In a sign that the September tournament is almost upon us, the pairings for the first two days have been released. The link takes you to the day 1 bouts, but you can use the toggle at the top to see the day 2 matchups as well.
A few highlights:
- Onosato opens with Aonishiki, followed by Tamawashi on day 2
- Hoshoryu has Tamawashi, then Takayasu
- Kotozakura will fight Abi before taking on Hakuoho
- Wakatakakage’s Ozeki promotion pursuit will start with Hakuoho and Oho
- The other Sekiwake, Kirishima, has Oho on day 1 and Abi on day 2
- When they’re not taking on Yokozuna, Takayasu and Aonishiki have been matched with Atamifuji
The only announced absence in the top division is that of Takerufuji, who is recovering from surgery to repair the bicep injury he sustained in July.
We are less than two days away from sumo! What are you looking forward to for the Aki basho?
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I hope to see Enho’s name on the torikumi for Shonichi and not the kyujo list. Endo is out, which was expected but when he goes, that’s really an end of an era.
I think I saw someone say on sumo forum that Enho is in. Honestly, I have mixed feelings, given my concerns for his long-term well-being.
2 wks of kinda having a reason to wake up
I’m pumped to see the WTK run, and I’m psyched to see all the excitement around the youngest crop. From Aonishiki to Kusano to Hakuoho and Fujinokawa who apparently gave a certain Yokozuna a run for his money in training a few days ago, I think we have a lot of dynamic sumo on the short and long term horizon.
Exactly my feelings plus I am eager to see whether Onosato has now arrived at his new rank and will win his first basho as yokozuna.
Asanoyama vs Kyokukaiyu is also an intriguing match down in juryo.
https://youtube.com/shorts/KikM8rs-IeA?si=QFygaI4zOqsTUgcn
just for fun before grinding 2 weeks.
That man is a treasure (both of them, actually)
Lol
Are we going to see an European (Aonishiki) running for Yokozuna in 2026?
Just the first day could give a preliminary answer.
Looking forward to….
Last basho he was destroyed by Onosato and though Aonishiki is a learning fast I am not too optimistic for his first fight. And as to running for yokozuna, I would be more than happy if he reached the ozeki rank in 2026.
For Aki basho I‘m excited to watch everyone whose shikona starts or ends with an ‚A/a’ (or multiplies it somehow…)
It will be great!
I am intrigued to see how kusano will do. He has been absent from the news for the entire summer. I have great expectations but all this silence is suspicious. I am also hoping for a worthy basho from Hoshoryu. My boy turned out to be more fragile than expected, on different levels.
Most of the sanyaku are dealing with injuries or have a history of injuries. I am just hoping they all remain strong for 15 days and give us exciting matches.
Curious how many veteran fans we have here. Who was you first “new” Yokozuna?
For me (as a newcomer) it was Terunofuji since I was not yet a sumo fan when Kisenosato ascended.
Kisenosato!
So looking forward to this basho; as ever, it seems a very long time since Nagoya. The list of outcomes I’d like is too long to type on my phone….but for Hosh to complete the tournament and if not win it then get a respectable Yokozuna-worthy result. No additional injuries for anyone, and lots of exciting fights right up to and including day 15.
jmotzi -Terunofuji.
I picked up the sumo bug (watching actual basho) during covid. The first tournament I watched was Terunofuji’s first as sole yokozuna, I never saw Hakuho fight live. So yeah, I think of myself as a total newbie.
Much appreciation for the learning I’ve done here in this website with great articles and great comments.
Akebono in 1993
Wow! Definitely a veteran fan!
My first ever: Sadanoyama 1967 in ‘You Only Live Twice’
Does anybody know why there has been now preview on NHK this time?
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/2067051/
Thank U very much, that was really helpful. It‘s there in fact on NHK, but with a wrong title! Therefore I‘d never have found it on my own. Looking forward to the three yusho guesses.