My name is Kimitoshi Koyanagi , Japanese. I am a sumo fan with approximately 50 years of experience watching the sport. My English is poor. But I aim to share the appeal of sumo with the world, focusing on analyzing and providing commentary on the bouts and their content during tournaments.
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Grand Sumo 2026 January Tournament Day 7
KirishimaーYoshinofuji
The bout between these two rikishi—both of whom have been showing excellent form this tournament—lived up fully to expectations. At the tachi-ai (initial charge), Yoshinofuji clearly had the better hit, but Kirishima succeeded in getting moro-zashi (double inside grips).
From there, Kirishima’s right kaina-no-kaeshi (inside arm turn-back) was effective, and his movement to cut off Yoshinofuji’s right uwate (outside grip) was particularly impressive (0:39-40 in the video). Kirishima is a rikishi with undeniable ability, yet when he is carrying even a minor injury, it tends to show very clearly in his results. Judging by his performances in the previous tournament and this one, however, he appears to be in good condition.
Although the bout could easily have turned into a one-sided affair, Yoshinofuji showed admirable resilience and fought on stubbornly.
HoshoryuーHakunofuji
In the first bout, Hoshoryu’s tachi-ai (initial charge) was not good. His body came upright, he failed to secure a right uwate (outside grip), and he managed to force a rematch only by attempting a throw at the edge of the dohyo (ring). The gyoji-gunbai (referee’s decision) initially went to Hoshoryu.
In the rematch, Hoshoryu secured a right uwate, then broke his opponent’s balance with a throw and drove his head in. Hakunofuji reportedly went onto the dohyo after practicing counters to throwing techniques with his tsukebito (attendant), but Hoshoryu’s throws must simply be that powerful.
DaieishoーOnosato
Onosato managed to insert a migi- zashi (right inside grip) at the tachi-ai (initial charge), but Daieisho immediately countered with a makikae (grip switch). Disliking this, Onosato hesitated for a moment and almost pulled back, but he stopped himself. Had he retreated at that point, I think he would have gone straight out of the dohyo (ring).
Daieisho’s inashi (deflecting movement) was effective, and it briefly felt as though this might be the end for Onosato. But he held on superbly. This was not the kind of sumo that makes you think, “Now that’s a yokozuna,” yet the fact that he not only survived that situation but turned it into a victory is precisely what shows he is a yokozuna.
AsanoyamaーAbi
Asanoyama defeated Abi, leaving the tournament with no undefeated rikishi. I had expected Abi to win, assuming Asanoyama would be unable to settle into yotsu-zumo (belt-grappling sumo), but Asanoyama skillfully met Abi’s tsuki (thrusts) from underneath, blunting their power.
IchiyamamotoーUra
Ichiyamamoto tried to keep Ura out of his futokoro (inner space) by thrusting him away, but Ura’s extremely low stance made it difficult to land effective tsuki (thrusts). At the edge of the dohyo (ring), Ura suddenly sank down as if he were “disappearing,” causing Ichiyamamoto’s thrusts to cut through empty air and leading directly to Ura’s victory.
This is sumo that only Ura can produce.
FujiryogaーTakerufuji
This was one of the bouts I was most looking forward to in the Juryo division. I watched it with great interest as a way to gauge just how strong Fujiryoga really is. How well would he measure up against Takerufuji, a rikishi with championship experience in makuuchi?
Fujiryoga was driven back by Takerufuji’s sharp tachi-ai (initial charge), but he managed to withstand the pressure and ultimately won with a hatakikomi (slap-down). Even so, he was not able to push Takerufuji back and take control of the bout.
As for Takerufuji, I think he brings out his best sumo not by pushing, but by inserting his hidari-zashi (left inside grip), staying tight against his opponent, and driving forward from close range.
Onosato Wins the Playoff for His Third Title, Takayasu Falls Short Once Again Takayasu has come agonizingly close to winning the championship on numerous occasions, only to fall short at the final hurdle. Among those disappointments, there were two instances where he went into the final day (senshuraku) needing just one win against Abi to secure the title. However, he lost both times, forcing a playoff where he was ultimately defeated, missing out on the championship. Today, he faced that same fateful opponent once again. Abi Attempted a Henka(side step) at the Tachi-ai. I’m glad that didn’t decide the match. Perhaps Takayasu was prepared for it, given that Abi had previously attempted a henka at the tachi-ai in a past championship playoff. Takayasu remained composed, dealt with it calmly, applied pressure with a left ottsuke, secured a grip on the uwate, and threw Abi down with authority. At that moment, I thought—perhaps this time, Takayasu has finally overcome his trauma and is...
Hoshoryu Shows Yokozuna Pride, Hands Onosato His Only Loss of the Tournament Hoshoryu demonstrated the pride and dignity expected of a yokozuna, handing Onosato his only defeat this tournament. The head-to-head record now stands at five wins for Hoshoryu and two for Onosato (with one of Onosato’s wins being by default), clearly favoring Hoshoryu. However, the content of their bouts tells a different story. In nearly every match, it has been Onosato who dictated the pace and gained the upper hand, only to be ultimately brought down by one of Hoshoryu’s well-executed throwing techniques. This pattern played out once again in today’s bout. Hoshoryu’s uwate-hineri (overarm twist-down) was expertly timed and executed, but it must be said that Onosato’s center of gravity was too high, and his ottsuke (press up on the outside of opponent’s elbow from below, as if twisting and lifting it) from the left lacked its usual sharpness. Throughout this tournament, Onosato has d...
As many of you know, Hoshoryu won the January tournament and was promoted as the 74th Yokozuna. During his victory interview, he shared that after experiencing the heartbreak of losing on the final day of the November tournament, he made a promise to "a certain person." He vowed to channel that frustration into the January tournament and win the championship no matter what. That "certain person" is Ruri Kubota, whom Hoshoryu refers to as his "mother in Japan." And the boy who sat beside Hoshoryu in the open car during the victory parade was none other than Ruri’s son, Teruchika, whom Hoshoryu calls his "younger brother in Japan." Teruchika has Down syndrome. Hoshoryu first met Teruchika and his mother in 2019, when he was still in the Juryo division. Their connection began when Hoshoryu was invited to coach Teruchika through Kashiwa Sumo Club, where the club’s representative happened to be Hoshoryu’s former high school mentor. Hoshoryu was deep...
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