Basho– category –
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Yusho: The Sumo Championship Explained
A yusho is the championship of a sumo tournament — won by the wrestler with the best win–loss record across the fifteen days. Each of sumo's six divisions crowns its own champion, but the one that defines a career is the top-division (ma... -
Nagoya Basho 2026: Dates, Tickets and How to Watch the July Grand Sumo Tournament
The Nagoya basho is the July edition of professional sumo's six annual grand tournaments (honbasho), held in Nagoya and run across fifteen straight days, Sunday to Sunday — in 2026, from July 12 to July 26. Since 2025 it has taken place ... -
Ichinojo’s First Championship at the 2022 Nagoya Tournament
On the final day of the 2022 July (Nagoya) Grand Sumo tournament, Ichinojo won his first top-division championship. No playoff settled it. Ichinojo had finished his work at 12-3, and the title was sealed when the yokozuna Terunofuji lost... -
An Unexpected Finish: Kotozakura Wins His First Title
At the 2024 November (Kyushu) Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka, the ozeki Kotozakura won his first top-division championship at 14-1, when his co-leader Hoshoryu collapsed on a slipped grip in their final-day decider. Ozeki is the second... -
How Hoshoryu Won His First Title and Sealed Ozeki
On the final day of the 2023 July (Nagoya) Grand Sumo Tournament, the sekiwake Hoshoryu won his first top-division championship in a playoff over Hokutofuji. In the same instant, that victory clinched his promotion to ozeki. Sekiwake is ... -
Who Is Takerufuji? The Rookie Who Won Sumo’s 2024 March Title
Takerufuji is the Isegahama-stable wrestler who won the 2024 March Grand Sumo Tournament in his debut top-division basho — the first such title since the official championship system began in 1926. He did it on an injured leg, driving ou... -
The Fastest Ever: Onosato Wins His First Title in Seven Tournaments
At the 2024 May (Natsu) Grand Sumo Tournament, the new komusubi Onosato won his first top-division championship — and he did it in only his seventh tournament since turning professional, the fastest anyone has ever managed it. He sealed ... -
A Star Is Born: Aonishiki Wins His First Championship in Fukuoka
On the final day of the 2025 Kyushu tournament in Fukuoka, the 21-year-old Aonishiki won his first top-division championship — in only his fifth makuuchi tournament — by beating ozeki Kotozakura with an uchimuso and then defeating yokozu... -
Kotoshoho’s Instant Title: A First Championship at the 2025 Nagoya Basho
At the 2025 Nagoya tournament, Kotoshoho won his first championship by beating Aonishiki on the final day. Kotoshoho came in on two losses, Aonishiki on three, so their head-to-head bout decided the title outright. It ended in an instant... -
Aonishiki’s Kubinage: How the Ukrainian Star Clinched Back-to-Back Titles
On the final day of the 2026 January tournament, Aonishiki forced out ozeki Kotozakura to set up a championship playoff with Atamifuji, then threw his rival over with a left-handed kubinage at the edge of the ring to clinch back-to-back ...
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