Kinboshi Sumo

January Review: Is Yokozuna inevitable for Aonishiki?

Phil joined me to give some final thoughts on the January Tournament that was. We cover the passing for former Maegashira Sentoryu (Henry Armstrong Miller) and what it means for amateur sumo and American sumo. We discuss a couple new recruit’s on sumo’s horizon. Give some thoughts on what we still want to see from Ozeki Aonishiki before we think he should be Yokozuna and round up with thoughts on a potential Kirishima Ozeki return and play a little “This or That” with the futures of Ozeki Kotozakura, Yoshinofuji, Hakunofuji, Atamifuji and more!
0:00 Intro0:47 Sentoryu’s Passing8:43 New Recruits12:48 Aonishiki’s Yokozuna Push21:41 Kirishima Ozeki Repromotion Run?27:26 Atamifuji’s Future31:03 This or That (Kotozakura vs Atamifuji)33:05 This or That (Yoshinofuji vs Kirishima)35:03 This or That (Aonishiki vs Hakunofuji)38:12 Outro

January Instant Reaction

Phil hopped back on to join me for a discussion of the final day of the January 2026 basho. Aonishiki, Atamifuji, Kirishima, and a pair of Yokozunas... so much to discuss! We covered the final day match highlights, injury status after 15 days for the likes of Onosato, Hoshoryu, and more, and played over/under with how many wins is a true yusho and the minimum wins for an Ozeki and Yokozuna.
0:00 Intro
1:07 News (Final Day Match Reactions)
9:48 Injury Updates (Onosato, Hoshoryu)
24:10 Over/Under (Yushos, Ozekis, Yokozunas)
39:08 Outro
Outro Music & Sound Effects: Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay
Artists: syntheway [Outro Music]
https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/breaking-news-intro-logo-2-314321/
https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/ambulance-6399/
https://pixabay.com/music/metal-intense-black-metal-instrumental-304729/
"Holiday Weasel" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

Januray Midway: Contenders and an Enho Update

Larry and Sean stopped by to join me in breaking down the first half of the basho, their hot takes on the dead body rule, Enho's last shot at elder stock and some new predictions for the yusho after 8 days!
0:00 Into
1:00 Basho So Far
21:26 Enho Undefeated, How's the Neck?
36:35 Buy or Sell Yusho Contenders
50:19 Outro

January Injury Report: Onosato, Hoshoryu, Kotozakura, and Asanoyama

With all the Yokozuna and pals injury talk it was time to call Phil back up and get the lowdown on what these means for their physical performance in the January Tournament.
0:00 Intro
0:40 News
5:26 Injury Report: Onosato's Dislocated Shoulder
13:27 Injury Report: Hoshoryu's Partial Meniscus Tear
22:28 Injury Report: Asanoyama's ACL Surgery Recover
26:17 Injury Report: Kotozakura's MCL Damage
32:08 Buy or Sell, Yusho Chances
40:45 Outro
Outro Music & Sound Effects: Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay
Artists: syntheway [Outro Music]
https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/breaking-news-intro-logo-2-314321/
https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/ambulance-6399/
https://pixabay.com/music/metal-intense-black-metal-instrumental-304729/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Autioneer.ogg
 
 
 

January Preview: Big 3 (4?) Era & '26 Yung-zeki Sweepstakes

A new year, a new basho! The Big 3 Era begins with Aonishiki at Ozeki, challenging Yokozunas Hoshoryu and Onosato while Ozeki Kotozakura waits in the wings. Nick is back to discuss it all, pick dark horses and predict winners along with the 2026 edition of the "Yung-zeki Sweepstakes" ... who stands a chance of doing what Onosato and Aonishiki did in 2024 and 2025 and racing to Ozeki next?
0:00 Intro
0:50 Big 3 Era (Can Kotozakura challenge??)
7:42 Yung-zeki Sweepstakes
11:55 Takerufuji
13:30 Kotoshoho
11:47 Hiradoumi
16:26 Onokatsu
18:37 Oho
21:11 Yoshinofuji
24:12 Atamifuji
27:06 Hakunofuji (Hakuoho)
31:44 Fujiryoga
34:24 Dark Horse Picks and Yusho Predictions
42:48 Outro
Outro Music & Sound Effects: Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay
Artists: Exchanger, FunWithSound, oldedgar, and Mondschein90 [SFX] & syntheway [Outro Music]

2025 Year End Awards

Sean hops on to discuss 2025 year end awards: Heya of the Year, Narrative of the Year, and Burning Question of the Year. Goodbye to an amazing 2025 in sumo and hello 2026! Happy new year all!

What Hollywood Sees in Sumo

Sean returns to talk Hollywood Sumo with a pair of Jean-Claude Van Damme classics in 1988's Bloodsport and 1994's Street Fighter: The Movie. Would sumo benefit from a "Drive to Survive" clone? (If the JSA would ever allow it.) Or would expanded interest exacerbate existing problems like the ticket crunch?
Gunning, John. The Japan Times. "When it comes to sumo in popular media, style reigns over substance." Published April 19, 2023. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/04/19/sumo/sumo-media-problems/ Accessed 12/21/2025.
Gunning, John. The Japan Times. "Can sumo avoid becoming another soulless corporate sport?" Published March 5, 2025. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/03/05/sumo/sumo-soulless-sport/ Accessed 12/21/2025.
Outro Music: Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay

How to Grow International Sumo

Goose from the Sunday Morning Sumo Show joined me to discuss his ground level view of the Sumo World Championships in Thailand this year and how international sumo federations can work to grow the sport locally (until hopefully we're all churning out Aonishikis like Ukraine).

Oyakata of the Future

Minatogawa (former Takakeisho) will be taking over his own stable after the January basho, which got Sean and I talking about what makes a good Oyakata vs what makes a good coach in other sports and which current rikishi we'd like to see leading stables. What do you think? Is there anyone you think is going to make a particularly good leader in sumo?

How Far Can Aonishiki Rise?! 2025 November Review

Aonishiki wins his first championship and a promotion to Ozeki! The two Yokozunas faulter with Onosato leaving injured on before the final day and Hoshoryu's record against the Ukrainian widening to 0-4. Big things keep on coming in the sumo world!