GRAND SUMO: Day 1 of the September 2026 Tournament - GRAND SUMO Highlights

Hello and thank you for joining us on Grand Sumo Highlights. It's opening day of the September tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Yokozuna Onosato is looking for his first Yusho Championship in a year. And Ukrainian Aonishiki has returned to Ozaki after a magnificent comeback Yusho in July. Unfortunately, Yokozuna Hoshoryu is sidelined from day one because he's still healing from a right knee surgery he underwent after the Nagoya Basho. And Waka Takakage, he is still recuperating from a left thigh injury. He had surgery as well. And Wakano Sho has injured his right thigh and knee. A packed crowd in the Ryogoku Kokugikan. They're all ready here for opening day action. We begin with top division returnee Shonan no Umi and Dewa no Ryu, who's competing from the second highest Judo division. Shonan no Umi claimed the Judo title in July with 11 wins, 4 losses, while Dewa no Ryu marked a 9-6 record. Typical pusher thruster Dewa no Ryu. Shonan no Umi is fighting back in Makunouchi for the first time since November. A double hand attack by Dewa no Ryu inside, left hand in for Shonan no Umi. He tries to get that Kotenage going, but Dewa no Ryu. Takes him out in strong fashion. Dewa no Ryu goes to 1-0, winning there by Yorikiri frontal force out. Makunouchi newcomer Toshino Fuji. He had 11 wins, 4 losses in Ju-ryo last tournament, and Toki Hayate, 10-5 in Ju-ryo in July. These two fought down in Ju-ryo for the first time last contest, and this man Toshino Fuji drove his opponent out by Yorikiri. Toki Hayate is competing back in Makunouchi for the first time since May. In a little bit lower, left hand in for both men. Toki Hayate, right hand outside grip. A single strand, though he pivots, and Toki Hayate hits that Sukuinage from the left, winning by beltless arm throw. So Toshino Fuji unable to mark a win in his Makunouchi debut. Let's see if he can succeed on day two. Toki Hayate starts off in strong fashion, goes to 1-0. Here's a match we're focusing on in the first half. Rookie Asasui Ryu, 11-4 in July, down in Ju-ryo, fighting Chiyo Shoma, 5-10 in Makunouchi. Asasui Ryu got bumped up to Makunouchi after ending his Ju-ryo bouts under regulation on a four bout winning streak in Nagoya. Asasui Ryu and Asakoryu, his older brother, 14 pair of brothers in Makunouchi. The veteran on the right getting that left hand inside position. Asasui Ryu in lower and out goes the veteran. Asasui Ryu driving Chiyo Shoma back and out in an instant. So Asasui Ryu attains Makunouchi victory number one by Yorikiri. Sharp initial charge, right hand Kachiage by Chiyo Shoma on the left. Chiyo Shoma grabs that right hand outside grip, tries to get something going, but in low is Asasui Ryu. Asasui Ryu using his agility over the veteran. Left hand in deep, Yorikiri victory. Congratulations on your first victory in Makunouchi. I'm relieved. Were you nervous going into the match? Not really. I just wanted to do my brand of sumo. Your mother passed away this year and it was her dream for you and your brother to fight together in Makunouchi. Yes, but that is not my goal and I continue to move up further. Now it's an Osaka Tokyo showdown between Asakoryu, Asasui Ryu's older brother, 9 and 6 last tournament and Tobizaru 5 and 10. Asakoryu from Osaka holds a 3 to 1 edge in the rivalry with Tobizaru, who was raised here in the capital. Double hand attack by Tobizaru, right hand inside for the man in blue, left hand in deep for Asakoryu and a beautiful shitatenage underarm throw by the older brother, Asakoryu. So Asasui Ryu wins in his Makunouchi debut. His older brother connects as well on opening day. Asakoryu delivers and this is his 200th career victory. Getting an inside position is Tobizaru, moving back Asakoryu but still he pivots, resets, get that deep left hand inside position and waits for that timing for the shitatenage. Perfect execution. We move to ABI 7 and 8 in July versus Asahakoryu also 7 and 8. ABI has taken both their encounters so far in May and July. ABI strives to punch out his first winning record or kachikoshi since January. Asahakoryu improved significantly in the second half last tourney by notching up five wins in the last six days. In with that right hand attack is Asahakoryu, he can't get that inside position. ABI goes in with his supari maneuvers but has no more real estate. Asahakoryu moves well at the edge, comes from behind and wins by tsukiotoshi thrust down. Good movement at the edge by Asahakoryu who goes to 1 and 0. Next, Wakamotoharu 6 and 9 in July versus Shodai 5 and 10. Shodai leads their history by an 8 to 5 margin. Wakamotoharu is competing in the double digit maegashira ranks for the first time since January 2022. That was his makunouchi debut. Good hit, sharp tachiai by Wakamotoharu. Shodai resists, Shodai is taken back after Wakamotoharu finds his favorite left hand inside stance. Wakamotoharu takes the match by yorikiri. Wakamotoharu, Wakatakakage's older brother, starts off September in perfect fashion. Now to Oho 2 and 13 in July fighting Kimbozan 9 and 6. Oho is ahead 4 to 1 in their series but the two haven't clashed for over a year. Oho faced a dramatic drop in the ranks as a komusubi in July. Kimbozan hopes to apply immense pressure in the tachiai here. Kimbozan in a little faster than Oho. Rattled though, trying to stay in contention but Kimbozan says goodbye. Kimbozan takes care of Oho by yorikiri frontal force out. We turn now to Ura 5 and 10 last basho and Ukrainian Shishi 10 and 5. Technician Ura was the victor in their one and only matchup in May by winning by shitatenage underarm throw. Ura has three double digit loss tournaments already in 2026. Shishi fighting at his personal high rank of maegashira 9. Shishi trying to grab Ura there from the top but Ura circling around well. Shishi gets Ura off balance once but now Ura slaps him down and at the end finds Shishi's back to win by okuritaoshi rear push down. And the crowd loves it. Many fans in the koguikan with those Ura towels. Enjoying that bout. Checking the replay in low trying to get in Shishi's kitchen. Ura circles around well but Shishi stays in contention well too. He gets Ura off balance there but gives him time to regroup. Now Ura gets him off balance finds his back and wins by okuritaoshi. It's Takeru Fujii 10 and 5 in July fighting Hiradomi 4 and 11. Takeru Fujii has a slight 2 to 1 lead in their past matches. Takeru Fujii made a strong return to Makunouchi in July after notching up his first double-digit scorecard in the top tier since January last year. Hiradomi desperate to achieve more wins than losses this basho for the first time since January. Both in very low. Takeru Fujii at the edge. Hiradomi wants to finish him off but Takeru Fujii doesn't throw in the towel and stays in contention. Takeru Fujii kicks out the tourney on a positive note with that tsuki otoshi thrust down. At the edge. Takeru Fujii showing a lot of resilience there. Hiradomi a little in a rush to finish him off then he loses balance and steps out from a different angle. Takeru Fujii applying the pressure. Hiradomi takes him back but Takeru Fujii shifts to the right and stays in the game. Now it's Fujii Seun 7 and 8 fighting Nishiku Fujii 10 and 5 in Nagoya. Nishiku Fujii is spotless against his opponent in all their three encounters in Makunouchi. He marked double-digit wins in the top division last contest for the first time since March 2023. Fujii Seun seeks to create his first kachikochi since March. In very low Nishiku Fujii wants that left hand in. They separate. Fujii Seun gets that left hand in as well. Not his favorite stance but Fujii Seun in blue trying to get something going. Nothing with the right hand outside. Nishiku Fujii doing a good job by moving his hips not allowing that. Left hand in. A throwing attempt by Fujii Seun at the end. Fujii Seun is the victor by yorikiri frontal force out. Nishiku Fujii unable to make good use of that left hand inside position. Fujii Seun shows great resilience and advances to 1 and 0. Yorikiri. Now Asanoyama 9 and 6 versus Ichiyamamoto 6 and 9 in July. These 32-year-olds have not clashed for over two years. Former Ozeki, Asanoyama is ahead 2 to 1 in their past meetings. But it was Ichiyamamoto the victor when they last fought in July 2024. Asanoyama in low. Good pushing technique by Asanoyama. Right hand in. This will favor the former Ozeki and Asanoyama triumphs. He gets revenge for his bout two years ago with Ichiyamamoto. And starts off September in high gear. He wins by yorikiri. Next up it's Rouga 9 and 6 and Oshoma 7 and 8 in Nagoya. Oshoma leads 6 to 2 in their history on Makunouchi soil. Equal tachiai. Shifting right away is Oshoma and a pulling attempt works effectively for Rouga. Oshoma prevails. He picks up win number one with that hikiotoshi hand pulldown maneuver. Oshoma making quick work of Rouga. In low. Breaking Rouga's balance right away and then it's a hikiotoshi hand pulldown. Good observation by Oshoma there. Immediately breaking Rouga's balance. We move to Takano Sho 6 and 9 in July and Fuji Ryouga 10 and 5. Fuji Ryouga sent the veteran to the clay by Hatakikomi in their first head-to-head in July. Fuji Ryouga is fighting in his career high position of maegashida 4 after delivering double digit victories in back-to-back contests. Shooting out strong is the man in red. Takano Sho applying the pressure. Fuji Ryouga counters. Fuji Ryouga wants to get something going but he's too high. He shows his back and Takano Sho shoves him out. Takano Sho wins by okuridashi rear push out. Takano Sho boasts his pushing skills and experience to go to 1 and 0. Right hand attack. Also from the left by Takano Sho. Resisting is Fuji Ryouga. Fuji Ryouga has some tsuppari maneuvers of his own. Right hand inside for Takano Sho. He likes the stance and he wins by okuridashi. Now Hakuno Fuji 9 and 6 fighting Chiranomi 7 and 8 in July. New komusubi. Hakuno Fuji holds a 3 to 1 advantage in their rivalry in makunouchi. Hakuno Fuji says he intends on moving forward continuously even in sanyaku and seeks to grab his coveted first championship. Good hit. Head-to-head clash. Hakuno Fuji in low but look at Chiranomi. Absorbing Hakuno Fuji's charge and then getting part of the mawashi to win by yorikiri. Chiranomi shuts out the sanyaku debutante and secures his first victory. The new komusubi rocketing out looking to finish Chiranomi off immediately. But Chiranomi reacts. Good reflexes. Gets that inside position. And as soon as Chiranomi gets that left hand inside position. Nothing on the mawashi but he takes control. Good reflexes there by the man from Okinawa prefecture. Now here the rikishi ranked in the sanyaku upper echelon along with their records in July. July champ Aonishiki along with Ozeki Kirishima and Atami Fuji all had 12 wins in July. So let's go to Yoshino Fuji 6 and 9 fighting Fujinokawa the shinsekiwake with 8 and 7 in July. These youngsters made their leap to the top division together in July last year and are fighting in their eighth makunouchi contest. Yoshino Fuji has dominated all their five encounters here. Good hit by both men. A sukuinage attempt by the sekiwake and then a kotenage attempt by Yoshino Fuji. But Yoshino Fuji has no more room. It's Fujinokawa grabbing a victory in his sanyaku debut. Exciting speed start. Fujinokawa wowing the crowd here on shonichi opening day. Fujinokawa uses that right hand immediately executes that sukuinage. Countering is Yoshino Fuji with that kotenage from the left armlock throw. But staying in contention is Fujinokawa showing great resilience at the edge. Look at how Fujinokawa stays in by holding on to Yoshino Fuji's right knee. Fujinokawa wins by yorikiri. Next up Atami Fuji 12 and 3. The runner-up in the previous tournament fighting Go-no-yama 7 and 8. Atami Fuji is ahead in their top tier battles by a slight 5 to 3 margin. Now he's stacked up a total of 21 wins in the past two basho and now needs at least 12 wins to clear the benchmark for ozeki promotion. Right hand attack by Go-no-yama. Atami Fuji staying relaxed can't get that outside grip. He now does left hand outside grip for Atami Fuji. This could favor the sekiwake and out goes Go-no-yama. Atami Fuji looking good from opening day proves his prowess on the mawashi and advances to 1 and 0. Big step for the man in red here in his bid for ozeki promotion this tournament. Shooting out is Go-no-yama. Right nodowa throat thrusts. Atami Fuji doesn't budge. He gradually gets that inside position with the right. Now he extends and gets that left hand outside grip. He takes command in the driver's seat now. Some gaboriori action with the belly bop style at the edge. Winning by yorikiri fronto force out. It's the bout of the day. Returning ozeki Ao Nishiki, 12 and 3, the July champ, fighting Koto Eiho 11 and 4 last tournament with the fighting spear prize. These men made their promotion to juryo together in November 2024 but have not faced off since making makunouchi last year. Ao Nishiki was re-promoted to ozeki after regaining the status as a sekiwake last basho. The Ukrainian's condition is likely not close to top form yet. He's still reeling from that left foot injury. Koto Eiho tries to get inside but a left hand inside right hand outside grip for the ozeki. Ao Nishiki making good use of that left hand. He goes to get Koto Eiho off balance and wins by yorikiri. A comeback yusho in July and starting off September in high gear. Ao Nishiki finds his favorite grip after the tachiai and shows authority in his ozeki return. Both in low. Koto Eiho gets that left hand in but allows Ao Nishiki his favorite grip. Right hand outside grip also for the ozeki. And the Ukrainian uses that left hand in deep to get Koto Eiho off balance. On one leg was Koto Eiho and he has no more real estate. Unbelievable pressure there from the Ukrainian. Next it's Takayasu 11-4 with the fighting spirit prize in July and Ozeki Kotozakura 8-7. Takayasu holds a 9-6 lead in their history spanning 6 years. Kotozakura just barely managed to escape Kadoban status in July after posting his 8th victory on day 13. Takayasu with that left hand inside position. They separate. Kotozakura going for the tsuppari attack. Now Takayasu looking to get a piece of the ozeki. But as soon as Kotozakura gets that inside position the ozeki wins by yorikiri frontal foresound. Kotozakura takes care of the former ozeki and moves to 1-0. Takayasu tries to find that left hand inside position. They separate and they start pounding away with some powerful thrusts. Nodowa throat attack by Takayasu. He tries to get the ozeki off balance. Separate again. An inside position for the ozeki and he wins by yorikiri. Now it's Kirishima the ozeki 12-3. The runner-up of the previous tournament fighting Koto Shouho 6-9. Kirishima is up 3-1 in their rivalry. He's gunning for Yokozuna promotion once again after posting an equivalent record as July champ Aonishiki in Nagoya. Nice tachiai, equal tachiai. Koto Shouho separating getting that inside position but Kirishima immediately showing good reflexes at the edge. Kirishima gets a piece of Koto Shouho's mawashi. Sends out a scare there for an instant but at the end wins by uatenage overarm throw. Kirishima has given a run for his money but stays poised throughout the match and starts off with a victory. Koto Shouho slaps away after the tachiai. Kirishima wants to catch him on the mawashi but Koto Shouho does a good job of keeping him away. Kirishima continues to be on the offensive. He gets that left hand outside grip at the end and swings Koto Shouho down by uatenage. We conclude day one action with the sole Yokozuna in competition, Onosato, who picked up nine wins last basho. Locking horns with san-yaku returnee Dai Eisho with a 10-5 report card. Onosato leads their history by an overwhelming 9-1 advantage. Dai Eisho is competing in san-yaku for the first time since July last year. A soft tachiai. Dai Eisho goes inside. Onosato in trouble. Onosato goes for a pulling maneuver and it works. A Hatakikomi slap down victory but not the type of sumo that the Yokozuna wants to do. Still a win is a win. Onosato snatches a win on opening day despite showing his bad habit of pulling. Dai Eisho loses balance here a little bit but stays in contention against the Yokozuna. Gets an inside position. Double hand inside just for an instant. Takes Onosato back but Onosato uses that pulling maneuver at the edge. Onosato, bad habit there of pulling and that Hatakikomi works. Doesn't look like he is happy with that win. And that's all for this broadcast of Grand Sumo Highlights. Thank you very much for watching and please join us again for more Dosukoi action on day two. Well, wherever you are, gokigenyou.