Wrap-up episode of the New To Sumo podcast for March 2026 is here. We go into Kirishima's glory, Hakkaku's remarks and other pressing topics. Enjoy! #sumo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj0o...
Kirishima backs into his 3rd championship, losing to Aonishiki but leaving happy after the ensuing bout. Hoshoryu had a chance to make Day 15 interesting but lost to an Ozeki. No, not Aonishiki, but Kotozakura. Oof. Just oof.
Day 15 March yusho odds:
Kirishima 100%
#sumo
Ozeki secured. Kirishima just needs to win once over the next two days to secure his 3rd yusho. He faces Aonishiki today and (probably) Kotoshoho on Day 15. Losses to both opens the door for Kotoshoho and Hoshoryu.
Day 14 March yusho odds:
Kirishima 90%
Kotoshoho 6%
Hoshoryu 4%
#sumo
Kirishima and Kotoshoho are surging while Gonoyama and Hoshoryu get pushed to the brink of elimination. Kotoshoho will probably face Kirishima for all the marbles on Day 15. An exciting end to a wild basho awaits.
Day 13 March yusho odds:
Kirishima 49%
Kotoshoho 33%
Hoshoryu 17%
Gonoyama 1%
#sumo
Kirishima narrowly beat Gonoyama and is our new sole leader. With the way things are we really only have 5 guys that are mathematically in it: Those 2, Hoshoryu, Kotoshoho and (checks notes) Fujiseiun.
Day 12 March yusho odds:
Kirishima 42%
Hoshoryu 33%
Kotoshoho 15%
Gonoyama 9%
Fujiseiun 1%
#sumo
Looks like I missed Day 10 but my odds would've been about the same. It's time to highlight Gonoyama: He's been incredible. But today he gets Kirishima... Winner is sole leader.
Day 11 March yusho odds:
Kirishima 40%
Hoshoryu 30%
Kotoshoho 12%
Gonoyama 10%
The Field 8%
#sumo
Hoshoryu drops one to Daieisho but we still have a four-way tie for first and three guys that are one off the pace. We're very likely to have a first- or second-time champion this time next weekend.
Day 9 March yusho odds:
Kirishima 35%
Hoshoryu 25%
Kotoshoho 21%
The Field 19%
#sumo
Only Shodai fell out of the 6-way tie for first as we head into the final days of the tournament. That number is guaranteed to drop to 5 as Kirishima takes on Takayasu today.
Day 8 March yusho odds:
Hoshoryu 36%
Kirishima 34%
The Field 30%
#sumo
And just like that, Aonishiki's Yokozuna dream for March is dead and buried. Hoshoryu has no excuses not to win this yusho now and neither does Kirishima.
Day 6 March yusho odds:
Hoshoryu 35%
Kirishima 34%
The Field 31%
#sumo
I'm barely even paying attention anymore. Good to see Hoshoryu and Aonishiki get back on track but the sumo on display these past few days is really underwhelming me.
Day 6 March yusho odds:
Hoshoryu 25%
Kirishima 25%
Aonishiki 18%
Kotozakura 12%
Kotoshoho 10%
Shodai 5%
The Field 5%
#sumo
My excitement for this tournament is deteriorating. Between the injuries and the struggles I truly don't like the direction this one is going. And no, Takayasu or Takanosho won't win.
Day 5 March yusho odds:
Hoshoryu 25%
Kirishima 20%
Kotozakura 15%
Kotoshoho 15%
Aonishiki 15%
The Field 10%
#sumo
Wow. Onosato is 0-3 and may go kyujo. Hoshoryu and Kotozakura look like the best versions of themselves. Takayasu plus 4 rank-and-file are also unbeaten. Abi is kyujo and may drop to juryo.
Day 4 March yusho odds:
Hoshoryu 33%
Aonishiki 20%
Kotozakura 20%
Kirishima 17%
The Field 10%
#sumo
I agree. I like the idea of being able to receive tournaments off that could be action-based such as tournaments participated. Maybe every 12 basho that you're healthy you can get one tournament off that mitigates your drop or a yusho in a division allows you one off in that division. Anything!
Missed Day 2. My bad. Through 2 days we've got Hoshoryu, Kotozakura and Takayasu as our unbeaten san'yaku. Not as shocking as Onosato starting 0-2. Will he go kyujo?
Day 3 March yusho odds:
Hoshoryu 30%
Aonishiki 18%
Kotozakura 17%
Kirishima 15%
Onosato 11%
The Field 9%
#sumo
The March basho is upon us and we have a new episode of the New to Sumo podcast. In the words of Bartholomew Edward Scott: "Can't wait!"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg_2...
Day 1 March yusho odds:
Onosato 25%
Hoshoryu 20%
Aonishiki 20%
Kirishima 10%
Asanoyama 10%
Fujiryoga 10%
The Field 5%
#sumo
We're eight days away from the March 2026 basho. My brain tells me that Aonishiki should be favored but my heart tells me that this dynamo HAS to hit a wall at SOME point before reaching Yokozuna, right?
Fujiryoga might be my pick to have a Takerufuji-like rookie campaign.
#sumo
Aonishiki wins the January yusho! He becomes the first Ozeki since Hakuho to win his debut at the rank and just the 35th rikishi in history to win back-to-back titles.
Important Note: EVERY back-to-back yusho winner has either been a Yokozuna or became Yokozuna later.
It's now WHEN, not if.
#sumo
Yep
According to what I've read he seemed to be going for Onosato's belt but Onosato just blasted him (as usual) before he could do anything. Aonishiki couldn't recover.
It's the same thing that nearly everyone that's ever beaten Aonishiki has done and might not be fixable until he gets older.
A loss by Aonishiki leaves SIX alive on Day 15. If Atamifuji or Aonishiki win, everyone below them are eliminated. If they both lose, we're looking at a playoff with no less than 4 - maybe 5!
Day 15 January yusho odds:
Aonishiki 40%
Atamifuji 40%
Onosato 6%
Kirishima 5%
Abi 5%
Oshoumi 4%
#sumo
You gotta hand it to the sumo schedule-makers: They know how to set up a thrilling finish. We won't get a winner until Day 15 but if Onosato beats Aonishiki yet again, we're in for a nail-biting end.
Day 14 January yusho odds:
Aonishiki 45%
Kirishima 25%
Atamifuji 18%
The Field 12%
#sumo
I truly believe there are less than a dozen wrestlers who he COULDN'T beat with one arm tied behind his back (assuming he wasn't also being affected by pain).
We now have a sole leader and six others within one win with only 3 days of matches. Keep an eye on 9-3 Oshoumi, who may have the easiest path. Playoff looming?
Day 13 January yusho odds:
Aonishiki 35%
Kirishima 15%
Abi 15%
Asanoyama 10%
Oshoumi 10%
Atamifuji 6%
Shishi 5%
The Field 4%
#sumo
It feels like this basho is going to come down to whether Abi gets an easy schedule in the final few days. He is ROLLING and personally I hope he wins one more for the late-great Terao!
Day 12 January yusho odds:
Aonishiki 25%
Abi 25%
Atamifuji 18%
Kirishima 12%
Hoshoryu 12%
The Field 8%
#sumo
Onosato and Kirishima both lose, opening the basho wide open. I suspect Onosato withdraws soon. Meanwhile, Shishi is surging out of nowhere - never thought I'd utter that.
Day 11 January yusho odds:
Aonishiki 22%
Kirishima 20%
Abi 15%
Atamifuji 13%
Hoshoryu 12%
Kotozakura 10%
The Field 8%
#sumo
That might be all she wrote for our two Yokozuna this basho. Onosato could be looking at a LONG recovery road. Meanwhile, Kirishima is red-hot.
Day 10 January yusho odds:
Kirishima 20%
Aonishiki 20%
Abi 15%
Hoshoryu 15%
Atamifuji 12%
Onosato 10%
The Field 8%
#sumo
The upper san'yaku clearly weren't in the mood to impress the Emperor yesterday. Onosato and Hoshoryu look hurt and Aonishiki looks like he's finally been figured out. Kirishima and Abi lead.
Day 9 January yusho odds:
Onosato 25%
Hoshoryu 25%
Aonishiki 15%
Abi 15%
Kirishima 12%
The Field 8%
#sumo
Abi gets slapped down and we now have a 6-way tie for 1st with 9 more just one off the pace. The Emperor and Empress will make a rare appearance tonight as the san'yaku continue to shine.
Day 8 January yusho odds:
Onosato 33%
Hoshoryu 30%
Aonishiki 25%
The Field 12%
#sumo
A hearty welcome to this newest batch of X refugees
The upper san'yaku continues to hold firm. Oshoma's loss leaves Abi as the lone unbeaten fighter. Why I didn't pick him in Kachi Clash, I may never know. But he's a serious threat to win it all.
Day 7 January yusho odds:
Onosato 33%
Hoshoryu 29%
Aonishiki 17%
Abi 13%
The Field 8%
#sumo