Basho Simplified: A Sumo Discussion

Episode 49: The Natsu 2026 Chaos Preview

The salt is ready, the clay has been swept, and once again it’s time for the most dangerous part of any basho… two idiots with microphones pretending they understand momentum. This week we preview the May 2026 Grand Sumo Basho, Hōshōryū trying to finally deliver a proper Yokozuna performance, Kirishima returning to Ōzeki, and Atamifuji stepping into a career-high rank with a target painted firmly on his back.

Episode 48: March 2026 Haru Review

The salt has settled, the clay’s been swept, and we’re looking back at a tournament that had everything. Yokozuna drama, Ōzeki heartbreak, surprise runs, questionable decisions, and at least one rikishi who chose violence against the entire concept of expectation. We break it all down in the only way we know how: Overreactions, under-qualified analysis, and the occasional moment of actual insight buried somewhere in the nonsense.

Episode 47: English Sumo Nationals 2026

The salt’s down, the family’s gathered, and for the first time ever… we’re doing a basho preview for someone we actually know. This is a surprise episode, because today Lewis steps onto the dohyo for the English Sumo Nationals, his first amateur tournament, and we couldn’t not treat it like the biggest basho of the year. A full basho preview. Overanalysis. Questionable takes. Probably a bit of bias. We break down Lewis’ bouts from the day, the explosive starts, the chaos, the lessons learned, and the moments where things actually started to click. There’s controversy, there’s head impacts (don’t worry, he’s fine… probably), and there’s a very honest look at what it means to step into your first tournament against more experienced opposition. This time it's only one idiot with a microphone, trying to make sense of something much bigger. Except this time, it’s personal.

Episode 46: March 2026 Basho Preview

The clay is packed, the salt is ready, and another tournament is about to begin. In this episode we break down the storylines heading into the upcoming basho and look at the rikishi who could shape the next chapter of the sport. We take a close look at the Yokozuna duo of Hōshōryū and Onosato, the unstoppable momentum of Aonishiki, and the san’yaku hopefuls trying to force their way into the conversation. We also dive into the dangerous mid-maegashira pack: the veterans, the dark horses, and the chaos agents who could blow the whole leaderboard apart.

Episode 45 – Part 1: The Rise of Chiyonofuji

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the extraordinary career of Chiyonofuji, one of the most dominant and recognisable Yokozuna in sumo history. From a lightweight prospect battling injuries and doubt to a record-breaking grand champion, we explore how discipline, reinvention, and sheer willpower turned him into “The Wolf.”