Injuries and form concerns cloud sumo’s biggest stars heading into the 2026 hatsu basho, and the Emperor’s Cup race feels far less settled than expected. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/01/09/sumo/hatsu-basho-preview/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #januarygrandsumotournament #hoshoryu #aonishiki #onosato #kotozakura #yoshinofuji #asanoyama #fujinokawa
Questions over sumo stars could open door for dark horse champion

Injuries and form concerns cloud sumo’s biggest stars heading into the 2026 hatsu basho.

The Japan Times
Top-division debutant Takerufuji's bid for a historic championship will go down to the final day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament following a loss to former ozeki Asanoyama on Saturday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2024/03/23/sumo/basho-reports/takerufuji-title-bid-paused/ #sumo #bashoreports #takerufuji #springgrandsumotournament #asanoyama #onosato
Asanoyama pauses rookie Takerufuji's historic title bid

An apparent injury suffered by the top-division rookie has further clouded his attempt at history.

The Japan Times
Following an opening day of upsets, big names continued to fall at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2024/03/11/sumo/basho-reports/terunofuji-spring-sumo-second-day/ #sumo #bashoreports #springgrandsumotournament #terunofuji #asanoyama #atamifuji
Terunofuji avoids second loss on another day of upsets at Spring Basho

Following an opening day of upsets, big names continued to fall at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday.

The Japan Times
Mongolian ironman Tamawashi handed front-runner Asanoyama his first loss of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, creating a four-man logjam atop the leaderboard at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2024/01/21/sumo/basho-reports/asanoyama-loses-solo-lead/?utm_content=buffer0def2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #sumo #bashoreports #newyeargrandsumotournament #tamawashi #asanoyama #kirishima #terunofuji
Asanoyama loses solo lead to create logjam at the top

Ozeki Kirishima (6-2) was unable to take his own place at the top after an upset loss to No. 4 Tobizaru on Day 8 of the 15-day tournament.

The Japan Times
Former ozeki Asanoyama held onto the outright lead with his seventh straight win, while lone yokozuna Terunofuji suffered his second loss at the hands of rank-and-file opponent Shodai on Saturday at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2024/01/20/sumo/basho-reports/asanoyama-keeps-solo-lead/?utm_content=bufferbd139&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #sumo #bashoreports #terunofuji #shodai #asanoyama #newyeargrandsumotournament
Asanoyama keeps sole lead as Shodai upsets Terunofuji

Asanoyama, currently ranked as a No. 7 maegashira, defeated No. 9 Meisei to remain the only unbeaten competitor through seven days at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

The Japan Times
Promotion-seeking sekiwake Kotonowaka suffered his first loss of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at the hands of rank-and-file opponent Wakamotoharu on Friday, leaving unbeaten former ozeki Asanoyama with the outright lead. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2024/01/19/sumo/asanoyama-solo-leader/?utm_content=bufferd71f7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #sumo #newyeargrandsumotournament #kotonowaka #asanoyama
Kotonowaka loses to Wakamotoharu as Asanoyama takes sole lead

Lone yokozuna Terunofuji and ozeki Kirishima both racked up wins to stay on the second rung at 5-1 on Day 6 at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

The Japan Times
Former ozeki Asanoyama made a sensational return from injury Sunday by winning his first bout of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament against yokozuna aspirant Takakeisho. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/11/19/sumo/basho-reports/asanoyama-tops-takakeisho/?utm_content=buffer38da3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #sumo #bashoreports #kyushugrandsumotournament #takakeisho #asanoyama #ichiyamamoto
Asanoyama stuns Takakeisho in return from injury

The current No. 1 maegashira, who sat out the first seven days with a calf problem, inflicted one of several Day 8 upsets in Fukuoka.

The Japan Times
Hoshoryu defeats Asanoyama in showdown at Autumn Basho

Hoshoryu won a battle of current and former ozeki to improve to 3-3.

The Japan Times