No new reports from the infirmary. Both Yokozuna are intent on completing this tournament. Don’t think they’ll get a bunch of rest until March. On February 7^th and 8^th, the Japanese Sumo Association will hold two annual events at Kokugikan. The NHK Sumo Charity event and the Annual one-day tournament which used to be sponsored by FujiTV.

Wakanosho continues to lead the Juryo yusho race with his oshidashi victory over Kotoeiho. Fujiseiun beat Hitoshi to keep the heat on for senshuraku. And Leonid has our makushita coverage here and gives an update on the Juryo promotion picture.

常盤山親方（元小結隆三杉）が、日本相撲協会退職の会見。「１５歳で相撲界に入り５０年。今考えると、早かったなという思いがあります。入ったときは厳しさと苦しさ。まずそれですね」 pic.twitter.com/jsiaAzOXKx

— 朝日新聞 大相撲担当 (@asahi_osumo) January 24, 2026

Tokiwayama-oyakata retires and former Takakeisho will assume the mantle as stablemaster after this tournament.

Your NHK videos are here.

Makuuchi Action

Kotoshoho (8-6) defeated Mitakeumi (6-8). Kotoshoho had Conservation Center duties today, cuddled the giant sloth and carried him over the tawara. Kotoshoho kachi-koshi, Mitakeumi make-koshi. Yorikiri.

Gonoyama (7-7) defeated Hatsuyama (2-12). Gonoyama overwhelmed Hatsuyama with tsuppari and drove him back over the edge. Oshidashi.

Asahakuryu (7-7) defeated Shodai (6-8). Asahakuryu drove Shodai back and over the tawara. Shodai’s loss makes him make-koshi for the tournament. Yorikiri.

Midorifuji (6-8) defeated Kinbozan (4-10). After an exchange of tsuppari, Midorifuji got a morozashi as he got both hands inside Kinbozan’s arms with his hands up behind Kinbozan’s shoulder. He then pulled Kinbozan down as he reversed along the tawara. Katasukashi.

Oshoma (7-7) defeated Ryuden (6-8). Oshoma held Ryuden at bay with a nodowa, then pivoted to his left and pulled Ryuden down to the clay. Hikiotoshi.

Fujinokawa (9-5) defeated Asakoryu (8-6). Fujinokawa engaged Asakoryu in a bit of a brawl but then moved inside to grab Asakoryu’s mawashi, ending Asakoryu’s slaps. With a solid migi-yotsu hold, Fujinokawa forced Asakoryu to the edge and then slammed him to the ground at the edge. Yoritaoshi.

Oshoumi (10-4) defeated Hiradoumi (9-5). Hiradoumi charged forward out of the gate, forcing Oshoumi to the edge. Oshoumi used the bales as a base to mount his counter attack. He hoisted Hiradoumi up, bulldozed through the dohyo and slammed Hiradoumi down to the ground at the edge. Abisetaoshi.

Tobizaru (6-8) defeated Onokatsu (7-7). Tobiaru kicked out at Onokatsu and then pulled. As he approached the tawara, though, Tobizaru slammed the gear into drive and advanced into Onokatsu. He grabbed Onokatsu’s mawashi deep at the back with his right hand and forced him back over the bales. Yorikiri.

Tamawashi (5-9) defeated Tomokaze (4-10). As both men traded tsuppari, Tamawashi pivoted as he backed to the edge. This forced Tomokaze’s back to the tawara. Tamawashi picked up the pace and power of his tsuppari to blast Tomokaze from the dohyo and into Kasugano-oyakata’s lap. Oshidashi.

Churanoumi (8-6) defeated Roga (6-8). Roga attempted a slapdown but Churanoumi drove through it and shoved Roga over the bales. Oshidashi.

Halftime

Chiyoshoma (6-8) defeated Takanosho (4-10). Takanosho tried to use a nodowa against Chiyoshoma but Chiyoshoma grabbed his arm and pulled him down. Tottari.

Wakatakakage (8-6) defeated Daieisho (6-8). Henka! Daieisho Superman-flopped his way to a make-koshi as Wakatakakage shifted left at the tachiai. Hikiotoshi.

Tokihayate (8-6) defeated Ichiyamamoto (3-11). Tokihayate grabbed Ichiyamamoto’s belt with his left hand, drove forward and shoved Ichiyamamoto over the edge. Oshidashi.

Yoshinofuji (7-7) defeated Shishi (9-5). Yoshinofuji used his right hand uwate to pull Shishi over the bales. Uwatenage.

Sanyaku

Ura (3-11) defeated Oho (4-10). Ura pivoted to his right and pulled. Oho tumbled to the ground, rolling forward with a bit of an Ura-esque flourish. If you’re going to fall out of sanyaku, fall with style. Hatakikomi.

Wakamotoharu (7-7) defeated Asanoyama (9-5). Wakamotoharu did not let Asanoyama get his right hand inside. Asanoyama tried again and again to slip that hand in there and that really put him at a disadvantage because he would rear back and Wakamotoharu would plow forward, advancing to the bales. Eventually, Wakamotoharu forced Asanoyama over the bales. Yorikiri.

Atamifuji (11-3) defeated Kirishima (10-4). Atamifuji got his left hand uwate hold on Kirishima’s belt. With his right-hand outside, he powered through Kirishima and crushed him over the edge. Ow. Kirishima struggled to get back up to the dohyo. That big ole bloody scrape on his left butt cheek hints at a new injury. Maybe lower back? Maybe hip? Maybe both? Yikes. Lastly, who kidnapped Atamifuji and replaced him with this kaiju? Abiseta-ouchi.

Abi (10-4) defeated Takayasu (8-6). Abi-zumo. Thrusts, slapdown attempts… Oh, no. Takayasu got turned around. That’s never good. Abi caught up and shoved him over the edge from behind. A dispirited Takayasu landed on Naruto-oyakata and took his time getting back up. The west side spectators are having a rough go of things today. Getting a lot of the “kinetic fansa.” Okuridashi.

Hoshoryu defeated Kotozakura. Gee–zuhs. Just when Kotozakura worked his right hand inside and got his morozashi, Hoshoryu yanked him hard with his right hand uwate and flipped the big bloke onto his back. In the movies, the camera would zoom in on the villain’s face, “That hurt.” In the Sumo Association, we just wait impatiently for him to walk back to his side and bow. While the gyoji scramble to figure out what the kimarite was, we move on to the much-anticipated musubi-no-ichiban. Uwatenage.

Onosato (10-4) defeated Aonishiki (11-3). Aonishiki’s borrowed shimekomi came enchanted with henka dust from its owner and previous bearer. He shifted left at the tachiai but Onosato adjusted really well. The Yokozuna pursued and shoved Anonishiki to the ground as the Ozeki stumbled in retreat. Well, it’s back to the drawing board, for sure, at Ajigawa. One Yokozuna solved. The other Yokozuna, decidedly unsolved. Oshitaoshi.

Wrap-up

Aonishiki’s loss opens things up quite a bit in the yusho race.

• 3-losses: Aonishiki, Atamifuji
• 4-losses: Onosato, Kirishima, Abi, Oshoumi.

Aonishiki and Atamifuji lead with Onosato, Kirishima, Abi and Oshoumi chasing and hoping for losses tomorrow. Aonishiki and Atamifuji fought on Day 12 with Aonishiki defeating the big man.

The senshuraku torikumi is not out yet but we can presume the musubi-no-ichiban will be the Yokozuna showdown and that will be preceded by the Ozeki showdown. If Atamifuji loses his bout, Aonishiki will fight with the yusho on the line. If Atamifuji wins his bout, Aonishiki will need to win to force a play-off.

The play-off possibilities get crazy if both Atamifuji and Aonishiki lose their bouts. Then Onosato will even be fighting for a spot in the playoff. I’ll post later when the pairings have been finalized.

One rule for comments today. I’m going to be strict. No mentioning Wakatakakage’s henka. It has nothing to do with the yusho. There’s no drama there, so no need for whining about it. It is what it is, let’s move on. Any mention and I’ll remove the comment and I might put the author into the penalty box. As a henka aficionato, I actually enjoy the firy henka debate — so long as the jabs don’t get personal. Going forward, I’m going to be strict about that from now on and start deleting comments that cross the line into personal barbs. But today, I’m going to be super-strict. No mentioning Wakatakakage’s henka. I said it twice, I mean it.

I’ll be back later today. If you need to go blow off steam about Wakatakakage’s henka, you have time to go take a walk around the neighborhood and clear your mind.