Hatsu 2026 discussion (results)

[Akinomaki]

Ticket sales started today on the web and ended in a few minutes - the NSK hasn't posted the announcement yet, but already the several hours late overview shows the sell out https://sumo.pia.jp/vacant/va01.jsp

There is still the official NSK resale for which offers don't show on the sale pages now. There was some resale information there, saying at least "none ATM", I don't know if that will appear later or now only if there are some. For these tickets one has to register for an email resale alert, and the quickest to react gets it. Without the resale information, there is no way to register though.

There may be a campaign again for first time watchers, in which a few tickets are available, else only by those resellers, who had officially got their tickets from the NSK (chaya, local travel companies that offer tours to the kokugikan etc.) - if they still have some left

Edited Saturday at 22:58 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki]

I checked the main page and saw that there were no general sales at all, everything was sold out in the ticket lotteries. 

https://sumo.pia.jp/sumo01.jsp

On Twitter, the start of sales was announced though today 

Edited December 6, 2025 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki]

The gomen-fuda for the basho was installed today

o o

and the schedule announced, from banzuke publication on the 22nd till the 50th Fuji TV one day tournament on Feb. 8th o

[Akinomaki]

The Hatsu basho poster can now be printed at 7/11 convenience stores https://www.sej.co.jp/products/bromide/subromide2111.html

o

After the London koen, an international poster now - very misleading though, as if tickets were still available

Edited December 19, 2025 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki]

Live stream for the dohyo matsuri

Open to the public and without the sanyaku rikishi, just with NSK officials: The rijicho, the oyakata from the shimpan department, all gyoji, executives from the NSK tamarikai - the big tanimachi - and other NSK related persons https://www.sumo.or.jp/IrohaKyokaiInformation/detail?id=733

Edited Friday at 10:10 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki]

Nakabi, day 8 will have Tenran-zumo, the Tenno watching - no info yet if he'll be with the empress and princess Aiko like last time, day 14 of the Hatsu basho 2020, the first in the Reiwa era.

o

- likely not, I guess it would be announced otherwise - it was only announced that he will be there

Tenran-zumo took place 9 times in the Meiji, 51 times in the Showa and 23 times in the Heiwa era o - 40 times of those in the Showa era in the kokugikan (Kuramae and Ryogoku) o

- I have found no full list of Tairan-zumo, members of the Imperial family watching without the Tenno - Naruhito was there alone a few times as crown prince, also with Masako and once with Aiko as well

Edited Friday at 18:56 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki]

The week before the basho, NHK had several news features about the basho, esp. on news9, in the part not shown on NHK kokusai housou. Monday about the soken, Wednesday about Aonishiki, who is hoped to go for a yusho as new ozeki - the last was Hakuho Natsu 2006. Friday Fujishima commented on Onosato - he should concentrate on recovery, it may be a basho for the new hopes esp. Yoshinofuji, also Hakunofuji and Fujinokawa "Basho continue where we can't tell who'll get the yusho, which is fun. We as oyakata think it to be fun watching it." A report on Asanoyama , who didn't say on NHK that he wants the yusho.

Ohayo Nippon at 7 on Wednesday had a feature on Ichiyamamoto going for sanyaku, the NewSoon sumo-bu on Friday was about Kazuma and about Ikazuchi-beya's New Year mochi pounding event.

Ohayo Nippon at 6 on Saturday with a report of sujo Yamane Chika about Aonishiki and Asanoyama.

Nomachi Mineko commented on the Soon sumo-bu about Onosato being in the basho, but .., Hoshoryu with the knee ?, Aonishiki new ozeki, so ... - and nobody mentions Kotozakura at all.

My guess is the same, none of the Y/O involved in the yusho run, I expect Aonishiki to get 10, maybe 11 as usual. My pick for the yusho is Yoshinofuji, both yokozuna kyujo later on and Kotozakura as kun9roku6 ozeki.

Ichiyamamoto not to sanyaku, Tsurugisho kachikoshi and active at the wedding reception. Newcomer sansho for Hatsuyama, though he doesn't aim for it, none for Asahakuryu. Makekoshi for Nishikifuji - he has space to keep the Aomori streak alive. Takerufuji closing in to replace him for Natsu.

[Kishinoyama]

3 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

.... I expect Aonishiki to get 10, maybe 11 as usual....

I hope that you are right! That would be an outstanding result considering he has had so many Ozeki obligations. 

[Akinomaki]

Yusho portrait presentation

spectators:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFtyYEm84Oo

several shorter videos youtube.com/@小高慎民/search?query=優勝額

the Keith Haring kesho mawashi on the portrait for Aonishiki

On 30/11/2025 at 00:06, Akinomaki said:

New at this year's Hatsu basho, but in the sumo news for the ozeki promotion - and related to the new ozeki's first task at the Nagasaki peace memorial.

Aonishiki had received a kesho mawashi with a design by Keith Haring, donated by the head of the Ajigawa-beya koenkai Nakamura, the curator of the Nakamura Keith Haring museum - with a symbol of the hope for peace, a work from 1985.

media pics

o o o o

o o

oo   o o

o o o o o

o o

o o

o o o o o o

dohyo matsuri youtube.com/watch?v=oyTrlIwhlo4

o o o o o o o o oo

also foreign media report

o

Edited Sunday at 00:30 by Akinomaki

[I am the Yokozuna]

Would love to see some different poses for the yusho portraits this year. 

[Yamanashi]

9 hours ago, I am the Yokozuna said:

Would love to see some different poses for the yusho portraits this year. 

There doesn't seem to be much leeway in the approved stances.

If you want, you could buy a photo of the portrait and pencil in a mustache and beard.  Don't tell anyone which one you do it to.

[dingo]

The emperor's visit is exciting news, guess it's time for him to come and take a look at the new yokozunas. Provided they are not kyujo...

[Benihana]

Aonishiki vs. Ura on day 1.

Sooo...been busy lately, eh? Here, have some chaos to wake you up 

[Akinomaki]

6 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

There doesn't seem to be much leeway in the approved stances.

If you want, you could buy a photo of the portrait and pencil in a mustache and beard.  Don't tell anyone which one you do it to.

There are variations - Onosato could pose with a sword, e.g

http://cdn.mainichi.jp/vol1/2020/05/29/20200529dde012200062000p/4.jpgo

this pose makes it more difficult to look impressive - but the way to stand straight gives some variety

 http://cdn.mainichi.jp/vol1/2020/05/29/20200529dde012200072000p/4.jpgo http://cdn.mainichi.jp/vol1/2020/05/29/20200529dde012200065000p/4.jpgo   http://cdn.mainichi.jp/vol1/2020/05/29/20200529dde012200068000p/4.jpgo

a real variety is this, not many of that on sale (about 10 000 yen for one) https://www.mainichi-sumo.com/ 

http://cdn.mainichi.jp/vol1/2020/05/29/20200529dde012200070000p/4.jpgo

Hakuho has several dohyo-iri poses

Edit: the pics disappear here after posting, visible in the yusho portrait thread https://www.sumoforum.net/forums/topic/38927-yusho-portraits/#findComment-414812

 

Edited Saturday at 23:57 by Akinomaki

[PersistentPufferfish]

Asahifuji has one heavily wrapped hand, really had to work for that win.

Edited Sunday at 00:18 by PersistentPufferfish

[Tigerboy1966]

23 minutes ago, PersistentPufferfish said:

Asahifuji has one heavily wrapped hand, really had to work for that win.

He was also facing an enormous and hugely talented opponent in Tenshoyama. That was the jonokuchi yusho decided in the first bout of the basho. The good news for both of them is that they probably won't have to face each other again until the latter stages of the March basho.

[I am the Yokozuna]

15 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

There doesn't seem to be much leeway in the approved stances.

If you want, you could buy a photo of the portrait and pencil in a mustache and beard.  Don't tell anyone which one you do it to.

Constraints noted and well known. I suppose hoping for variation is easier than committing defacement by pencil.

Please review the historical overview of all yusho potraits here https://www.mainichi-sumo.com/. A decade ago the three Mongolians had a great deal of different poses. My favorite one would Asashoryu's raised hand resembling the end of his preparation for any bout, Hakuho squatting and kakuryu's dohyoiri's pose

[Heather82Cs]

(This is fanta-sumo really, but I got curious whether there's any chance JSA would make the yokozuna fight next Sunday bc of the emperor attending?)

[Hankegami]

Good Day 1 and a hopefully sumo-wise happy 2026 to everyone! We're off to a strong start with a full row of Day 1 wins from the upper san'yaku – from Yokozuna to Sekiwake. Things are looking good. Plenty of Maegashira also seem to be in decent shape, though.

Asanoyama looks a bit rusty – no one really expected him to lose to Oshoumi, right? Doesn’t seem to be in yusho-winning form anyway.

Mitakeumi already looks like he’s running out of gas - wonderful. Speaking of former Ozeki, that Shodai showed up with a convincing win over Kinbozan. Can he keep it up?

Props to the Oshoma vs. Fujinowaka match. Fujinowaka was throwing everything but the kitchen sink (as usual), but Oshoma still managed to take the win.

Hiradoumi seems to be in the zone. He dispatched Onokatsu with ease (though Onokatsu clearly has some back issues – cupping marks).

Atamifuji, though… He literally walked out of his match against Daieisho. I like him, but man, that was rough.

And then there's Hakunofuji. He REALLY wanted that win. I honestly thought Oho had it in the bag, but the Reiwa Monster pulled it off. It would be nice if he'd continue this way in the next days.

Now, onto the upper san'yaku. The veteran Sekiwake duo, Takayasu and Kirishima, both won authoritatively. The real question is whether their injuries will catch up with them in the next couple of weeks.

Everyone’s favorite young gun, Aonishiki, labored a bit but still got the win over Ura. It’s tough to say exactly how good his form is, but he’s definitely looking good enough for an ok tournament.

Kotozakura also won – and surprisingly easily against Yoshinofuji. Some nice swift sidestepping to move him around.

As for the Yokozuna – Onosato did his usual. He definitively needs heavier opponents to test his shoulder. Hoshoryu also won convincingly, but he was in his comfort zone against Wakamotoharu. That knee bandage is still a bit worrying though.

That's it for Day 1. All fun stuff, but let's see how things really shake out as the tournament goes on.

Edited Sunday at 11:03 by Hankegami

[Akinomaki]

7 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

Corrected: Apparently they really registered the marriage on day 1. The ward office is closed that day, they simply put it there - threw it in the letter box. The article today told that after the interview on the 9th, Tsurugisho and Yuuka went for the registration there on this day (=today), before going to the basho - and registered the kokugikan as the family domicile (honseki) o

- I didn't think that a registratioon is valid this way and interpreted "on this day" as the day of the interview.

Tsurugisho wanted to win, but is happy he didn't get injured - injured->kyujo->intai is an ugly way to end the career and  start the marriage life - he wants to complete the basho, when he retires. He and his wife went to register and then he went to the basho - not fully concentrating on his sumo: he hadn't trained https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202601110000721.html

Edited Sunday at 15:57 by Akinomaki

[ouflak]

Can't believe how much weight Takakeisho has lost.

[Heather82Cs]

5 minutes ago, ouflak said:

Can't believe how much weight Takakeisho has lost.

(I have never bought into conspiracy theories but boy I wouldn't bat an eye if someone told me that's not him, it's a replacement.)

[Sumo Spiffy]

Fking Gonoyama.

[ryafuji]

9 hours ago, Heather82Cs said:

(This is fanta-sumo really, but I got curious whether there's any chance JSA would make the yokozuna fight next Sunday bc of the emperor attending?)

No chance, the final match on senshuraku is always the highest two on the banzuke. We might see a Yokozuna against an Ozeki though. 

[Seseragi]

19 minutes ago, Sumo Spiffy said:

Fking Gonoyama.

It is impressive how often he gets into a winning position but can't get his opponent over the tawara. I want to root for him! I really do!