthier than he has in a while, as well as by the sadness of Atamifuji and the disgruntled, disbelieving, pressure-is-building exasperation of Oho and Kotozakura, two wrestlers who will need to make Yokozuna just to match their forebears, and probably won’t…
    Atamifuji, supine and dejected at the edge of the dohyo after the playoff, looked a lot like Enho after the end of his day 13 match… so painful to get almost there. But they both will have more chances…
    It will be thrilling if the two Yokozuna and the Yokozuyna to be are all healthy at the same time, and it will also be really, really, really hard for anyone else to get to 12 or 13 wins in such a basho. Kirishima looks both determined and genki. But who else is really going to get to that level? Anyone of the old or not-young-anymore cohort? Atamifuji? Yoshinofuji?
    Fujinokawa is awesome but too little… of course he could develop a different style… Even in Juryo and Makushita, all of the Next Big Things showed growing pains, at least, which Aonishiki and Onosato did not…
    Anyway, great basho, thanks for all the great writing, and yeah, Aonishiki is amazing, but I wish Atamifuji had won. As Kotoshoho knows, the era of the surprise Maegashira yusho may have ended for the foreseeable future. Osaka here we come!!!

    Reply
    1. Emma Avatar
      Emma

      Kirishima, I think, is the only one from the older generation who can get back up there, unless Asanoyama surprises me. Atamifuji had a good basho, but I don’t think he’s ready. There are other people like him who could, I think, get up to Ozeki or Sekiwake if they improve fast. The best hopes for that are probably Hakuho’s Isegahama boys, Hakunofuji and Yoshinofuji. But then again, both of them were struggling this basho, and I’m not sure they’re quite ready to fight consistently at that level. It’s a little worrisome that none of Hoshoryu, Onosato, and Kotozakura have really had a response to Aonishiki, but that will be an interesting rivalry. The problem is that it might be interesting for the next ten years, at which point it will cease to be interesting. But there will be new young stars, and people like Fujiryoga, Kazuma, and their fellow tsukedashi may be able to upset and win much like Takerufuji did.

      Reply

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