"ABEMA" Unveils New Visual for July Grand Sumo Tournament Featuring Wakatakaei, Winner of Last Tournament, and Both Yokozuna Aiming for Comeback! New Design with Dragonflies and Bamboo Celebrates 'Strike First to Win' – Fans React: 'Wakatakaei in the Center!' 'Both Yokozuna Together!'

ABEMA, the 'television for a new future,' has unveiled a new key visual for the July Grand Sumo Tournament (Nagoya Tournament) held at IG Arena in Aichi Prefecture starting Sunday, July 12, 2026.

In this visual, Wakatakaei, who won the previous tournament as a komusubi, stands at the center, flanked on the left by yokozuna Tochio Ryu and on the right by yokozuna Dainoshin. Wakatakaei clinched his first makuuchi division championship in May by defeating ozeki Kirishima in a playoff, claiming his first top-division title in four years (25 tournaments). All eyes are now on whether he can secure consecutive victories to strengthen his bid for ozeki promotion. Meanwhile, both yokozuna Tochio Ryu and Dainoshin sat out the previous tournament, and their return and quest to reclaim the championship as grand champions are highly anticipated.

The background features 'sasa' bamboo, a traditional symbol of Japan's summer Tanabata festival, and dragonflies, considered auspicious 'victory insects' in sumo. Dragonflies, active during summer, also evoke the intense summer atmosphere of IG Arena, which became the tournament's new venue last year.

The phrase 'Strike first to win' displayed at the top symbolizes seizing the initiative—starting the bout before the opponent and gaining immediate advantage. It reflects the hope for fierce, full-effort clashes where rikishi charge head-on in the July tournament.

Following the visual's release, fans on ABEMA's official X account for sumo posted enthusiastic comments such as, 'Wakatakaei right behind the yokozuna—perfect!' 'Wow!! Wakatakaei in the back center!' 'Looks like both yokozuna are back—this tournament is going to be intense!' and 'I'm way too excited...' Praise and anticipation are growing for Wakatakaei's central placement and the return of both yokozuna.

ABEMA will continue to livestream every bout of the July tournament—from the lowest jonokuchi division to the final match—free of charge. Don't miss the fierce action, brought to life with clear commentary by sumo experts, exclusively on ABEMA.

ABEMA Sumo Special Site: https://times.abema.tv/sumo/torikumi

'ABEMA Grand Sumo 2026: July Tournament' Broadcast Overview

Period: July 12 (Sun), 2026 – July 26 (Sun), 2026

URL: https://abema.tv/video/title/394-72

※ During the July tournament, virtual commentary by Tora Kameta will be available only on weekends (Sat/Sun).

※ Broadcast schedules, content, and formats are subject to change without notice.

※ When using images, please credit: (C) AbemaTV, Inc.

About 'ABEMA'

ABEMA marks its 10th anniversary on April 11, 2026, continuing its mission as 'television for a new future' by innovating the TV experience. Since launch, ABEMA has offered an internet-based television service accessible for free without registration, broadcasting around 25 channels 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These include a 24-hour news channel, original dramas, romance reality shows, variety programs, anime, sports, and more—all striving for 'highest quality or one-of-a-kind' content.

In addition to boasting the largest number of original episodes among domestic video services in Japan (※), ABEMA offers a rich lineup including new hit movies, popular Japanese and international dramas, trending anime, live sports broadcasts, and online concerts. Users can enjoy content anytime, free from traditional TV schedules, across smartphones, PCs, tablets, and TV devices—delivering flexible viewing experiences tailored to diverse lifestyles.

For enhanced access, ABEMA Premium is available for ¥1,180/month (tax included), offering exclusive features and content. Alternatively, Ad-Supported ABEMA Premium is available for ¥680/month (tax included), allowing users to watch ABEMA Premium-exclusive content with advertisements.

(※) As of March 2026, based on internal survey

For the latest updates, please check ABEMA's official SNS accounts.

Experience the 'television for a new future,' ABEMA—where free videos and trending content come alive: https://abema.tv/

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, ABEMA will host special programs and the 'ABEMA 10th Anniversary Free Thank-You Festival,' among other year-round campaigns. Stay tuned for more exciting 10th-anniversary events.

ABEMA 10th Anniversary Site URL: https://contents-abema.com/10th/

※ Please note the correct service name:

○ 'ABEMA (Abema)' × 'Ameba (Ameba)'