Hoshoryu skips practice bouts as Aki looms; no official kyūjo list yet

HEADLINE

DAY

Pre-basho note — Aki Basho 2026 has not started. Day 1 is 13 Sep 2026 at Ryogoku Kokugikan. No completed honbasho day to score.

YUSHO WATCH

N/A (0 days completed). Openers to watch once Day 1 lands: Onosato (Y1e), Kirishima’s yokozuna bid, Aonishiki back at ozeki after the July cup.

FANTASY HEAT

- Stud: Onosato — full-scale training resumed (Kyodo, 2 Sep); Japanese reports say he took practice at the yokozuna deliberation session. - Fade: Hoshoryu — right-knee MCL surgery (late July); at the 4 Sep yokozuna deliberation keiko he did not take practice bouts (doctor still forbids sumo). Participation undecided until closer to Day 1. - Sleeper: Fujinokawa — new sekiwake; first Kyoto sekiwake in ~198 years. Useful if he holds early.

BOUT OF THE DAY

None — basho not started. Closest verified signal: Onosato vs Kirishima practice exchanges at the deliberation session (Japanese press; exact win–loss counts differ by outlet — see UNCERTAIN).

HURT / KYUJO

Official JSA September absence page lists none confirmed yet. Reported but not on the official Aki list: Wakatakakage (M12) told Kyodo (1 Sep) he is set to miss the entire meet after July left-leg surgery. Hoshoryu: not an official kyūjo — status open. TOMORROW’S TRAP: Don’t lock a yokozuna stack until Hoshoryu’s entry is settled closer to 13 Sep.

GLOSSARY

Kyūjo — an official withdrawal/absence from a tournament day or the meet, posted by the Japan Sumo Association.

SOURCES

- https://hochi.news/articles/20260904-OHT1T51202.html (Hoshoryu, 4 Sep — JP) - https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/83240 (Tatsunami doubt, 27 Aug) - https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/83677 (Kirishima bid; Wakatakakage miss stated, 1 Sep) - https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/83803 (Onosato training, 2 Sep) - https://sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoMain/absence/ (Aki list empty as of fetch)

UNCERTAIN

Exact Onosato–Kirishima practice record at the deliberation session (Nikkan/SportsBull numbers not matched in English Kyodo). Oshoma’s Autumn entry after elbow surgery. Whether Wakatakakage appears on the official kyūjo sheet before Day 1.