Day 6: Hoshoryu, Allowed to Compete After Asking His Stablemaster, Forces Out Takayasu to Stop the Slide: 'I Don't Want People Saying I Ran Away'

November 13, 2026

Yokozuna Hoshoryu, 27 (Tatsunami), forced out East Maegashira 3 Takayasu, 36 (Tagonoura), in the final bout of Day 6 to end a three-bout losing streak and even his record at 3-3; Takayasu is 1-5. Had he lost, he would have been only the second yokozuna to give up kinboshi on four straight days, after Miyagiyama in January 1931, 95 years ago (Sankei Shimbun, Daily Sports, Sponichi). He came into the bout 7-11 against Takayasu (Chunichi Sports), the man he lost to on opening day in May, when he hurt the back of his right thigh and withdrew (Sankei Shimbun, ABEMA TIMES). This time he charged hard and low, took Takayasu's two-handed thrusts from underneath, got both arms inside and drove him out without letting him do anything (Nikkan Sports, Sankei Shimbun).

Before the bout, stablemaster Tatsunami (ex-komusubi Asahiyutaka) told reporters at the venue that he had phoned Hoshoryu after the Day 5 loss 'because he had so little fighting spirit. His mind and body are out of sync. I told him, "What are you doing?" Giving up kinboshi that easily is unthinkable from where I stood as a wrestler.' He had considered pulling him out, but Hoshoryu said he didn't want to run away; when Tatsunami warned that a pathetic bout would be no good, Hoshoryu asked again, 'Let me wrestle tomorrow' (Sponichi). If he gave up a fourth straight kinboshi, Tatsunami said, 'I think I'll have to make a call... Whatever he says, that's what I intend to do' (Tokyo Sports, Nikkan Sports). He added that the right knee 'went in a bit' against Fujiryoga on Day 3, 'so I was worried. He only says he's fine,' and that treatment continues daily (Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports). Chairman Hakkaku said before the bout that 'we knew from the start' it would be tough, and asked for fighting spirit everyone could see: 'If you lose and just shrug it off... you have to wrestle like your life depends on it.' Afterward he said, 'He's gone all-in, hasn't he?' (Nikkan Sports).

Speaking to reporters for the first time in four days, Hoshoryu said: 'It's been an eventful three days, but I don't want to make excuses for losing. I had a lot on my mind. After yesterday's bout the oyakata asked me, "Do you want to sit out?" and I asked him myself to let me wrestle. Whatever happens, I want to compete to the end. I don't want people saying I ran away.' He had worn a thick support on the right knee, operated on in late July, since Day 1, but switched to taping only: 'Until yesterday I was worrying too much about the knee. It felt blocked, and it bothered me. The doctor told me there's no need to worry about it.' For the rest of the basho: 'One day, one bout, with the same feeling as today' (Tokyo Sports, Nikkan Sports, Jiji Press). Nikkan Sports says that at time-up the NHK broadcast showed him glance at his tsukebito in the hanamichi, who nodded back, and when he won, the dressing room erupted with 'Yes, yes, yes!' and 'Thank goodness.'

Judging chief Onoe (ex-komusubi Hamanoshima) called it 'a perfect bout. He attacked forward and forward, with fighting spirit. The past two days he looked like he had no energy' (Sports Hochi). NHK commentator Minatogawa (ex-ozeki Takakeisho), who had said the problem was purely mental, said, 'Maybe he let go. He didn't think about getting the mawashi, he just attacked. The yokozuna is strong to begin with' (Nikkan Sports). ABEMA commentator Tsurugisho said Takayasu was thrusting 'but his elbows aren't extending. He wants to push him away and can't; there must have been that much pressure,' and viewers wrote 'Hearing the cheers for Hoshoryu made me cry,' 'If his knee were good he could do this every day' and 'This is the real him' (ABEMA TIMES).

In his Sports Hochi column, ex-ozeki Kotokaze called it a transformed bout but said Hoshoryu has only 'made it through the first traffic light': quick attacks are his best option, because the knee will cry out if bouts drag on or he backs up. A full recovery of the knee is said to be very difficult, Kotokaze added, recalling that for his own knee, a sake massage worked best. On Day 7 Hoshoryu meets Yoshinofuji, against whom he is 2-2 (Sponichi).