A Yokozuna Doesn’t Know If He Can Fight — Everything You Need to Know for Kyushu Basho 2026

Kyushu Basho 2026 opens with a question no one can answer yet: will Hoshoryu actually take the dohyo? After knee surgery, the yokozuna himself isn’t sure, and that uncertainty shapes everything about the final tournament of the year in Fukuoka. This preview walks you through what’s at stake before Day 1. We start with Hoshoryu’s return, what his recovery means, and whether kyujo is still on the table. Then we turn to the rivalry everyone is watching, Onosato vs Aonishiki, and whether Aonishiki can push toward becoming the 76th yokozuna. You’ll also get the state of Fujinokawa’s ozeki run, a look at the new sumo banzuke, and the rikishi who could shake things up, from Ura and Churanoumi to Yoshinofuji and the Asahifuji contingent. With a yokozuna injury hanging over the top of the rankings, November could reshape Grand Sumo 2026 heading into the new year. Here on SumoSpirit, we break down the sumo news and give you our sumo predictions so you know exactly who to watch and why. If you want to see whether Hoshoryu makes it to the dohyo in Fukuoka, like this video and subscribe so you don’t miss our day-by-day Kyushu coverage.