Basho Preview ・ 場所前展望
Banzuke →Kirishima chases the rope at July (Nagoya) 2026
July (Nagoya) 2026 opens on July 12. Ozeki Kirishima won the title two basho ago at 12-3, then forced a playoff at 12-3 last time out. A champion and a runner-up in successive basho all but meets the "back-to-back championships or equivalent" standard — he may not even need the cup here, as a 13-win basho would set the promotion talks in motion.
Banzuke Notes
Last basho, Hoshoryu withdrew at 0-2-13 and Onosato sat out the entire tournament — neither yokozuna finished the tournament. Whether both can return from day one and restore the dignity of the rank is the defining question of this basho.
In the sanyaku ranks, Yoshinofuji moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 2; Oho moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 3.
- Yokozuna Hoshoryulast basho 0-2-13
- Yokozuna Onosatolast basho 0-0-15
- Komusubi Yoshinofujilast basho Maegashira 2, 11-4
- Komusubi Oholast basho Maegashira 3, 9-6
Rope Run & Ozeki Bid & Kadoban
Ozeki Kirishima won the title two basho ago at 12-3, then forced a playoff at 12-3 last time out. A champion and a runner-up in successive basho all but meets the "back-to-back championships or equivalent" standard — he may not even need the cup here, as a 13-win basho would set the promotion talks in motion. His pre-basho rating of 2670 sits at career-peak level — the numbers back the ability.
And then there is Wakatakakage, who won the championship at 12-3 from Komusubi. Now at Sekiwake, another double-digit basho would put an ozeki run firmly on the table.
Meanwhile, ozeki Kotozakura, after finishing 3-9-3 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 2, but he has fought his way out of his only previous one. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2466 sits 246 points below his peak of 2712, just No. 14 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?
- Ozeki Kirishimalast basho 12-3 ・ runner-up ・ yokozuna bid
- Sekiwake Wakatakakagelast basho 12-3 ・ champion ・ ozeki bid
- Ozeki Kotozakuralast basho 3-9-3 ・ kadoban #2
New Faces in Makuuchi
Making their makuuchi debut: Kazuma, Daiseizan.
Returning to makuuchi: Takerufuji, Onokatsu.
- Maegashira 13 Takerufujireturning
- Maegashira 15 Onokatsureturning
- Maegashira 15 Kazumadebut
- Maegashira 16 Daiseizandebut
Title Contenders (Rating)
Kirishima tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2670. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.
解説 ・ InsightJust 11 points separate him from Wakatakakage — the data says it's a two-horse race.
One caveat: Hoshoryu, Aonishiki, Onosato are returning from a layoff — whether the numbers hold is an open question.
- Ozeki KirishimaELO 2670 ・ Thrower
- Sekiwake WakatakakageELO 2659 ・ Forward Pusher
- Yokozuna HoshoryuELO 2650 ・ Thrower
- Sekiwake AonishikiELO 2636 ・ Belt Grinder
- Yokozuna OnosatoELO 2617 ・ Forward Pusher