In the finals of the Nagoya Basho, Terunofuji clinched his 10th championship by defeating Takanosho in a decisive match. While the Yokozuna demonstrated strong concentration at pivotal moments, there were criticisms regarding his three losses, which some analysts interpreted as pointers for opponents to exploit. Following his victory, Terunofuji expressed confidence in the current generation of wrestlers, asserting that they are the strongest ever.

Hiradoumi also made headlines, achieving a commendable 10 wins in his debut as a new komusubi. His earnest approach and progress in training have clearly translated to his performance in the ring. Observers noted that to advance further, he should continue strengthening his lower body and refining his techniques, as well as stick to traditional methods rather than adopting lateral movements, as seen in his match against Onosato.

Conversely, Onosato's recent performance revealed several areas for improvement, as he struggled against opponents who targeted his right hand grip. He needs to tackle these challenges if he hopes to maintain his position in the rankings, with mounting competition below him.

Additionally, the Yokozuna Advisory Council met and praised Terunofuji's resolve, particularly noting his impressive 12 wins despite injuries. Discussions also included measures to address the rising number of injuries among wrestlers and the potential revival of the public injury allowance system, emphasizing the need for ongoing discourse on the topic.

In a recent meeting held on July 29th at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council discussed the performance of top rikishi from the Nagoya tournament. The chair, Masayuki Yamauchi, praised Terunofuji for achieving his tenth victory despite battling injuries, stating that his 12 wins and 3 losses were commendable.

Conversely, Takakeisho faced criticism for his disappointing performance, having recorded only five wins over the last two tournaments, which resulted in a demotion to the Sekiwake rank. The council expressed disappointment, labeling his results as unfortunate. There were also discussions about the need for rules similar to the former injury protection system, which allowed rikishi to avoid demotion after a complete tournament withdrawal due to injury.

During the final day of the Nagoya basho on July 28, 2024, Kusano, a 23-year-old wrestler from Isegahama stable, experienced a fainting KO during his match against Nishinoryu. After suffering a powerful slap strike, he collapsed and was unresponsive for over ten minutes, leading to an emergency evacuation from the ring.

The incident occurred when Kusano was struck and fell backward, hitting his head hard. He later recounted waking up on a stretcher, being tended to by Miyagino oyakata, former yokozuna Hakuho. Initially, Kusano expressed that he thought he was dead due to the severity of the fall.

A promising athlete, Kusano was a student yokozuna last year and made his professional debut in the previous tournament. He acknowledged that the rigorous nature of professional sumo is a stark contrast to amateur rules, where such strikes are considered illegal. While he has been diagnosed with a concussion, he is recovering well and plans to undergo further medical evaluation post-basho.

In the finale of the Nagoya Basho, Takakeisho faced his fourth consecutive defeat, sealing his demotion from the rank of Ozeki. Competing against Shonannoumi, he stumbled in the initial charge, allowing his opponent to easily secure a hold and topple him. Despite the apparent disappointment in his performance, he maintained a calm demeanor, stating, "It's not that big of a deal," while reflecting on the past 15 days, where he accepted the harsh reality of his 5 wins and 10 losses.

Looking ahead to the upcoming Aki Basho, Takakeisho will need to secure at least 10 wins to reclaim his Ozeki status through special provisions. However, when pressed about his future in sumo and whether he would continue or retire, he chose not to respond, leaving the venue in silence.

In a press conference held the day after securing his tenth championship at the Nagoya tournament, Terunofuji expressed his satisfaction with his current performance. Despite dealing with chronic knee and back pain, the 32-year-old Yokozuna stated, "Right now, I am wrestling in my ideal form. I sometimes think this may be my strongest."

During the Nagoya tournament, Terunofuji kicked off with ten consecutive wins and maintained a strong lead. His dominance hinted at the possibility of clinching the title before the end of the tournament, even breaking records by showcasing remarkable strength. However, he faced setbacks, suffering losses against Onosato, Takanosho, and Kotozakura in the latter part of the competition. Ultimately, he ended with a record of 12 wins and 3 losses, tying with Takanosho and winning the decisive match.

Reflecting on his journey, Terunofuji acknowledged the unpredictability of sumo, admitting he no longer has the unwavering confidence of his earlier years. Nonetheless, accomplishing his goal of double-digit championships places him among a select group in sumo history. Looking ahead, he has set his sights on an eleventh championship, vowing to concentrate fully on his training and preparation over the next 15 days.