Perhaps it¡¯s the warm breezes and first blossoms that always signal the imminent arrival of spring, but the leadup to the March basho inevitably creates a sense of anticipation for the future unlike any of professional sumo¡¯s five other tournaments.
2026 is no different, but this particular edition also carries a particularly intriguing mix of storylines.
Japan¡¯s national sport is deep into a generational transition, with the very top of the banzuke looking different to that of March 2025 ¡ª and possibly about to see a third new yokozuna promoted in the space of 12 months.
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