Day 7: Hoshoryu Hooks Yoshinofuji Down With His Surgically Repaired Right Leg to Go 4-3; Hakkaku Sees 'Resolve'

November 14, 2026

Yokozuna Hoshoryu, 27 (Tatsunami), beat West Komusubi Yoshinofuji, 25 (Isegahama), for his second straight win and a 4-3 record. He hit with his head, got his right hand inside and, still moving forward, hooked Yoshinofuji's left leg from outside with his right leg, the one operated on in July, while working a watashikomi with his left, dropping him on his back. 'I wasn't aiming for it. I was concentrating, so my body moved' (Nikkan Sports). 'Being able to hit properly was good,' he told Sports Hochi; of his record, 'I'm not thinking about that at all. What's done is done.' He was 2-2 against Yoshinofuji, who is now 4-3 (Sports Hochi, Yomiuri Shimbun). His right knee was again protected only with tape, not a brace (Daily Sports).

Tatsunami, his stablemaster, sent him off with 'Fire yourself up properly' (Nikkan Sports, Jiji Press). That morning Tatsunami had said, 'Since he said he would compete, there's nothing for it but to do it... This is a basho of trials,' and told Sponichi that as long as Hoshoryu wrestled with spirit, he would respect his wish to go the distance; if not, he would have to think again. Nikkan Sports notes that Hoshoryu is without a title in 10 basho as yokozuna; an 11th would tie Asashio, Kashiwado and the third Wakanohana for the longest such run since six basho a year became standard in 1958.

Hakkaku: 'His tachi-ai has the resolve that he can't lose. Resolve matters. His spirit was different today... Staying in matters. I think he'll grow mentally' (Nikkan Sports, Sponichi). Judging chief Asakayama (ex-ozeki Kaio): 'If anything were wrong, he couldn't wrestle like that... He can't relax yet, but winning by going forward may change things' (Nikkan Sports). On NHK, Sakaigawa marveled at the sotogake-plus-watashikomi combination: 'Athleticism and sumo sense. You don't plan that from the start. It's instant' (Chunichi Sports). On ABEMA, former yokozuna Wakanohana (Masaru Hanada) said, 'Just win all the rest,' advised him to keep fighting from the right, and warned, 'Absolutely no harite or morote-zuki until senshuraku' (Nikkan Sports, Tokyo Sports). Hoshoryu, who says he has no room to think about the title race, faces Hakunofuji on Day 8. Jiji Press has photos and the Sumo Association posted the bout video.