The 2026 Natsu Basho has begun without yokozuna Onosato, whose withdrawal before the tournament's opening day at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan represents a significant early test of the new yokozuna era following his recent elevation to sumo's highest rank.
Onosato's withdrawal was confirmed in the days leading up to the basho, with the Japan Sumo Association citing an existing injury that prevented him from competing at the level expected of a yokozuna. The decision means Onosato joins kadoban ozeki Aonishiki in stepping aside before a single bout was contested, leaving the upper sanyaku ranks looking thinner than they have in some time.
The broader picture only became more dramatic on Day One, when yokozuna Hoshoryu suffered a right hamstring injury in his loss to komusubi Takayasu and was wheeled out of the arena. Hoshoryu confirmed his withdrawal the following day, meaning the basho had lost both yokozuna and one of its three ozeki within the opening 48 hours.
The sumo world's reaction has focused on what this means for the durability of the new yokozuna era. Onosato's promotion was greeted as a moment of renewal for the sport, with his combination of size, athleticism and technical polish marking him as a long-term face of the top division. Withdrawing from his first defence as the senior yokozuna present at a basho was not the way anyone in the sumo establishment wanted that era to begin.
The absence has also reshaped the immediate competitive landscape. Returning ozeki Kirishima now sits as the highest-ranked active wrestler in the basho, and he has used the opening week to stake an early claim on the yusho with a perfect 5-0 record. Maegashira Kotoeiho is alongside him at 5-0, and Wakatakakage has positioned himself at 4-1 as the closest serious chaser.
For Onosato personally, the focus now turns to recovery and to the Nagoya basho in July. Yokozuna are judged not by single tournaments but by the consistency of their performances across multiple basho, and a yokozuna who withdraws early in his tenure faces additional scrutiny when he returns. The expectation, both from the Sumo Association and from the sport's commentariat, will be a strong performance in Nagoya that demonstrates the injury was a short-term setback rather than something more chronic.
The combined effect of three top-rank withdrawals also has implications for the wider sumo calendar. Television ratings, ticket demand and sponsor interest all benefit from healthy yokozuna and ozeki ranks, and a basho without either yokozuna is rare. The Sumo Association will be watching the second half of Natsu Basho carefully, looking to see whether the maegashira and sanyaku contenders can deliver enough drama to keep audiences engaged through the closing weekend.