Ozeki Kirishima, who’s in pursuit of his second consecutive Emperor’s Cup, improved to 7-0 at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday, May 16.
On Day 7 of the 15-day tournament, the Mongolian wrestler overpowered fourth-ranked maegashira Daieisho with a frontal push-out at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.
“I just thought I’d go in and make solid contact — that was my only option,” Kirishima said after his victory over the 160-kg Daieisho, according to Tokyo Sports. “It’s hard to get a grip on Daieisho’s mawashi. The initial charge is the most crucial point.”
Starting on May 10, Kirishima collected wins in succession against maegashira No 1 Takanosho, maegashira No 2 Yoshinofuji, top-ranked maegashira Fujinokawa, maegashira No 2 Ichiyamamoto, No 3 Hiradoumi and No 3 Oho before beating Daieisho.
Kirishima defeats Daieisho on Day 7 of the Summer Basho on May 16. (©SANKEI)
Maegashira No 15 Tobizaru, 13th-ranked maegashira Kotoeiho and komusubi Wakatakakage are one win off the pace at 6-1.
Kotozakura, the other active ozeki, has had a disappointing start at the Summer Basho. On Saturday, he slipped to 2-5 with a loss to Oho.
Ukrainian ozeki Aonishiki is not competing at the ongoing sumo tournament due to a left ankle injury. Mongolian yokozuna Hoshoryu (right hamstring) and fellow grand champion Onosato (left shoulder) are also coping with injuries.
Hoshoryu pulled out of the tourney after an opening-day loss, joining Onosato on the sidelines.
Another view of Kirishima’s seventh victory of the Summer Basho. (©SANKEI)
Kirishima Displays Consistent Form
In picking up seven consecutive wins to open the tourney, the 30-year-old Kirishima has displayed his strength and in-form physical condition day after day at the Tokyo meet.
He’s hoping for more of the same in his next match ― against fourth-ranked maegashira Gonoyama (5-2) on Sunday, May 17 ― and throughout the second week of the Summer Basho.
“My body moved well [against Daieisho], so this gives me confidence for my next bout,” Kirishima said, according to Sankei Sports.
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Nagasaki Velca forward Stanley Johnson drives to the basket against the Chiba Jets in Game 2 of a B.League playoff semifinal series on May 16 in Nagasaki. (©B.LEAGUE)
Basketball
Velca, Golden Kings Advance to B.League Finals
The Nagasaki Velca and the Ryukyu Golden Kings have advanced to the B.League Finals.
Nagasaki, which had the best record during the regular season (47-13), completed a two-game sweep of the visiting Chiba Jets in the playoff semifinals on Saturday, May 16, winning 102-93.
American power forward Jarrell Brantley paced the Velca with a game-high 24 points. Yudai Baba poured in 19 points and Hyunjung Lee had 18 for Nagasaki, which led 36-24 after the first quarter.
The Velca defeated the Jets 82-74 in Game 1 of the semifinal series on Friday. Lee and Stanley Johnson sparked the hosts with 22 points apiece. Chiba’s Yuta Watanabe had a 24-point performance.
Nagasaki will make its first-ever appearance in the B.League Finals.
Ryukyu Golden Kings guard Ryuichi Kishimoto celebrates after making a 3-pointer against the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins on May 16. (©B.LEAGUE)
In Okinawa City, the Golden Kings beat the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins 90-74 on Saturday, wrapping up the series in two games.
Vic Law led the hosts with 25 points. Teammates Jack Cooley and Ryuichi Kishimoto both finished with 15 points as the Golden Kings clinched a spot in the B.League Finals for the fifth straight year.
In Friday’s Game 1, former NBA shooting guard Damyean Dotson ignited Ryukyu’s offense with 17 points, and the Golden Kings outscored the visitors 40-24 in the final two quarters. Coach Dai Oketani‘s club won the series opener 85-65.
The best-of-three B.League Finals is scheduled to be held at Yokohama Arena. Game 1 is on Saturday, May 23 (2:30 PM), and Game 2 is the next day (1:05 PM). If necessary, Game 3 is set for Tuesday, May 26 (7:05 PM).
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Bayern Munich’s Momoko Tanikawa in a March 2026 file photo. (©Jason Cairnduff/ACTION IMAGES/via REUTERS)
Soccer
Tanikawa Scores in Women’s German Cup Final
Bayern Munich midfielder Momoko Tanikawa contributed a goal in her club’s 4-0 thrashing of Wolfsburg in the women’s German Cup final on Thursday, May 14.
In Cologne, Germany, Tanikawa’s goal gave Bayern a 3-0 lead in the 77th minute.
Prior to the German Cup final, Bayern had already clinched the German League regular-season title.
For Bayern, Thursday’s triumph secured back-to-back years with winners’ trophies in the tournament and the league.
“There’s only one thing harder in sport than winning titles — and that’s defending them,” Max Eberl, a member of the club’s board of directors said, according to the team’s official website. “The fact that FC Bayern Women have claimed the double again cements their position as a top team.”
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Tokyo Yakult Swallows reliever Jose Quijada pitches against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars on May 2 at Jingu Stadium. (©KYODO)
Baseball
Swallows’ Quijada Leads NPB in Saves
Newcomer Jose Quijada has been a great addition to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows‘ bullpen.
The veteran left-hander has appeared in 15 games for the Central League squad, and he hasn’t allowed a run in 15 innings. Quijada has 21 strikeouts. Opponents have only gotten five hits off the 30-year-old Venezuelan through May 16.
Quijada, who previously pitched for the Miami Marlins (2019) and Los Angeles Angels (2020-25), leads NPB in saves (13).
The Swallows (25-16) are in first place in the Central League.
Colorado Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano fires a pitch to an Arizona Diamondbacks batter on May 16 at Coors Field. (©GETTY IMAGES/via KYODO)
Rockies’ Sugano Having an Up-and-Down Season
Tomoyuki Sugano, in his first season with the Colorado Rockies, has a 4-3 record with a 4.02 ERA in nine starts.
In his most recent outing, the former Yomiuri Giants ace ended a two-game personal losing streak with five innings of two-run ball against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. He scattered seven hits, walked two and fanned one in Colorado’s 4-2 win on Saturday, May 16.
On May 10, Sugano gave up five runs and seven hits, including three home runs, to the Philadelphia Phillies. He was handed his second straight defeat as the Phillies recorded a 6-0 home victory.
Sugano, who pitched for the Baltimore Orioles in his first MLB season in 2025, worked 5⅓ innings against the New York Mets on May 4. He allowed three hits and four runs and took the loss.
On April 29, the 36-year-old right-hander earned his third win of the season, holding the Cincinnati Reds to four hits in 5⅓ scoreless innings.
The rebuilding Rockies have the worst record (18-28) in the National League.
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Japan rugby national team head coach Eddie Jones gives instructions during a training session on February 23 in Fuchu, Tokyo Prefecture. (©SANKEI)
Rugby
Jones Gets 4-Game Ban for Verbal Abuse of Referees
Eddie Jones, the Japan men’s rugby national team head coach, has received a four-game suspension due to verbal abuse of match officials during Japan’s Under-23 tour of Australia in April.
The Japan Rugby Football Union announced disciplinary measures against Jones on Wednesday, May 13.
The suspension will include the Brave Blossoms‘ Nations Cup opener versus Italy on July 4, along with an exhibition match against the Maori All Blacks and two more against a Hong Kong squad. Jones’ punishment will keep him away from the team for six weeks.
“In light of the seriousness of this matter, the JRFU has already decided, based on the contract with him, to impose a salary reduction on him and to suspend him from his duties as head coach of the Japan national team for six weeks [from April 24 to June 5],” the JRFU said.
Jones issued an apology for his offensive remarks during the U-23 tour.
“Some inappropriate remarks that I made caused discomfort to local match officials and other related parties,” Jones said, according to BBC Sport. “I would like to offer my sincere apologies to everyone involved.”
Takuma Sato (©KYODO)
Quotes of the Week
“You could see the most competitive field right now for the IndyCar Series. I think year by year, of course it’s different. Now you could say the margins, difference between teams and drivers, it’s highly competitive. It’s night and day sometimes. Hopefully we can sort it [out] together. It will be great if you get one of the best results here amongst this very high competitiveness.”
―Two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato, responding to a question at a news conference about his expectations for the May 24 race. Sato led for 51 laps in the 2025 Indy 500.
Kaori Sakamoto attends a news conference on May 13 in Kobe. (©SANKEI)
“I’d like to take this opportunity to announce that I got married the other day. It’s someone I met at university. He’s the same age [and] he’s the polar opposite of me, always calm and collected ― but someone who likes to have fun and I know I can have fun with.”
―Retired figure skater Kaori Sakamoto, a four-time world champion, tells reporters on May 13.
Author: Ed Odeven
Follow Ed’s [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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