Basho Simplified: A Sumo Discussion
May 29, 2026 · 2 hr 1 min · 10 segments
The Natsu Basho of 2026 had everything. A Yokozuna withdrawal on Day 2. An Ozeki sliding into kadoban status. Controversial henkas. Rising stars announcing themselves on the biggest stage. And one of…
Are you ready?
Let's do this.
[instrumental music] So Yokozuna Onosato pulled out before the tournament was even underway.
[instrumental music] Kadoban Ozeki Ao Nishiki pulled out before the tournament was underway.
[instrumental music] Yokozuna Hoshoryu lost on day one and pulled out on day two.
[instrumental music]
And with that many pull-outs in the Makuchi division, the winner of the Emperor's Cup by default is Juro 1 East Onokatsu.
[chuckles]
[chuckles] Oh God, they were dropping like flies, weren't they?
Yeah, I was genuinely surprised at how many people actually ended up pulling out of this tournament.
Um, and it's a real shame, especially for Hoshoryu, because I think with the fact that Onosato had pulled out and Ao Nishiki had pulled out, coming into this tournament, all of the eyes were on Hoshoryu.
[clears throat] And I think that the expectation...
Let me try that again.
The expectation was pure dominance, but instead what we got over the, the one opening day of the tournament was what I would be very, very humbly say was one of the biggest letdowns I've ever seen.
Yeah, 'cause I completely agree with you.
Like this was the opportunity to get that monkey off his back and get the first yusho as a, a Yokozuna, and you think, "Oh yeah, he's been beaten by Takayasu on day one.
Okay, he can come back from this." But to give him his kind of, I don't know, dues, he did get up from the ground and did seem to be limping.
So I think this is probably a very genuine concern where Hosh is concerned.
It was.
tear-Oh, that's gonna be a bad one
Are you ready?
Let's do this.
[instrumental music] So Yokozuna Onosato pulled out before the tournament was even underway.
[instrumental music] Kadoban Ozeki Ao Nishiki pulled out before the tournament was underway.
[instrumental music] Yokozuna Hoshoryu lost on day one and pulled out on day two.
[instrumental music]
And with that many pull-outs in the Makuchi division, the winner of the Emperor's Cup by default is Juro 1 East Onokatsu.
[chuckles]
[chuckles] Oh God, they were dropping like flies, weren't they?
Yeah, I was genuinely surprised at how many people actually ended up pulling out of this tournament.
Um, and it's a real shame, especially for Hoshoryu, because I think with the fact that Onosato had pulled out and Ao Nishiki had pulled out, coming into this tournament, all of the eyes were on Hoshoryu.
[clears throat] And I think that the expectation...
Let me try that again.
The expectation was pure dominance, but instead what we got over the, the one opening day of the tournament was what I would be very, very humbly say was one of the biggest letdowns I've ever seen.
Yeah, 'cause I completely agree with you.
Like this was the opportunity to get that monkey off his back and get the first yusho as a, a Yokozuna, and you think, "Oh yeah, he's been beaten by Takayasu on day one.
Okay, he can come back from this." But to give him his kind of, I don't know, dues, he did get up from the ground and did seem to be limping.
So I think this is probably a very genuine concern where Hosh is concerned.
It was.
tear-Oh, that's gonna be a bad one
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