2025 Aki Basho: Day 1 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 Aki Basho (spoilers).
Welcome all to the first day of my 2025 aki basho coverage!
Sumo is back and Lord did I miss it. I’m thrilled to be covering another basho with this newsletter. However, I have some things going on right now which may affect some things around here.
I am currently in classes, on field placement, working, parenting and trying to be a good spouse, all in addition to doing Sumo Stomp! I am, literally, the busiest I have ever been in my life.
I have made it my goal to continue to send out a daily recap during this tournament. However, those recaps might come out at irregular times and they may be more brief than usual. I will endeavour to ensure the quality level remains the same, despite these challenges. Thank you, in advance, for your patience.
This month I am running another giveaway. Sumo Stomp! subscriber Maxx is back and is providing another excellent sweater from his Cheeky Sumo line. Check out his website here (link)! The sweater celebrates the graceful violence that is the shitatenage (underarm throw).
To have a chance of winning this item, you need to be a paid subscriber. If you are a monthly subscriber you get one entry in the draw. If you are an annual subscriber you get six entries in the draw. And if you are a founding member you will receive twelve entries in that draw.
Folks who support Sumo Stomp! on PayPal will also be entered into the draw.
This month I am also releasing a new item over on the Sumo Stomp! store. My buddy Anton and I have come up with a special mug to help you fly your sumo freak flag at home or at the office.
If you’re a paid subscriber, go find a paywalled post and scroll to the bottom for a 15% coupon code for all store purchases.
OK, enough housekeeping… let’s get to the action. Beyond the bonus gif you’ll find results, videos and analysis of our first day of action at the 2025 autumn tournament.
Today’s bonus gif is Hakuoho, my first pick in this year’s fantasy sumo.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Daiseizan (1-0) def. Shishi (0-1) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Ryuden (1-0) def. Hitoshi (0-1) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Tomokaze (1-0) def. Nishikigi (0-1) by oshidashi
Tobizaru (1-0) def. Shonannoumi (0-1) by oshidashi*
Sadanoumi (1-0) def. Asakoryu (0-1) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Meisei (1-0) def. Tokihayate (0-1) by oshidashi
Roga (1-0) def. Mitakeumi (0-1) by yorikiri
Shodai (1-0) def. Churanoumi (0-1) by yorikiri
Daieisho (1-0) def. Fujinokawa (0-1) by oshidashi
Midorifuji (1-0) def. Kinbozan (0-1) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Ura (1-0) def. Oshoma (0-1) by oshidashi*
Takanosho (1-0) def. Kusano (0-1) by yorikiri
Onokatsu (1-0) def. Ichiyamamoto (0-1) by yorikiri
Wakamotoharu (1-0) def. Kotoshoho (0-1) by yorikiri
Hiradoumi (1-0) def. Gonoyama (0-1) by hatakikomi (slap down)*
Atamifuji (1-0) def. Takayasu (0-1) by yorikiri*
Kirishima (1-0) def. Oho (0-1) by yorikiri*
Hakuoho (1-0) def. Wakatakakage (0-1) by oshidashi*
Kotozakura (1-0) def. Abi (0-1) by oshidashi
Hoshoryu (1-0) def. Tamawashi (0-1) by watashikomi (thigh grabbing push down)*
Onosato (1-0) def. Aonishiki (0-1) by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
Too early!
Analysis
Both yokozuna got off to winning starts this month. Hopefully that’s a sign that we’ll get an entire tournament with them both competing each day and that they meet each other on the dohyo at some point.
Hoshoryu dropped down and shot a single leg to take down his Mongolian elder Tamawashi. This improvization came after Hoshoryu almost lost his footing while thrusting forwards. Replays showed that he and Tamawashi touched down at the same time, but I understand why there was no mono-ii (judges’ review).
Hoshoryu was executing a finishing move when this happened. I don’t think Tamawashi was doing enough to justify saying the same thing about him. He did have a hand on Hoshoryu’s shoulder, but he wasn’t exactly driving him down into the dirt. Also, this could be a little bit of shimpan enforced karma, after Hoshoryu was robbed of a mono-ii in a bout with Abi in the last tournament.
Onosato got his opening day win by running through Aonishiki. One of Aonishiki’s very few weaknesses, at this stage of his career, is how far back he’s often moved with a big shove to the chest. Onosato was able to blast him across the ring with his opening shove. Aonishiki then tried to circle away but Onosato smartly used his right hand to grab onto the mawashi to ensure Aonishiki wouldn’t slip away and that, if they were both going down, he would be on top.
This is a good sign for Onosato. In the last tournament he looked a little lazy with that right hand. When Onosato performs well he’s usually very disciplined about being snug with that right arm inside position.
It’s far too early to tell, but wouldn’t it be great if this was the tournament where we finally see two yokozuna battling it out for the cup?
Wakatakakage is a popular pick to be fighting for the cup, too, in addition to the eleven wins he needs to become an ozeki. He got off to a poor start this tournament, with Hakuoho steamrolling him for the quick push out.
Kotozakura started his tournament off with a win. He looked pretty solid in resisting Abi and then planting his feet when Abi tried to pull him out over the straw.
Kirishima looked strong on Day One, too. He indulged Oho in some striking and then did what everyone does to beat Oho, duck inside, get the belt and then force him out.
Atamafuji is one of my picks for a dark horse yusho contender this month. He beat Takayasu last night in a bout that showed he’s the ultimate gaburi-yori (tummy thrusting) master in the game right now.
Daieisho is another potential yusho winner this month. He’s far too good for his ranking, after being demoted off a 0-0-15 record in July. He smoked Fujinokawa. I think we are going to see the Battle Pug go on a roll in this first week of the basho.
Ura and Oshoma had one of the most entertaining bouts of the day. They had a long battle with Ura looking to change levels and get inside, whereas Oshoma was looking to bait him into that so he could pull off his favored slap down technique. Ura ended up winning after ducking down and getting a hold of one of Oshoma’s legs (maybe that’s what gave Hoshoryu the idea later on in the night).
There’s no official video of it, but Tobizaru vs. Shonannoumi was wild. That was a long fight with lots of cat and mouse being played. The evasive Tobizaru ended up winning after tiring out the bigger Shonannoumi. Tobizaru still looks very banged up, though.
That’s it for now, but tomorrow brings us more thrilling match-ups. Tonight Onosato will look for revenge against Tamawashi (who took a kinboshi off him in July) and Hoshoryu will meet Takayasu (someone he’s beaten just twice in eleven meetings).
Wakatakakage will look for his first win when he faces Oho. Hakuoho will be tested by Kotozakura and Atamifuji will meet Aonishiki.
Can’t wait!
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Don Don Sumo's channel showed the Tobizaru bout. It is crazy how many times he spun around to avoid getting shoved out. Despite having mostly yorikiri and oshidashi finishes, this looked like a wild first day. I am worried about the clay getting wet and more people slipping like Hoshoryu nearly did.
Sumo!!!