Injury returnee Mita faced the rising powerhouse Asahifuji in a match to decide who would fight in the Sandanme playoff. Tenshoyama was defeated by Kiryuko, meaning that the winner of this match would face Kiryuko in a playoff.

The match ended rather anticlimactically with a win for Asahifuji. Mita must still not be 100% on his knee. A lot of his wins this basho came through quick pull-downs, so it would make sense that a playoff spot wasn't worth risking his knee.

One of the matches I've been looking forward to the most this basho was seeing Asahifuji face Mita. The pair face here, with the winner advancing to a championship playoff on Day 15 against Kiryuko.

Asahifuji is a highly touted 24-year-old Mongolian prospect from Isegahama stable. He stands 6'1 (187 cm) and weighs 326 pounds (148 kg). He had a rather unspectacular high school career but started training at Isegahama Stable in Spring 2021. His debut was delayed by the presence of Terunofuji, who was the stable's one foreigner. he eventually made his debut in Maezumo in November 2025 and went on to win the Jonokuchi and Jonidan Yusho. He is 20-0 so far in his career.

Mita is a 24-year-old college sumo star from Futagoyama stable. He stands at 5'8 (172 cm) and weighs 275 pounds (125 kg). He debuted as a Makushita Tsukedashi in September 2024 and reached the Jūryō division in May 2025. He won the July 2025 Jūryō Yūshō with an 11-4 record, though he suffered an ACL tear in the November 2025 tournament. This is his first basho returning from injury as well as his first basho in the Sandanme division.

Asahifuji wins the match by oshidashi in rather anticlimactic fashion. I can only assume that Mita was trying to protect his injured knee. Asahifuji will now face Kiryuko in a playoff on Day 15 for the Sandanme championship. Interestingly, Asahifuji defeated Kiryuko in a playoff for the Jonidan championship in March.

On Day 13 of the Natsu Basho, rising star Tenshoyama faces injury returnee and former Jūryō rikishi Kiryuko. The winner of this match will face the winner of the Asahifuji vs. Mita match in a playoff on Day 15 for the Sandanme Yūshō.

Tenshoyama is a promising 22-year-old from Mongolia. He stands at 6'5 (197 cm) and weighs 381 pounds (173 kg), making him the tallest active wrestler. He debuted in November 2025 alongside fellow Mongolian prospect Asahifuji. Tenshoyama holds a record of 18-2 in his career so far, his only losses being to Asahifuji.

Kiryuko, from Tatsunami stable, is 23 years old and made his professional debut in May 2021. He stands at 5'9 (177 cm) and weighs 304 lbs (138 kg). He reached the Jūryō division in September 2024, though an ACL tear suffered in March 2025 dropped him to the Jonidan division. He returned in March 2026 and won all 7 of his matches, only losing the playoff to Asahifuji.

Kiryuko wins the match by oshidashi, handing Tenshoyama his first defeat that wasn't to Asahifuji. This also means that it will likely be a little while before Asahifuji and Tenshoyama fight again.

Kingda Ka opened 21 years ago on May 21, 2005. Here is some footage from 2005 taken from the Observation Deck that the ride had briefly during its first year of operation.

Source: ElToroRyan

Just realized that even though half of Makuuchi is Kyujo, we still have all 28 Juryo guys competing

Asanoyama has injured his big toe and has withdrawn from the basho

Asanoyama Withdraws from Tournament; Injured Big Toe on Day 11; Coach Takasago: “It's Swollen and He Can't Even Perform Shiko”—Possibility of Return Remains

May 21, 2026, 10:55 A.M.

Former Ōzeki Asanoyama (Takasago), ranked East Maegashira #10, notified the Japan Sumo Association on the 21st, the 12th day of the Summer Tournament, that he would be withdrawing from the tournament. He had been on the verge of a winning record with 7 wins and 4 losses. His opponent for the 12th day, Kotoeihō (Sadogatake), will receive a default victory. Kotoeihō has two losses so far and is tied for first place with Ōzeki Kirishima and East Maegashira #15 Tobizaru.

According to his stablemaster, Takasago (former Sekiwake Asasekiryū), he injured his big toe during his match against Tobizaru (Oitekaze) on the 11th day. “When I woke up this morning and checked, it was swollen and I couldn’t even perform my shiko. I think I was in good form, and I’d been in good condition since before the tournament started, but I have no choice but to let the injury heal properly. I went to the hospital today,” he explained. There is a possibility he may return to the tournament.

Source: Sports Hochi

This was probably one of my most-anticipated lower division matches this basho, and it did not dissappoint!

Asahifuji and Omori are two of the most promising young stars in Sumo right now. Asahifuji is currently ranked Sandanme 6, while Omori is a Makushita Tsukedashi. Both were tied at 5-0 going into the match.

Omori stands at 6'1 (185 cm) tall and weighs 264 pounds (120 kg). He joined Oitekaze stable as a Makushita Tsukedashi following a very successful amateur career at Kanazawa Gakuin University, where he served as captain of the sumo team. He finished in 2nd place at the 2025 All Japan Championships. Before making his debut, he set his dream goal as defeating Yokozuna Ōnosato.

Asahifuji is a highly-touted Mongolian prospect from Isegahama stable. He stands 6'1 (187 cm) and weighs 326 pounds (148 kg). He had a rather unspectacular high school career but started training at Isegahama Stable in Spring 2021. His debut was delayed by the presence of Terunofuji, who was the stable's one foreigner. he eventually made his debut in Maezumo in November 2025 and went on to win the Jonokuchi and Jonidan Yusho. He is 20-0 so far in his career.

Asahifuji wins the match by yorikiri.

Source: Universal HIGH on Twitter

On Day 11, Asahifuji, the Mongolian from Isegahama who trained at the stable for years before entering sumo and was dubbed the "strongest rookie in history" upon doing so, will face Makushita Tsukedashi debutant Omori. Omori has already gained popularity for his good looks and slim, muscular physique.

Both wrestlers are 5-0. Asahifuji is 19-0 for his career overall.

For those who don't follow the lower divisions, this is Makushita Tsukedashi Omori, who is 6'0 and 264 pounds (185 cm and 120 kg).

He is currently 5-0 and scheduled to face the highly-touted Isegahama rookie Asahifuji tomorrow, who has not lost a match in his career.