Kirishima Stays Undefeated at 3-0 After Three Days of Summer Grand Sumo Tournament

Newly promoted ōzeki Kirishima is the only man ranked sekiwake or higher to remain unbeaten after three days of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament. As of May 13, 2026, six of the seven highest-ranked wrestlers in the sport either have losing records or are absent from the meet. Kirishima defeated Yoshinofuji by tsukiotoshi at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12, 2026.

The victory kept the Mongolian-born wrestler undefeated while many of sumo's biggest stars have fallen to injury or poor form. By the end of its third day, the event had taken a surprising turn that the Japan Times reported is a worrying one for the Japan Sumo Association.

John Gunning, contributing writer for the Japan Times, detailed the standings in an article published on May 13, 2026. His report highlighted how injuries and poor form have stripped the tournament of many top competitors, leaving Kirishima as the clear favorite.

Kirishima's tsukiotoshi technique ended the bout decisively on the tournament's second day. Three days into the Summer Basho, the landscape of the competition has shifted dramatically. 500, the path to the championship has narrowed sharply around the unbeaten ōzeki.