Kinboshi Sumo
Join us for Grand Sumo review, analysis, and predictions along with rules and data for fantasy sumo leagues.
Episodes
Kellyann Ball: Women's and International Sumo
After a brief news roundup with Sean covering haircutting ceremonies, victory parades, and the hopes of Fukushima, the real show starts as multiple time national champion and world medalist Kellyann Ball joins the show to talk women's sumo, international competitions, and more! Be sure to check out the Mighty Eagle Sumo IG and YouTube and try to catch the Womens Invitational Sumo tournament June 1
May Review: Ozekis and Yokozunas, Our Cup Runneth Over!
Nick is back to talk Komusubi Wakatakakage's playoff championship against Ozeki Kirishima! We also cover the injuries to the san'yaku this tournament, Kirishima's Yokozuna Run, the end of the Enho to Miyagino Dream, and a Gyoji's rejected resignation along with a brief update to our Yung-zeki Sweepstakes and the performances of our two Sekiwake Atamifuji and Kotoshoho.
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May Instant Reaction: Showdown! Ozumo and Rollertown
Nick and I will be back next week with a full review of the May 2026 Tournament next week but for now... WOW!!! What a final day! I'll keep this description spoiler free but here's my instant reaction after an exhausting day watching a particularly rowdy sake bar. My voice gave out on me so forgive me but for the rest of the show we've got Sean and I breaking down Dallas Sumo Club and Rollertown B
May Midway: Happy Nakabi! Sad Injuries...
Both Yokozunas are now out after Hoshoryu's pulled hamstring but Ozeki Kirishima is leading the charge to be the next Mongolian Yokozuna! Those stories, a handful of injuries, and a handful of other contenders including Wakatakakage and Tobizaru.
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Music Queues:
Headline News by BreakzStudios
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May Injury Report: No 'sato No 'nishiki
Phil has returned to educate us on the prognosis for several injuries playing a role in the May tournament including the absence of Yokozuna Onosato and Kadoban Ozeki Aonishiki (at least to start the basho) and many more (for better or worse).
Email us! Kinboshiproduction@gmail.com
0:00 Intro
0:42 News (Onosato and Aonishiki)
13:38 Injury Report (Kirishima, Yoshinofuji, Wakatakakage, Fujinokawa an
May Preview: Top-heavy Banzuke?
Nick is back to break down the banzuke and make our dark horse and favorite picks to win the yusho this basho! Is it finally Hoshoryu's time to win a yokozuna yusho? Is Onosato's shoulder finally healthy? Can Kirishima go back to back now that he's returned to Ozeki?
EMAIL US! kinboshiproduction@gmail.com
0:00 Intro
0:45 News
14:15 Banzuke Talk
45:45 Picking Favorites
52:00 Outro
Music Queues:
Hea
Sumo and the NFL Combine
Could a rikishi make it in the NFL Draft? I'm at the Rollertown Showdown in Dallas, Texas this weekend, but my friend Tyler was kind enough to join us and break down what sumo skills translate to American football and vice versa. What do you think? How would a rikishi fare in NFL or college football and who would you pluck out of American Football to try their hand in the dohyo?
Email us! kinboshi
Sumo Sources and the Sport's Resilience
Solo episode this week but we have some grumbles about injuries to Onosato, Fujinokawa, and Nishikifuji as well as Chiyomaru's new life post retirement and a couple new recruits (Christopher Lee Bill and Nicolas Tarasenko). Then we switch gears to talk about places you can look if you want to start following sumo news yourself and digress a bit to talk about One Championship's current struggles an
Isegahama Verdict: How Do You Grow Past Violence?
Not the most joyous episode, but we finally have a verdict on the Isegahama / Hakunofuji violence incident from the JSA. Former Yokozuna Terunofuji has been demoted 2 ranks in the elder pyramid but will not lose his stable. Instead the 5 elders at the stable will administer the stable as a council.
For sumo though, violence still needs to be pushed out of the wrestlers' home lives and with that in
12 Wins Is Not A Yusho
Goose from the Sunday Morning Sumo Show joins us to finally break down the infamous "12 wins is not a yusho" quote from former Yokozuna Kisenosato / current Nishonoseki Oyakata after Kirishima's 12-3 Ozeki repromotion. Before that we do a quick merry go round with the news briefly touching on Enho's prospectus post promotion, a past stars basho, and injuries with the spring tour including Aonishik
March Review: Return of the Ozeki(ng)! Kirishima Rides Again!
Nick is back and so is Kirishima! The Once And Future Ozeki wins his 3rd Yusho over Yokozuna Hoshoryu and Maegashira surprise Kotoshoho. Join us to review the March Tournament that was and look forward to the future, complete with our Yung-zeki Sweepstakes update.
Email Us!!! kinboshiproduction@gmail.com
0:00 Intro
0:38 Kirishima Wins
10:54 Hoshoryu and Kotoshoho Runner-Ups
20:13 Onosato Pulls Ou
March Instant Reaction: Kirishima, Hoshoryu, and Kotoshoho
Just a quick solo instant reaction for you before Nick and I can really dig deep next week with our full review. I loved the basho and just wanted to talk about Kirishima's imminent Ozeki re-promotion and the apparent diverging paths of our runners up Yokozuna Hoshoryu and rank-and-filer Kotoshoho.
March Midway: Onosato, Aonishiki, and Our Contenders
Sean and Larry hopped on to speculate (we have NO new information, we're just trying to talk things out loud) on what is happening to Onosato, Discuss Aonishiki's derailed Yokozuna bid, and cover the 6 contenders we DO have including Yokozuna Hoshoryu!
0:00 Intro
1:00 News: Onosato
16:22 Old Guard Resurgence? (Aonishiki Talk)
27:51 6-1 Contenders including Hoshoryu
42:52 Outro
March Injury Report: Yokozunas, Isegahama Boys, Wakatakakage
Phil is back to break down some of the rikishi who we know are coming into the Osaka Stormy Basho at less than 100%. We open with a brief discussion of the Isegahama affair, so no offense taken if you wanna skip that first 7 minutes or so because its a bummer and we don't have the whole story.
0:00 Intro
1:08 News - Isegahama Update
7:06 Injury Report - Onosato's Shoulder
12:30 Injury Report - Hos
March Preview: Does Aonishiki Punch A Yokozuna Ticket?!
Nick is back! And we're here to breakdown some news, the banzuke, bounceback performances for our 2 Yokozuna Onosato and Hoshoryu as well as the potential for Aonishiki to 3-peat and punch his own Yokozuna ticket. We'll also give an update on our 2026 Yung-zeki Sweepstakes and pick out darkhorses and favorites for the Osaka Stormy Basho: 2026 Edition.
0:00 Intro
1:38 News
7:55 Preview: Onosato and
Bodytypes in Sumo, and Banzuke Chat
Phil hopped on to join me for some discussion of new recruits, both big and small, bodytypes in sumo, and some This or That with our banzuke predictions for March!
Questions, Comments, Concerns: Email us! kinboshiproduction@gmail.com
0:00 Intro
0:35 Corrections
2:00 News - Daishoho, Ryouma, and Middle Shool Recruits
7:40 Bodytypes in Sumo and BMI
25:20 This or That - Banzuke Edition
25:50 Atamifuj
Hakuho Cup and Sumo in the Olympics
Sean stops by to chat about the recently finished Hakuho Cup which, in its 18th year included an adult division (high school, college, and above amateur sumo) and a women's division (hosted in the newly constructed Toyota Arena to get around the JSA's limitation on women in the dohyo) and Hakuho's quotes on wanting sumo in the Olympics by 2036. We also play a little Good Cop / Bad Cop with potenti
Takakeisho Takeover and Storytelling in Sumo
This week JJ from the Sunday Morning Sumo Show joins me to talk about Takakeisho (now Minatogawa Oyakata) taking over his old stable and what that means for Takanosho, Wakanosho, and the evolution of sumo leadership. Then we talk about what kinds of stories we like seeing in sumo and fantasy book some movies we want to see made in sumo.
0:00 Intro
0:41 Takakeisho the Stablemaster
12:00 Storytellin
January Review: Is Yokozuna inevitable for Aonishiki?
Phil joined me to give some final thoughts on the January Tournament that was. We cover the passing for former Maegashira Sentoryu (Henry Armstrong Miller) and what it means for amateur sumo and American sumo. We discuss a couple new recruit’s on sumo’s horizon. Give some thoughts on what we still want to see from Ozeki Aonishiki before we think he should be Yokozuna and round up with thoughts on
January Instant Reaction
Phil hopped back on to join me for a discussion of the final day of the January 2026 basho. Aonishiki, Atamifuji, Kirishima, and a pair of Yokozunas... so much to discuss! We covered the final day match highlights, injury status after 15 days for the likes of Onosato, Hoshoryu, and more, and played over/under with how many wins is a true yusho and the minimum wins for an Ozeki and Yokozuna.
0:00 I
Januray Midway: Contenders and an Enho Update
Larry and Sean stopped by to join me in breaking down the first half of the basho, their hot takes on the dead body rule, Enho's last shot at elder stock and some new predictions for the yusho after 8 days!
0:00 Into
1:00 Basho So Far
21:26 Enho Undefeated, How's the Neck?
36:35 Buy or Sell Yusho Contenders
50:19 Outro
January Injury Report: Onosato, Hoshoryu, Kotozakura, and Asanoyama
With all the Yokozuna and pals injury talk it was time to call Phil back up and get the lowdown on what these means for their physical performance in the January Tournament.
0:00 Intro
0:40 News
5:26 Injury Report: Onosato's Dislocated Shoulder
13:27 Injury Report: Hoshoryu's Partial Meniscus Tear
22:28 Injury Report: Asanoyama's ACL Surgery Recover
26:17 Injury Report: Kotozakura's MCL Damage
32:
January Preview: Big 3 (4?) Era & '26 Yung-zeki Sweepstakes
A new year, a new basho! The Big 3 Era begins with Aonishiki at Ozeki, challenging Yokozunas Hoshoryu and Onosato while Ozeki Kotozakura waits in the wings. Nick is back to discuss it all, pick dark horses and predict winners along with the 2026 edition of the "Yung-zeki Sweepstakes" ... who stands a chance of doing what Onosato and Aonishiki did in 2024 and 2025 and racing to Ozeki next?
0:00 Int
2025 Year End Awards
Sean hops on to discuss 2025 year end awards: Heya of the Year, Narrative of the Year, and Burning Question of the Year. Goodbye to an amazing 2025 in sumo and hello 2026! Happy new year all!
What Hollywood Sees in Sumo
Sean returns to talk Hollywood Sumo with a pair of Jean-Claude Van Damme classics in 1988's Bloodsport and 1994's Street Fighter: The Movie. Would sumo benefit from a "Drive to Survive" clone? (If the JSA would ever allow it.) Or would expanded interest exacerbate existing problems like the ticket crunch?
Gunning, John. The Japan Times. "When it comes to sumo in popular media, style reigns over su
How to Grow International Sumo
Goose from the Sunday Morning Sumo Show joined me to discuss his ground level view of the Sumo World Championships in Thailand this year and how international sumo federations can work to grow the sport locally (until hopefully we're all churning out Aonishikis like Ukraine).
Oyakata of the Future
Minatogawa (former Takakeisho) will be taking over his own stable after the January basho, which got Sean and I talking about what makes a good Oyakata vs what makes a good coach in other sports and which current rikishi we'd like to see leading stables. What do you think? Is there anyone you think is going to make a particularly good leader in sumo?
How Far Can Aonishiki Rise?! 2025 November Review
Aonishiki wins his first championship and a promotion to Ozeki! The two Yokozunas faulter with Onosato leaving injured on before the final day and Hoshoryu's record against the Ukrainian widening to 0-4. Big things keep on coming in the sumo world!
Aonishiki's Time or Onosato Freight Train? November Midway
We're a week into the November basho and at least 2 clear contenders have revealed themselves after the first week. Fellow Yokozuna Hoshoryu is certainly lurking in the background but who do you think comes out of this and what do you think is the best outcome for sumo where you're at in your community?
Hoshoryu Or Onosato? 2025 November Preview
A pair of dueling Yokozunas, a newly minted Aonishiki Sekiwake waiting in the wings, a bevvy of former sekiwakes all over the banzuke feasting on low rankers? Who will win November 2025, join us as we make some assuredly incorrect predictions!
0:00 Intro
0:49 News: Endo Retires
4:14 Sanyaku Talk: Aonishiki & Oho
10:29 Sanyaku Talk: Takayasu, Takanosho, Wakamotoharu
15:05 Joijin: Hakuoho &
Pre Banzuke Musings on Kirishima, Wakatakakage, and Takerufuji
Apologies for the delayed drop but thank you for sticking with me as I got through some travel and related sickness. ANYWAY in the world of sumo the London Expo is done, sans Kotozakura. What does that mean for our Ozeki in November? Isegahama's next monster is about to debut and we may be witnessing the beginning of the end for the last generation of young up and comers (Kirishima and Wakatakakag
Who Will Catch Onosato?: 2025 September Review
Dueling Yokozunas Onosato and Hoshoryu! Heartbreak for Wakatakakage's Ozeki bid! The continued rise of Aonishiki! Nick and Rick are back to talk about the September Tournament that was and look forward what should be a stellar finale in November.
0:00 Intro
0:14 Yokozuna Battle: Hoshoryu and Onosato
8:14 Wakatakakage's Ozeki Dreams
12:27 Veteran Carousel Daieisho Kirishima Asanoyama Takayasu Abi
1
Yokozunas and Throwbacks! September 2025 Midway Show
Sean is with me to discuss the first week of the 2025 September Basho!
We start off discussing where most fans attention is focused currently (spoiler, its the Wakatakakage Ozeki push) then pivot to recap the basho so far (Ura, Takanosho, Shodai oh my!) before discussing our favorites to win this thing (dueling Yokozunas, but what is this Aonishiki in the distance?) and end with some over/under pr
September Preview
Nick is back to talk Wakatakakage to Ozeki, Aonishiki's Komusubi Debut, Dark Horse Contendors and Yusho favorites!
Email us! kinboshiproduction@gmail.com
If you want to help me save up for a new mic, we have a Patreon but honestly we're just happy you're here!
https://www.patreon.com/KinboshiSumo
Thanks for listening!
Banzukes and Injury Updates!
Banzuke has dropped and Jungyo has ended! Join Rick and Phil for some updates on recovery expectations for Hoshoryu (broken toe) Wakatakakage (twisted ankle) Kirishima (cracked wrist) and Daieisho (torn? calf).
0:45 Aonishiki's Record Breaking San'yaku Debut
https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/09/01/kiji/20250901s00005000223000c.html?page=1
3:35 College Sumo Individual Championships
https:
Summer Sumo! Jungyo! High School Yokozuna!
Solo episode today! I covered a bit of the news from the Summer Tour (Jungyo) including Hoshoryu bouncing back and practicing through the pain on that injured toe, the grind of Jungyo, and another blow to the Kirishima Ozeki return story with a tour injury. From there I wanted to cover a couple young rikishi from the All Japan Inter-High where Kazuki Sawada was crowned High School Yokozuna (and is
Koto-yusho?! July 2025 Review
Kotoshoho shocks us all by winning the much anticipated 2 yokozuna showdown basho that wasn't! Aonishiki nearly pulls an Onosato, but falls short at runner-up. Kusano delivers, best Miyagino recruit yet? The basho was wild, and we're here to talk about it!
Email us at kinboshiproduction@gmail.com with questions, comments, or suggestions for topics you'd like to hear!
We're on Patreon if you want t
Shakin' Things Up! Nagoya 2025 Midway
Halfway through Nagoya and we have a bevvy of shock contendors to go with some more traditional competitors! Rick is here solo to break down some of the storylines that interested him the most, but let us know what is intriguing you about Nagoya so far!
WARNING: Day 8 spoilers ahead!
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Clash of Yokozunas!: July 2025 Preview
Our new era of two yokozuna with Hoshoryu and Onosato is finally about to start! A changing of the guard in the joijin with Aonishiki and the gang, and a couple new faces to the party with Kusano and Fujinokawa all mean we should have a great basho in the brand new IG Area! Who you got for the yusho?
Great Pace Hakuoho
Phil and I are here for a little pre-banzuke rank guessing along with some discussion of whether our young favorites are on a quick, average, or slow pace to the top of the banzuke.
The first 20-25 minutes are talking about what we think we'll see from the banzuke and in the last 25 or 30 we take a look at Hakuoho, Atamifuji, Takerufuji, and Aonishiki's predicted rankings and compare that to the l
Hakuho v JSA Pt 1,000: Hakuho's International Sumo League
Hakuho has officially left the JSA after Chairman Hakkaku pushed him one step too far, attempting to make him serve his junior Terunofuji without a promise of getting his Miyagino Stable back.
Now he's rallying his financial backers and other connections to create some sort of international sumo organization to contribute to the sport outside of the JSA.
Sean and I discuss some case studies of "
Onosato Yokozuna! May 2025 Review
We cover Onosato's victory, Hoshoryu's preformance stopping the zensho yusho, and re-visit our January "young guns to Ozeki" picks.
Chasin' the Belt: May 2025 Midway Review
SPOILER WARNING: We kept our conversation to day 7 and earlier but if you haven't seen day 7 you may want to hold off on this one.
Other than that...
Onosato is doing just what we thought the would but Hakuoho, Wakatakakage, and our boy Aonishiki are hot on his heels. Who you got after 7 days?
The Onosato Express!: May Preview
Another Ozeki has a chance to make Yokozuna! Is this Onosato's time? Will Hoshoryu bounce back? Is Kotozakura even still in the building? Or will one of the Dark Horses upset them both?
Peak Rikishi: At What Age Should a Rikishi Be Performing Best?
Phil is back for us to break down some numbers to see if we can figure out what year any given rikishi should peak. After a March final of 35 year old Takayasu vs young up and comer Onosato, we wanted to see if we could figure out what the range of their "best years" is.
Spinal Injuries in Sumo
We break down the science behind spinal injuries in sumo and why there are less of them than we might expect. We deep dive into a study into how the mawashi protects rikishi and how sumo can learn from this fact to prevent future damage to rikishi.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10629334/
Takayasu Denied and Onozuna Begins
Takayasu is runner up once again but now we have Onosato's Yokozuna run to look forward to.
It Comes To This: Spring Finale
SPOILER WARNING
If you have not seen the day 14 matches pause and come back.
Otherwise, full steam ahead!
Takayasu lost on day 14. Onosato won. Two 11 win rikishi. A chance for a day 15 playoff. Big Papa cuts the margins to the bone once again, and if he's going to exorcise these demons I wouldn't have it any other way. Let's go Big Papa!
End of the Road: Can Takayasu Win a Title?
We're down to 3 contenders and just a pair of outside chasers in Osaka after the first week. Who you got between Onosato and Takayasu? Can Takerufuji or Tamawashi make a run? Or will the wounded Yokozuna somehow come from behind to steal the Emperor's cup two basho in a row?
Osaka Rikishi Spotlight
A quick chat with Sean on All Basho's Eve to see which of the Osaka boys we like to perform best this tournament.
The Reign of Hoshoryu Cometh: March Preview
The Banzuke has dropped and the Osaka Tournament is just around the corner! Join us for the mega preview as is tradition! Will Hoshoryu stamp his new Yokozuna reign? Will one of the Ozeki Onosato or Kotozakura spoil his coronation? Or will a new upset surprise knock everyone on their faces? Who knows, but we're sure gonna pretend we do!
Sumo Wrasslin with Adam
We love bringing in folks with different interests on the show and seeing how their field relates to sumo, so today we've got Adam of The Sister Wives Professor talking to us about perhaps the oldest version of televised Reality TV, Pro Wrestling.
We cover pro wrestlers with a history in sumo (John Tenta) and Pro Wrestling's adoption of sumo gimmicks (Yokozuna) before pivoting to discuss what we
New Yokozuna!
Apologies for the delay! Honestly I thought I had hit publish on this at the same time as the YouTube video, but I was clearly wrong!
Here is Nick and I breaking down January, the losing 1 Yokozuna and gaining 1!
New Yokozuna Incoming?
New year and a new basho! Nick couldn't make it so my buddy Sean stepped in to cover the potential yokozuna promotions of Kotozakura and/or Hoshoryu as well as the rumored return of Terunofuji and a whole litany of our new exciting generation with Hakuoho returning, and last year's champions Takerufuji and Onosato still in the mix! Who is your pick to win this thing? Both your head, and your heart
Recruitment in Sumo: Anime to the Rescue
patreon.com/KinboshiSumo
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAqw0UxMUzdr8kPc51IHDHw
Kotozakura's 1st Yusho!
A stellar Ozeki race to end 2024! We recap the basho and look forward to 2025.
Who could spoil Onosato's Party?
Onosato makes his Ozeki debut, but Takerufuji is back and has never NOT won a yusho at sekitori. Not to mention, Hoshoryu and Kotozakura are looking to get back on track and Kirishima has finally recovered his pre stable switch form. November looks like a wild basho!
Whos Leading the Yokozuna Race?
Onosato with the fastest rise to Ozeki in history! Has he passed both Hoshoryu and Kotozakura in the Yokozuna race?
September 2024 Banzuke Review and Preview
Teru has 10 and could always use rest. If he sits out, which top ranker takes advantage to grab a yusho? Or do one of the Maegashira dark horses get there first? Its Banzuke Christmas and a Basho Preview for September!
Neck Injuries in Sumo
Takakeisho is dropping to Sekiwake. Previously there were rumors that he'd just retire rather than make the Ozeki comeback bid, but that was when we thought he had elder stock lined up. Now he's going to drag his wounded body back to the Dohyo once more, so we take this opportunity to discuss neck injuries in sumo with a PA who specializes in neck injuries, and just so happens to be a sumo fan her
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