Yokozuna Hoshoryu knee surgery: While undergoing a health check at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on August 19th, Yokozuna Hoshoryu revealed, that he had undergone surgery on his right knee following the Nagoya tournament, from which he had withdrawn early. After the final day of the tournament, he returned to Tokyo and visited a hospital on July 27th. He was diagnosed with an injury to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. He underwent surgery to repair the ligament on July 29th and spent a week in the hospital. Following the operation, he required crutches to get around. Consequently, his participation in the Autumn Tournament is unlikely. Hoshoryu stated, "I want to get well soon and make a comeback. I cannot face my fans in this condition." Picture/text summary Nikkan Sports https://www-nikkansports-com.translate.goog/battle/sumo/news/202608190000302.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawTyQd5wZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMFlMOXVBcmloWWVKc3Fqd3NzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjA

New Makuuchi man Toshinofuji (from Isegahama) went back home and attended his father’s Devjee (kind of like beya, minus the communal living) “Bukh Bilegt”’s 30th anniversary event in his home province Arkhangai, Mongolia.

1st photo. From left:

1. Toshinofuji. Demidjamts Usukhbayar.
2. Batbayar Gelegjamts. Toshinofuji’s uncle. National Khartsaga rank bukh.
3. Usukhbayar Gelegjamts. Toshinofuji’s father. National champion in Bukh. Asian champion in freestyle wrestling. Two time amateur sumo world champion.
4. Perenleijamts Usukhbayar. Toshinofuji’s younger brother. Currently on Mongolian national Judo team. Recently earned himself a Province Nachin rank in Bukh.

Fun fact: Man 2nd from the left is 188cm tall. Roughly the same size as Hoshoryu, Takayasu, Asanoyama and Ichiyamamoto.

Natsu 2026 Jonokuchi winner is a debutant Jk15e Hakugetsuro (Ariun-Erdene Sukhbat) from Bulgan, Mongolia 🇲🇳 and is training under Asahiyama beya.

He went to Tottori Johoku high school and enrolled in Senshu university, where he started training Sumo. With his University sumo accolades, he was eligible for Sandanme Tsukedashi, but because of long visa process for foreign born wrestlers, the eligibility period has expired. Prompting him to debut in Maezumo in previous basho.

His father Batbayar Ariun-Erdene was a Mongolian bukh, judo and combat sambo wrestler. While he never got past provincial rank in Bukh, he was part of Mongolian national Judo team, he won Silver medal in Judo Asian championship in -90kg category.
His smaller frame ( 175cm tall. Competed in -90 and -100 most of his career) didn’t translate well into Judo beyond Asian championship silver.
However his quickness and exceptional strength for his size made him 2 time world champion 5 time Asian champion in Combat Sambo.

I personally went against him back in 2004 and 2005 in bukh. He was quite difficult matchup I concur, not just his speed and strength but also his cleverness caught me off guard. He retired relatively early (at age of 32) and got into business and politics, currently serving as a governor in his home province.

Reason I’m mentioning all these is because Hakugetsuro’s father’s former coach and associate of mine went to Japan recently and met with the young man, and said “ He is just like his father, speedy, strong and witty, and even more discipline than his father. I think he will go far in sumo”

Despite his smaller size (178cm and 130kg) he won convincingly against his opponents this basho.
He is being touted as the potential to being the stable's first ever Sekitori.