A Yokozuna Won't Even Show Up — Everything You Need to Know for Aki Basho 2026

Aki basho 2026 opens with a hole at the top of the banzuke: Hoshoryu is kyujo after knee surgery, so one of grand sumo's two yokozuna won't set foot on the dohyo this September. This preview covers what that absence actually changes over fifteen days at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, and who stands to gain the most from it. We work down the makuuchi rankings from there — Onosato carrying a shoulder problem into a tournament he's expected to control, Aonishiki back at ozeki after his July yusho and already being discussed in yokozuna promotion terms, Kirishima and Kotozakura needing kachi koshi to steady themselves, and Atamifuji, Takerufuji, Fujinokawa and Ura placed through the torikumi with something to settle. The day 1 pairings tell you more than the ozeki run chatter does. Sumo 2026 has been shaped by who could stay healthy rather than who was strongest, and this September basho may decide the whole year. SumoSpirit Channel follows every tournament from banzuke release to final results, whether you watch sumo live, catch NHK World, or pick up the highlights afterwards. Like this one if you think Aonishiki finishes the job, and subscribe so the day-by-day results reach you before senshuraku.