The May tournament is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable basho in recent memory. Injuries, promotions, scandal fallout, and a reshuffled upper banzuke have completely changed the fantasy landscape heading into Tokyo.

Here’is everything you need to know.

Hoshoryu: High Ceiling, High Risk

Hoshoryu remains one of the most technically gifted rikishi in the sport. His throws, improvisation, and ring awareness are unmatched. But there are concerns:

• lingering knee issues
• inconsistent performances against explosive younger wrestlers
• occasional shakiness under yokozuna expectations

He suffered surprise losses earlier this year and has shown vulnerability against heavy forward-pressure wrestlers.

Fantasy takeaway:

• Still elite.
• Still capable of winning the yusho.
• But maybe not the automatic “safe #1 pick” anymore. But also maybe he is, if you’re not a coward.

Onosato: Can he shoulder the burden?

Onosato remains the most physically dominant rikishi in sumo. Still nursing a left shoulder injury that booted him from the previous tournament, many insiders (read: me, Chris, I’m the insider) still see him as the most dangerous force in the division if healthy.

His sumo is simple:

• absorb contact
• move forward
• end lives

You should monitor early reports carefully. If his health is good, he immediately becomes a tournament favorite.

Kirishima Is Back

One of the biggest developments of the tournament: Kirishima has returned to ozeki. So handsome. So wrestling. After what looked like a career spiral last year, he clawed his way back through consistency and strong sumo fundamentals.

Why this matters for fantasy:

• veteran experience
• durable
• capable of double-digit wins
• often undervalued compared to flashier rikishi

He may not dominate headlines, but he is exactly the kind of wrestler who quietly carries fantasy teams to mediocre glory.

The Kotozakura Redemption Arc

Kotozakura enters this basho with enormous pressure. After falling short of yokozuna expectations and battling injury issues, he has spent months trying to stabilize his form. Reports from training sessions have been extremely positive.

Apparently he recently went 13-2 in high-level practice bouts against visiting makuuchi wrestlers.

Fantasy outlook:

• Possible bounce-back candidate.
• Strong value if your league mates are scared off by recent inconsistency.
• Could realistically contend for the yusho if healthy.
• Too tiddied to topple.

The Aonishiki Situation

Aonishiki remains one of the most fascinating stories in sumo. The Ukrainian phenom has already rocketed through the rankings and was even being discussed as a possible yokozuna candidate earlier this year.

But expectations may have gotten ahead of reality. And he may be nursing a foot injury incurred during a recent training bout.

Nonetheless, his talent is undeniable:

• explosive tachiai
• aggressive attacking style
• fearless against sanyaku opposition

The question is durability and consistency over 15 days.

Fantasy advice:

• Huge upside pick.
• Boom-or-bust profile.
• Excellent tournament-winning fantasy asset if he gets hot early.

Dark Horse Fantasy Picks

Yoshinofuji

Yoshinofuji continues to climb after previously competing under the name Kusano. He already owns a notable win over Hoshoryu this year. Awesome because:

• ascending momentum
• fearless against top competition
• not yet priced emotionally like a superstar

Could be one of the best sleeper picks of the basho.

Tamawashi: The Undead Veteran

At this point, Tamawashi may actually be immortal. The man simply does not stop. He’s now approaching historic appearance numbers in the top division.

You know the drill:

• no injuries
• consistent availability
• random giant-killer performances

Never glamorous. Always useful. Iron never rusts.

From the Ashes: Enho

One of the biggest emotional stories entering the May 2026 basho has nothing to do with yokozuna races or ozeki politics. It’s the return of Enho.

After years of injuries, surgeries, demotions, and doubts about whether his body could even survive professional sumo anymore, Enho has officially fought his way back to Juryo.

And honestly? The entire sport feels better because of it.

For newer players, it’s hard to explain just how electric Enho once was. At barely over 100 kg, he built his reputation as the giant-killing trickster of modern sumo:

• lightning-fast movement
• impossible escape techniques
• leg picks
• submarine tachiai
• chaotic last-second throws that made absolutely no sense until suddenly his opponent was airborne

Prime Enho matches felt less like sumo and more like a martial arts movie.

But his aggressive low style eventually destroyed his neck and body. After severe spinal issues and repeated absences, he fell all the way down the rankings into the lower divisions. At one point, many fans assumed his sekitori career was over for good.

Instead, he slowly rebuilt himself.

What makes this comeback remarkable is that it hasn’t been nostalgia-driven charity promotion. He earned it. Enho has looked sharper, healthier, and more composed during his climb back upward. While he may have lost some explosiveness, he appears to be compensating with smarter positioning and more patient sumo.

Now the question becomes: Can he survive Juryo-level power again?

Off-Dohyo Drama: The Terunofuji Fallout

One of the biggest non-tournament stories involves former yokozuna Terunofuji. The Japan Sumo Association disciplined him following reports of violence involving a wrestler at Isegahama stable.

While this may not directly affect fantasy scoring, it creates uncertainty around:

• stable morale
• training atmosphere
• wrestler development within Isegahama

Oyakata with Isegahama-affiliated rikishi may want to monitor early tournament momentum closely.

Biggest Fantasy Questions Entering May

1. Is Onosato Healthy?

This may determine the entire tournament.

2. Can Hoshoryu Handle Yokozuna Pressure?

Brilliant skill has never been the issue. Consistency might be.

3. Is Kotozakura Back?

If yes, the yusho race becomes absolute chaos.

4. Which Young Wrestler Breaks Out?

Aonishiki? Yoshinofuji? Someone else entirely?

5. Who Survives the Grind?

The May basho is notorious for attrition. Depth matters.

One thing is certain:

The May 2026 basho feels like the beginning of a new era in sumo. The old guard is fading. The new monsters are arriving. And fantasy owners who identify the next breakout star early could dominate the standings for the rest of the year.

Good luck. I love you.

Chris