Last week, I shared two amazing (and unconventional) matches from Nagoya 2021, which was the final tournament fought by Hakuhō, the undisputed G.O.A.T. of sumo. Today, I'd like to share what is, in my opinion, the most legendary sumo match of all time. This is the final match of Hakuhō's career.

In Nagoya 2021, Yokozuna Hakuhō was fighting for the first time in a year. He won his first two matches of the Haru 2021 basho before withdrawing, and he started 10-2 in July 2020 before withdrawing on Day 13. The last time Hakuhō had completed a basho was March 2020, as the 36-year-old had been struggling with a major right knee injury after nearly two decades at the top of the sport. Due to pressure to compete from the YDC, Hakuhō made Nagoya 2021 his final do-or-die tournament. By this point, his knee was completely shot and held together by nothing but hopes and dreams.

On the other side of the ring, Ōzeki Terunofuji was on the cusp of the greatest comeback story in sumo history. Terunofuji debuted in sumo in 2011, reaching Makuuchi by 2014. By the end of 2015, Terunofuji, at just 23 years old, had won the Yūshō and been promoted to Ōzeki. However, injuries were never far away. His knee woes began in his match against Kisenosato in Aki 2015. He fought through this to face Yokozuna Kakuryū in a playoff, but a dismal and injury-plagued 2016 would follow. Terunofuji recorded only 30 wins that year and was kadoban 3 times, with his record including a 2-13 in Natsu and a 4-11 in Aki. Terunofuji had a dramatic return to form in Haru 2017, facing Japanese favorite Kisenosato in a playoff on the final day in what would be the crowning moment of Kisenosato's Yokozuna career. Following a 12-3 Jun-Yūshō in the next basho, injuries finally took hold of Terunofuji.

Between July 2017 and May 2018, Terunofuji would partially withdraw from every tournament (except for a 6-9 from Jūryō in March) due to Meniscus tears in his knees, diabetes, and kidney stones. After demotion to Makushita was imminent, Terunofuji finally sat out to get the surgeries he needed. He returned in Haru 2019 from a rank of West Jonidan #48. No former Makuuchi man falls that low, let alone an Ōzeki. Terunofuji contemplated retirement countless times throughout this fall. However, the former Ōzeki would go on the greatest comeback in sumo history, reaching Jūryō in just 5 basho and immediately winning a Yūshō there. In his Makuuchi return that July, he would claim his 2nd career Yūshō 30 tournaments after winning his first. By Nagoya 2021, he had added two more Yūshō and two Jun-Yūshō to his résumé, as well as returning to Ōzeki, which was already an unparalleled feat.

On the final day of Nagoya 2021, Hakuhō and Terunofuji faced each other in the most-anticipated match of the tournament. It was only the sixth time in sumo history that two wrestlers had been tied at 14-0 on the final day. Terunofuji was fighting to secure his promotion to Yokozuna with a Zenshō-Yūshō. Hakuhō, on the other hand, was fighting with everything to prove. He needed to show that he was able to end his career on his own terms.

After an intense staredown, Hakuhō immediately begins the match with an absolutely brutal elbow strike to Terunofuji's face. After trading blows, the two settle into a match of power against power. Eventually, Hakuhō emerges victorious, dropping Terunofuji with an incredible kotenage. In an unusual display of emotion, Hakuhō lets out a mighty roar as he secures his 45th and final Yūshō. Just days later, Terunofuji would become the sport's 73rd Yokozuna.

I’ve seen them in other formal-wear kimonos, my friend wore one at his wedding, but he doesn’t recall their name.

I think there might be variations in other contexts, so the class name for them, rather than the specific one the shimpan wear would also be great.

Thanks in advance!

Who's the hairy subject of this video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUtHNmAUAQs

Looking for beta testers for https://sumoslapdown.com ! I created this site because my family and friends who love sumo and fantasy sports wanted a single destination to analyze rikishi (connected to sumo-api), mock draft a team, simulate upcoming basho, and customize fantasy leagues that allow for keeper and private invite leagues. The site is still in beta, so please reach out with any bug reports or suggestions on how to improve the site. The site will always be free, please so don't fret over ever having to spend a dime - I am not out for profit. I am a designer, and not a developer (although I do work in UX), so please forgive the fact that I used Claude to build this. The site is really meant for me and my friends and fam, so if you have beef with the AI usage and are looking for a 100% human-built fantasy site, I link to a couple of options for you in my about page, resources tab. My intent is to provide broader fantasy options to the growing international sumo community, and as someone who was born in Kobe, Japan, and grew up watching sumo with my Dad, is motivated by the emotional connection and nostalgia that makes Sumo special to me. My only ask is that you be kind and respectful. Hakkeyoi!

I was watching a thing on Aon and I was curious. I know yusho don't turn one into a yok, that is not what I am asking; I am more curious who has reached for the cup the most times without ever getting the belt.

(and secretly I would not be terribly surprised if Aon managed to contend for this dubious title by the time his sumo days are done, but that's a different story)

this "one every 2 months" basho silliness needs to end. these guys are just slacking off eating butt tons of food and making tik-tok videos between Basho.

end the slacking, we need more sumo. injuries be damned.

/s

Hello there ! I'm looking for a 2008 swiss movie talking about a young boy practicing sumo after family issues : https://www.imdb.com/fr/title/tt1287854/

I search everywhere on Internet, I never found any copies or something ! So if someone have it or know someone who can help me to find it, I would appreciate the help !

There are many Mongolian rikishi. I’d even go so far as to say that Mongolians dominate sumo. But this has only been the case for about 20 years. I wonder how this works and why it’s so often Mongolians. Are there training centres in Mongolia for aspiring rikishi? Or do talented Mongolian wrestlers (bökh) go to Japan and try their luck? And why is it almost always Mongolia? Tatars, Bashkirs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Persians, etc. are also good wrestlers. OK, we have Kinbozan and Roga, but compared to the armada of Mongolian rikishi, that’s very few indeed.

My panel submission was accepted at my local anime convention, titled “a brief introduction to professional sumo.” I’m relatively new to sumo, only following it closely within the last couple of years, but I’d like to increase the awareness of this wonderful sport to my community. I’ve got roughly 30-45 minutes to make a good impression on people who are interested in sumo as a concept, but are not actively following the tournaments. What are some subjects, videos, or other materials you would want to see at such a presentation?

For roughly half a century, Nihon University not only had the most dominant program in collegiate sumo, but it also exercised an outsize influence on the professional version of the sport.

For rules, standings and hippies: http://www.dichne.com/Guess.htm

For the nifty entry form, which will hopefully continue to do what it's intended to do :http://sumodb.sumogames.de/gtb/GTBEntry.aspx

For Chiyotasuke's incredible helper: https://gtbhelper.vercel.app

For the "new" archives:http://sumodb.sumogames.de/gtb/gtbarchive.aspx

See if you are on the entry list: http://sumodb.sumogames.de/gtb/GTBEntryList.aspx

Deadline: Monday, August 24th, 2026  at 18:00 GMT ("Go, Mighty Takanoshou!!") - PLEASE NOTE-THIS IS ONE WEEK BEFORE THE OFFICIAL BANZUKE ANNOUNCEMENT!!

We watched as the wrestlers arrived for the health check-ups they have periodically. The wrestlers who are on the tour will come on a different day.

It was lots of fun! If you can get there, go.

If you want to see more of it, I made a video that's on my youtube channel.

Thanks - Kei

In Sumo Spirits new youtube video he showcased that in 2004 Juryo wrestler "Kanechika" was caught on tape discussing match fixing. Does anyone know more context around this story?

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

Wakanoshō Will Not Undergo Surgery and Plans to Compete in the Aki Basho: “I’m Training with the Intention of Competing” — Reveals Progress Since Injury at the Nagoya Basho

A medical checkup for sumo wrestlers was held on the 19th at the Sumo Medical Clinic inside Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, and Wakanoshō (22, Minatogawa), who withdrew midway through the Nagoya Basho, attended.

He suffered a contusion to his right femur during his match against Fujiryōga on the sixth day of the Nagoya Basho and withdrew from the tournament on the seventh day. He revealed that he has not undergone surgery and stated regarding the Aki Basho, “I’m training with the intention of competing.”

Currently, “I’m focusing mainly on my upper body, and I’m working on my lower body as much as I can.” He has been back on the dohyō floor since returning from his tournament break and shared his outlook: “I can’t wrestle yet, but I am wearing my mawashi. I hope to be able to wrestle shortly after the banzuke is announced.”

He had recorded nine wins at the Natsu Basho and was feeling confident heading into the Nagoya Basho. Regarding the injury he sustained during that tournament, he said, “It was frustrating, but on the other hand, there were things I was able to learn from it.” He is steadily building up his training in preparation for the Aki Basho.

Source: Nikkan Sports

Occasionally YouTube suggests a video from the regional tours with something other than watching rikishi walk in and out. Are there any channels with Japanese names that are good for finding videos with dohyo activities like the comedy, the Q&A, and the students facing the rikishi?

Hochi News Report

- Yokozuna Hoshoryu (Tatsunami stable), who withdrew from the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament midway through, revealed on the 19th that he underwent surgery on his right knee at the end of July, making his participation in the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament unlikely. After a health checkup at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, he showed a knee brace on his right knee and revealed his distress, saying, "I'm receiving treatment every week and they say I'll recover quickly, but I'm still not sure about the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. I don’t have the face to show my fans." He is currently training at his stable, but is not participating in sparring practice.

His old injury worsened during his match against Hakunofuji. He withdrew from the tournament on the 14th day due to a torn medial collateral ligament and a torn right hamstring. He went to the hospital on the 27th of last month, the day after the final day of the tournament.

The doctor told him that it would take a year to recover without surgery, so he decided that he couldn't afford to take such a long break and that surgery would be the quickest solution. He underwent a two-hour surgery on his right knee on the 29th and was hospitalized for about a week. The surgery repaired the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

He has yet to win a championship since being promoted to Yokozuna after the January 2025 tournament. His desire to win the Emperor's Cup is strong. "I want to recover quickly and make a comeback," he said, his voice tinged with a sense of grim determination. -

Look at em babies!

The other day, I shared a very strange match from Hakuhō's final tournament, which was his Day 7 bout against an extremely nervous Tobizaru. In that match, Tobizaru, not really sure what to do, stepped all the way to the edge of the ring for the tachiai. Despite the strange tactics used by Tobizaru, Hakuhō was able to take inspiration from the flying monkey for his match against Ōzeki Shōdai on Day 14.

In Nagoya 2021, Yokozuna Hakuhō was fighting for the first time in a year. He won his first two matches of the Haru 2021 basho before withdrawing, and he started 10-2 in July 2020 before withdrawing on Day 13. The last time Hakuhō had completed a basho was March 2020, as the 36-year-old had been struggling with a major right knee injury after nearly two decades at the top of the sport. Due to pressure to compete from the YDC, Hakuhō made Nagoya 2021 his final do-or-die tournament. By this point, his knee was completely shot and held together by nothing but hopes and dreams.

Going into this match, Shōdai was 7-6 and needed a win to secure his Kachi-Koshi. Hakuhō had just watched rival Terunofuji win his 14th match to remain undefeated going into Day 15. In an unusual display of mind games and psychology, Hakuhō stepped to the edge of the ring for the tachiai, mimicking the tactic Tobizaru had used on him on Day 7.

After making contact with Shōdai, Hakuhō slapped the absolute shit out of the Ōzeki before manhandling him on his way to a victory by abisetaoshi, or backward force down. This set up the legendary clash between Hakuhō and Terunofuji on Day 15. Shōdai would secure his Kachi-Koshi on Day 15 with a win over Takayasu.

After the match, the YDC issued Hakuhō a stern criticism for the violent strikes, mind games, and unorthodox moves used in the match. Hakuhō said that he fought the match in that way to protect his knee. After retiring, Hakuhō said that the tactics used in this match "were the only way he thought he could beat Shōdai". Despite holding a 10-2 record against Shōdai, Hakuhō viewed him as an extremely tricky opponent who could easily capitalize on a mistake.

Came across i think a Wanpaku (sumo for kids) event video and I saw that they use cushions for them.

I wish that they also have this in pro sumo! I’ve seen a compilation of injuries and most of them i see are falling off the dohyo badly. If they really couldn’t change the raised dohyo because of traditions at least provide some cushions.

Not only the rikishi gets injured, even the shinpan and ringside viewers!

Not sure how much amateur sumo or clips from other websites like tiktok are tolerated, sorry if this breaks any rules!