September 2026 participation notice: In its 11 September announcement, the Japan Sumo Association listed Hoshoryu as absent from the opening day. That notice gave no reason or return date. Read the announcement details and sources →
Hoshoryu makes me anticipate a throw. Yet force-outs lead his recent winning finishes at 21%. The forward wins deserve attention too.
A throw without holding the belt
The next listed finishes are push-outs, 13%, and beltless arm throws, 9%. The JSA display contains 53 wins including one default; other finishes account for 57%.
The beltless arm throw, sukuinage, uses the inside arm without gripping the opponent’s belt. That distinguishes it from an underarm belt throw. When his arm gets inside, I now want to see whether the hand holds the belt. “No grip yet” need not mean “no throwing opportunity.”
A date and a tournament
The JSA announced his promotion to 74th Yokozuna on 29 January 2025; March was his first tournament at the rank. Its commemorative page preserves his two championships and September 2023 Ozeki promotion.
His 2026 results include 11–4 in March, 0–2 with 13 absences in May, and 7–7 with one absence in July. A grand title should not erase the changing record beneath it.
A phrase from Hoshoryu himself
His chosen maxim is that training does not lie. He says he began sumo at 17, and likes Harry Potter and Bleach. That is a welcome counterweight to calling every impressive throw instinctive genius. He represents Tatsunami stable and comes from Ulaanbaatar.
Checked 11 September 2026 JST. Technique shares reproduce the JSA’s previous-six-tournament display (September 2025–July 2026); they describe winning finishes, not success rates across all bouts. Official profile, results and wrestler questionnaire.