Onosato Beat Hakunofuji to Reach Nine Wins and Keep Sole Lead at the Aki Basho
The yokozuna forced Hakunofuji out by yorikiri on day ten, leaving Atamifuji, Fujinokawa and Kinbozan one win behind him on eight wins and two losses.
Yokozuna Onosato kept sole possession of the lead at the September Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on 22 September 2026, beating Hakunofuji on day 10 of the Aki Basho to move to nine wins and one loss.
Onosato braced with his left foot as he reached inside for Hakunofuji's belt, then drove forward and forced his opponent out by yorikiri. The defeat left Hakunofuji on three wins and seven losses.
Three wrestlers sit one win behind the leader on 8-2. Atamifuji, who is pursuing promotion to ozeki, beat Kotozakura by oshidashi, while Fujinokawa sidestepped Takanosho with a henka and won by tsukiotoshi. Kinbozan also remains in the chasing group. Elsewhere in the upper ranks, Aonishiki beat Churanoumi by yorikiri to reach 7-3, Fujiryoga pushed out Kirishima, and Kotoshoho beat Daieisho by hikiotoshi.
Onosato is the only yokozuna competing in the tournament. Observers have noted that he appears back to his best after a shoulder injury suffered last November, which forced him to compete while hurt for an extended period. Victory in this basho would give him the sixth top-division title of his career.
On day 11 Onosato faces Fujinokawa, a wrestler he has never beaten. The fifteen-day tournament concludes on Sunday 27 September, with the three wrestlers on 8-2 needing the yokozuna to slip if they are to take the title race to the final weekend.