Kotozakura, who withdrew on Day 14 from the Aki basho with an injury to his right medial ligament, is swiftly improving--to such a degree, he intends to participate in Takakeisho's danpatsu-shiki as well as in Myogiryu's (Oct. 4 and 5 respectively), and hopes to wrestle in London, Oct. 15-19. ...

Two especially nice photos of Aki's Special Prize winners. There's just something especially sweet about these guys. Veteran, 30-year-old Takanosho with kids, 22-year-old Hakuoho and 21-year-old Aonishiki. (cont. on next page)

14-year (mostly in the) Makuuchi rikishi, Takarafuji has announced his retirement. Considered one of sumo's best defensive wrestlers, Takarafuji, at age 38, was clearly slowing down and losing power--conditions he accepted while fighting his way down to Juryo 12 in Aki, where he rendered ...

The L.A.-based, Japanese-American newspaper, The Rafu Shimpo, established in 1903 only ceasing publication from 1942 to 1946 when its staff was sent to U.S. concentration camps, is hopeful and not giving up on Wakatakakage. It's headline: Ozeki Promotion Will Have to Wait rafu.com/2025/09/ozek...

"It was a match where a protest is warranted. It was a crucial bout, so the referees faced a tough call," said the announcer from NHK. Regarding the double-yokozuna championship playoff match, a mono-ii was called due to an objection raised by a ringside shimpan. Master Kokonoe (ex-Chiyotaikai)...

Story of my life. This beguiling rikishi has been a member of Takasago Beya since 2015 when he was 15, but I only discovered him today via photos of his danpatsu held in the stable on the morning of senshuraku. He's ASADOJI -- highest rankJonidan 23, photoed here with Master Takasago and Asanoyama.

Losing his beloved mother one day before the Aki basho, Mitakeumi pledged to do his best and, through at times he was clearly melancholy, he turned in a respectable 7-8. On Day 15, he finally was able to grieve a bit with a hug from his mom's sister who came to see him at the Kokugikan.

It's in the news. Kaneko Sachno from NHK delivers the word...to the world! www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...

Sumo fans waited 5 years for a yokozuna-to-yokozuna senshuraku, and 16 years for a yokozuna tie-breaker match to finally cash-in yesterday with 2 thrilling bouts. Now you know why Hoshoryu 'did what he did' (I'm tired of the "h" word) on Day 13 to deliver a rip-roaring senshuraku we won't forget.

Day 14 fans were delighted with the candid comments by former Ozeki Takakeisho (Minatogawa Oyakata) who discussed his amazing weight loss on Abema w announcer Yasuo Fujii. In the year since he retired, Takakeisho has slenderized to half the man he was as ozeki when he weighed as much as 400 lbs.

I thought tickets were completely sold out for days now--so there went another tradition of oyakata being assigned to the ticket booth outside of the Kokugikan. But, here's handsome Tatsunami doing his job-- selling and giving info on tickets as well as charming the ladies.

Do you remember? Yokozuna Hakuho defeated fellow-Mongolian yokozuna Harumafuji on senshuraku by a dramatic henka. It was Spring 2016. Coming into Day 15, Hakuho pulled a henka on Harumafuji which triggered loud boos from the crowd at Edion Arena Osaka. Hakuho, whose only defeat came on ...

THE KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE! Hoshoryu's thoughts were not about his image, knowing he can put that right by winning the yusho. But to get there, he needed the quickest victory versus Wakatakakage. A textbook henka. Hosh and Onosato (w a fusen win) are fresh and ready for a fight on senshuraku.

Kotozakura heard a 'pop' from his knee in his Day 13 bout versus Hoshoryu but did not report the severity of his injury until very late in the day--precluding the torikumi men from assigning another opponent for Onosato who, as a consequence, received a fusen win and a full day's rest ...

Is bulky better? Hoshoryu fans are dismayed this morning by the yokozuna's second consecutive loss that has him trailing fellow yok Onosato going into the penultimate day of Aki. An opening belt hold by Hosh wasn't enough to thwart the voluminous, baby-faced powerhouse from Sadogatake Beya. Sad.

We all know that I can't compute numbers, but we have Moti's sumo newsletter from which I verbatim take this: Yokozuna Oonosato recorded his ninth consecutive win, maintaining his lead in the championship race. He defeated Sekiwake Wakatakakage to improve to 12-1. There were 47 kensho banners...

Everyone loves Oshima Oyakata mostly because he's a darling guy who enjoys the lighthearted moments in sumo. But Hakkaku demands stony-faced toughness from his shimpan. It's so artificial, really. No wonder Oshima's fellow shimpan couldn't stifle their laughter when he was smushed by a low-ranker.

Says Chief Shimpan Kokonoe (Ozeki Chiyotaikai) about the match that's changed everything as go into the homestretch of Aki, "It started as a repeat performance with Hoshoryu trying to dictate the rhythm, but this time Aonishiki would not let him. "The yokozuna's legs and hips were heavy ...

Onosato pulls again, but has redeeming qualities. At the tachiai on Day 11's bout between Takayasu and Onosato, the Papa Bear let out an ursine growl just as he collided into the yokozuna. His force was so immense, it forced Onosato's perfect sumo stance to reel up and move back.

The video of Ura running to get there in time--lifting his heavy kesho mawashi like Cinderella did her gown when the clock struck 12, has gone viral in Japan where it's been dubbed, "Ura's Cinderella Run." To view the clip: x.com/takanomaru11...

The yokozuna and his sword bearer were ready to enter the arena to perform Hoshoryu's dohyo-iri--but had a problem. WHERE IS THE DEW SWEEPER??! From the back of the hall came URA who was shocked to see the yokozuna waiting. Of course Ura apologized profusely, but all Hosh could do was smile.

Sekiwake Wakatakakage suffered his fifth loss on Day 10 by a Hiradoumi push out. He's now fallen short of the promotion benchmark for ozeki—33 wins in his last three san'yaku tournaments—making his advancement extremely tough. Critics of his sumo have mentioned a lightness in his attacks,

Yokozuna Hoshoryu attains a Perfect Ten as he floored M4 Wakamotoharu who earned a kinboshi from our Mongolian-born yokozuna in Nagoya (July '25). Hot on Hoshoryu's heels remains fellow yokozuna, Onosato, who on Day 10 thrusted out Kotoshoho for the Nagoya champ's seventh straight loss.

In the Juryo, ex-ozeki Asanoyama is tied for 1st place at 8-2. This marks his first winning record as a sekitori since spring 2023, yet it is no cause for celebration. “Winning more than losing isn't my end. I need to climb the banzuke by continued winning, starting tomorrow." In 2019 w royalty

Former Sekiwake Myogiryu is looking very good as he transitions to Furiwake Oyataka. The well-respected--and to the ladies, sexy "Otoko" (the MAN)-- was known for his technical prowess, earning six Technique Prizes despite battling persistent knee injuries. His danpatsu will be held on October 5.

The re-invigorated Shodai is the man of the hour with everyone wondering "What has happened to you?" As only Shodai can illuminate: "I can't decide on anything specific." Maybe Shodai doesn't know, but something has changed from his usual sad form tachiai (standing upright w lowered arms), ...

"Shuban no Hi" or Autumal Equinox Day is a Japanese national holiday which this year falls on September 23. Because days are still warm with humidity over 50%, your newest summer kimono is just the thing to delight your waiting fans who line the streets to the Kokugikan.

Going into Day 10, our outright leader, Hoshoryu, is being hotly pursued by Onosato and Shodai. Yes, Shodai-- who, on Day 9, flung Tobizaru out of the ring with such force, the Monkey struggled just to stand. In his dressing room, Shodai started the questioning with, "Is Tobizaru alright?" ...

Naruto Oyakata (Ozeki Kotooshu) is impressed with Hoshoryu's eight consecutive victories, but he sees a possible spanner in the works--his tendancy to be impatient and penchant for thrusting and right-off-the-mark throws. In his column for Hochi Sports, Kotooshu writes, "In his Day Eight bout ...

While walking on your way to work... have you ever felt as if someone was following you? And, if the guy drafting you just happens to be your brother (who's WITH your other brother) ... why not stop and walk together? (cont.)

While not offering us a diagnosis, Hakuoho, who injured his arm on Day 7, says "I'm fine." “The doctor who operated on both my shoulders—the doctor who knows my body best and whom I trust—told me, 'If you tape it up properly, you'll be fine.'" "So I told my master Isegahama (Terunofuji) that ...

Hakuoho WILL COMPETE on Day 8. In great pain after a rough Day 7 bout with Kirishima, Hakuoho will not declare kyujo and will fight Kotoshoho tonight. But what about what appeared a bicep tear to his right arm? Man of few words, Master Isegahama (Terunofuji) tersely told the press, "He's fine."

What's in a stat anyway? Of the 33 wrestlers promoted to ozeki since the Heisei era, none has suffered three losses by the end of the seventh day in the last of their three ozeki-run tournaments. In addition, Wakatakakage faces tough second week competition including both yokozuna and Ozeki...

Our yokozunae continue to dominate Aki. On Day 7: Hoshoryu (7-0) demonstrated a yokozuna's body awareness and his keen perception the ring. Onosato (6-1) stunned Gonoyama by shooting him cannonball like into the seats. The yokozuna's massive power is astonishing and just might be indefensible.

In his day 7 win versus Kirishima, HAKUOHO, was in anguishing pain from an arm clamp by the sekiwake. Said Yokozuna Wakanohana in the Abema broadcast booth, "That's incredibly painful. You have no idea how much. And, look--his pinky finger is twitching. That's a scary sign."

Wakatakakage's ozeki run is on the razor's edge. Losing his third match on Day 7 to Aonishiki, the sekiwake involuntarily shook his head in the ring and in the shitakubeya said, "I'll reset and focus on tomorrow." With almost no room for a glitch now, he's down to affording one more loss through

Chief Shimpan Kokonoe (Chiyotaikai) comments on Onosato's humility and demeanor. Says Kokonoe, "The Yokozuna waits to see his aite before throwing salt, and touches the ground before his opponent. "He does the opposite of what one might expect. "No wonder he wins," he says with a laugh.

Takayasu found out (and passed it on to us) that Aonishiki can take a barrage of tsuppari blows to the face and head and-- although they did not thwart the young Komusubi--they made him mad. When Aonishiki finally had enough, he forced our Papa Bear out and then turned to give him 'the look.'

Yokozuna Onosato is second to none and he doesn't want, if anyone, Hoshoryu to forget it. The junior yokozuna ran a clinic on the yorikiri on Day 6 by almost too easily defeating Atamifuji who was Hoshoryu's victim the day before. “I'm glad I could execute it calmly and solidly,” smiled Onosato.

Hoshoryu is not only undefeated but is demonstrating his best sumo--making short work of previously troublesome opponents such as Takayasu (10-4), Abi (9-12), Atamifuji (5-4) and yesterday, Oho (7-5) whom he took on a cakewalk--which has silenced criticisms of his early match weaknesses.

All in at 5:45 pm and chilling together on the way home an hour later.

In the battle of the woebegone--Day 5 Hitoshi vs Nishikigi-- it was debutant Hitoshi who finally put it gear to defeat veteran M16 Nishikigi by oshidashi. "I was starting to worry I'd lose all fifteen," said the relieved M17 Hitoshi. In 2021, he defied his father and quit university for pro sumo.

Former Ozeki Kotooshu (Naruto Oyakata) writes of being more impressed than ever with Hoshoryu's sumo. "He's a different beast altogether. He's more solid and his forward pressure has increased," he writes in Hochi News. In his Day 5 match vs Atamifuji, the yokozuna was just too fast from the ...

Aonishiki who likes being in low and close was kept at bay by Kirishima until the sekiwake attempted a tight makikae that wasn't quick enough for the komusubi's flash reflexes. Kirishima was pushed out of the ring by okuridashi and knocked off the leaderboard wholly by one said Aonishiki.

Here they are. Our two undefeated rikishi going into Day 5 of Aki: Yokozuna Hoshoryu and Sekiwake Kirishima. Tonight--Kirishima faces Aonishiki (their head to head: 0-1) and Hoshoryu meets Atamifuji (head to head: 3-5). What are the chances I can post this same pic of unbeatens tomorrow?

When asked about his surrender of a second consecutive kinboshi to Hakuoho, Yokozuna Onosato, while biting his lip, pithily said, "Tomorrow." This marks his fifth loss since his elevation to yokozuna and his second such on Day 4. When asked about this pattern, Onosato stared at his inquirer ...

The (who knew?) prolific ex-Kotooshu explains Wakatakakage's Day 3 loss. In his column for Hochi Sports, Naruto Oyakata writes: "Wakatakakage's shoulders were too tense, which caused his right foot to slip and his center of gravity to collapse. "From there, it was all Tamawashi's show. ...

Former Tate-Yobidashi, JIRO, who retired in January 2025 after a short time at the top, returned to the Kokugikan on Day 4 to shop, eat, and enjoy the matches as a customer. Jiro restored peace and quiescence to yobidashi-dom after the controversial retirement of his predecessor Takuro.

In his best start since his yokozuna promotion in March, and plagued with injuries since, Hoshoryu executed a dramatic overarm throw after being driven toward the edge by the explosive M2 Hakuoho (1-2). He and fellow yokozuna Onosato are unbeaten and will respectively face Abi and Hakuoho on Day 4.

What's wrong with Wakatakakage who trained harder for Aki than anyone? Kokonoe Shimpan says, "He's too tense." Losing his concentration to inadvertantly step out of the ring on Day 3 vs Tamawashi, the ozeki hopeful is 1-2 going into Day 4. He needs to win 10 in the next 12 days. Tonight: Takayasu