Basho Simplified: A Sumo Discussion

The Aki Basho is in the books, and we're back to break down all the biggest stories from the tournament.

Who impressed? Who disappointed? Which rikishi stepped up when it mattered, and who has some serious work to do before the next basho?

The Aki Basho is here, and we're back to preview everything you need to know before the action gets underway!

We'll break down the upcoming tournament, look at the big names, the potential dark horses, the matchups we're most excited for, and who could be walking away with the Emperor's Cup.

Let the Aki Basho begin!

The Nagoya Basho is in the books, and there is plenty to unpack. We review the tournament's biggest stories, from Aonishiki's remarkable return to Ozeki and yusho triumph, to Kirishima's Yokozuna bid, Hoshoryu and Onosato's difficult tournaments, and Atamifuji's emergence as a genuine Ozeki contender. Join us as we break down the performances that defined one of the most dramatic tournaments of the year.

The Nagoya Basho is here! We break down the biggest storylines heading into the July 2026 tournament, looking at recent form, what we're watching for, and our predictions. With injuries, promotions and plenty of questions to answer, there's a lot to look forward to over the next 15 days.

In Part 2 of our story on Chiyonofuji, we explore the remarkable career of one of sumo's greatest Yokozuna. From years of dominance at the sport's highest level to the legacy he left behind, we look at how the "Wolf" became a legend whose influence can still be felt in sumo today. Join us as we conclude the story of strength, determination, and one of the most iconic careers in sumo history.

The Natsu Basho of 2026 had everything.

A Yokozuna withdrawal on Day 2. An Ozeki sliding into kadoban status. Controversial henkas. Rising stars announcing themselves on the biggest stage. And one of the most unpredictable yusho races we've seen in years.

The salt is ready, the clay has been swept, and once again it’s time for the most dangerous part of any basho… two idiots with microphones pretending they understand momentum.

This week we preview the May 2026 Grand Sumo Basho, Hōshōryū trying to finally deliver a proper Yokozuna performance, Kirishima returning to Ōzeki, and Atamifuji stepping into a career-high rank with a target painted firmly on his back.

The salt has settled, the clay’s been swept, and we’re looking back at a tournament that had everything. Yokozuna drama, Ōzeki heartbreak, surprise runs, questionable decisions, and at least one rikishi who chose violence against the entire concept of expectation.

We break it all down in the only way we know how:
Overreactions, under-qualified analysis, and the occasional moment of actual insight buried somewhere in the nonsense.

The salt’s down, the family’s gathered, and for the first time ever… we’re doing a basho preview for someone we actually know.

This is a surprise episode, because today Lewis steps onto the dohyo for the English Sumo Nationals, his first amateur tournament, and we couldn’t not treat it like the biggest basho of the year.

A full basho preview. Overanalysis. Questionable takes. Probably a bit of bias.

We break down Lewis’ bouts from the day, the explosive starts, the chaos, the lessons learned, and the moments where things actually started to click. There’s controversy, there’s head impacts (don’t worry, he’s fine… probably), and there’s a very honest look at what it means to step into your first tournament against more experienced opposition.

This time it's only one idiot with a microphone, trying to make sense of something much bigger.

Except this time, it’s personal.

The clay is packed, the salt is ready, and another tournament is about to begin. In this episode we break down the storylines heading into the upcoming basho and look at the rikishi who could shape the next chapter of the sport.

We take a close look at the Yokozuna duo of Hōshōryū and Onosato, the unstoppable momentum of Aonishiki, and the san’yaku hopefuls trying to force their way into the conversation. We also dive into the dangerous mid-maegashira pack: the veterans, the dark horses, and the chaos agents who could blow the whole leaderboard apart.