Fujiseiun Forces Out Hoshoryu for His First Kinboshi; Yokozuna Loses Three Straight but Tells Tatsunami 'I Don't Want to Run Away'

November 12, 2026

West Maegashira 2 Fujiseiun, 28 (Fujishima), forced out yokozuna Hoshoryu, 27 (Tatsunami), in their first meeting on Day 5 for his first kinboshi. Hoshoryu, back from three straight absences, has lost three in a row and is 2-3. It is the second time he has given up kinboshi on three consecutive days, after Nagoya last year (Wakamotoharu, Aonishiki and Abi); Sports Hochi says he is only the fourth man since the start of Showa to do it more than once, after Miyagiyama, Chiyonoyama and Kisenosato. Sankei Sports counts ten such streaks since the start of Heisei: Harumafuji recovered to win the 2017 Aki basho at 11-4, but seven others withdrew the next day and one more later in the basho. If he loses to Takayasu on Day 6, Sponichi notes, he would be the first to give up kinboshi on four straight days since Miyagiyama in 1931.

Hoshoryu went for a harizashi from the left, but Fujiseiun got into his favored right-hand-inside grip, took the left uwate and then both sides of the mawashi; Hoshoryu never got a grip, and Fujiseiun walked him back and out (Nikkan Sports, Mainichi Shimbun). ABEMA TIMES notes he wore a white support on his right knee, and the Mainichi says he seemed to be favoring the knee during suri-ashi in the dressing room before the bout. He bit his lip, left without a word and declined interviews through his tsukebito (Jiji Press).

The verdicts were harsh. Hakkaku: 'There's no strength in his legs. Losing streaks are tough. He's a yokozuna, so he has to rebuild, but if the knee is bad it would be better to fix it' (Sports Hochi). Seeing him walk down the hanamichi, he added, 'It's his mindset. Even when he loses, he's matter-of-fact' (Sankei Sports), and told Nikkan Sports, 'A yokozuna always has to go in aggressive.' Judging chief Kokonoe (ex-ozeki Chiyotaikai): 'Each one looks fragile. He's probably giving it everything, so it can't be helped; Fujiseiun was stronger.' He said the knee 'doesn't look bad' but told Tokyo Sports, 'It looks like he's wrestling scared,' urging him to wrestle like the 'kihaku issen' (fighting spirit in a single flash) of his promotion speech. NHK commentator Kotokaze: 'His upper body is high and his face is turning away. It worries me that mentally he doesn't seem to have any force in him,' adding to Chunichi Sports that he was concerned by a look of resignation: 'Through Day 2 I thought this was good. That's the scary thing about sumo.' In his Sports Hochi column Kotokaze went further: there is 'no point' in competing; the knee surely gave way again against Fujiryoga on Day 3, he skipped his usual hand-clap before the final shikiri, and he should rest until fully healed. ABEMA's Toyonoshima: 'He's really not putting any strength in.'

Before the bout, Tatsunami (ex-komusubi Asahiyutaka) said withdrawal was 'not being considered.' Hoshoryu had told him his body 'got stiff' against Ura: 'Is it mental? He's not hurt.' He is getting acupuncture and massage treatment. 'Yesterday's sumo was unacceptable. A yokozuna has to win' (Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports). After the day's bouts Hoshoryu phoned him: 'I don't want to run away. Let me wrestle tomorrow.' Speaking after a meeting of elders at a Fukuoka hotel that night, Tatsunami confirmed he will face Takayasu on Day 6, while warning, 'Sumo like yesterday's and today's is disrespectful to the fans. A yokozuna has to be strong' (Daily Sports, Sponichi). He has not won a title since being promoted; Sports Hochi says another withdrawal could raise questions about his future.

Fujiseiun: 'I wondered whether I'd really got it. I'm happy, but it feels floaty. My mind went blank the moment I won.' He had practiced against different tachi-ai with his tsukebito. When stablemate Fujiryoga, five years younger, took his first kinboshi from Hoshoryu on Day 3, Fujiseiun did not congratulate him: 'Honestly, I was really frustrated. I wanted one too.' A Meiji University graduate from Kumamoto, he joined Toppan Printing to compete as a corporate amateur, then turned pro when the pandemic wiped out competitions, debuting in March 2021. He reached juryo in May 2023, tore the ACL in his left knee and fell to sandanme, and made makuuchi this March alongside Fujiryoga. After beating Fujinokawa on Day 1 he lost to Kirishima, Kotozakura and Onosato (Sports Hochi). His stablemaster Fujishima (ex-ozeki Musoyama) told him, 'On the dohyo everyone is the same. Go all out.' 'Beating a yokozuna gives me confidence. If I keep polishing this style, I can aim higher,' he said.