2025 Aki Basho: Day 10 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 Aki Basho (spoilers).
We are into double digits at the autumn basho and things are about to get tough for our tournament leaders. It’s time to separate the contenders from the pretenders (even though it feels like we’ve known who the real contenders will be for about a week now).
We had more great matches on the dohyo last night. We’re at a point where every win and loss is crucial for the top guys and we’re seeing who can handle that pressure and who can not. It’s thrilling theatre and we have five days left of it to go!
Scroll down to what went on last night and my analysis.
Bonus gif today is a drive-by Ura sighting.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Oshoumi (8-2) def. Shishi (6-4) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Tobizaru (7-3) def. Nishikigi (1-9) by isamiashi (forward step out)
Asakoryu (5-5) def. Tomokaze (6-4) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Ryuden (8-2) def. Meisei (3-7) by okuridashi (rear push out)
Tokihayate (4-6) def. Shonannoumi (5-5) by yorikiri
Mitakeumi (4-6) def. Hitoshi (4-6) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Sadanoumi (4-6) def. Fujinokawa (3-7) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)*
Ura (7-3) def. Roga (5-5) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Takanosho (8-2) def. Shodai (8-2) by oshidashi*
Oshoma (6-4) def. Churanoumi (6-4) by oshidashi
Kinbozan (4-6) def. Onokatsu (5-5) by oshidashi
Daieisho (4-6) def. Kusano (5-5) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)*
Midorifuji (4-6) def. Ichiyamamoto (3-7) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Oho (6-4) def. Atamifuji (2-8) by oshidashi
Abi (1-9) def. Tamawashi (3-7) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Takayasu (3-7) def. Gonoyama (0-10) by yorikiri
Aonishiki (8-2) def. Hakuoho (6-4) by yorikiri*
Hiradoumi (6-4) def. Wakatakakage (5-5) by yorikiri*
Kotozakura (7-3) def. Kirishima (5-5) by yorikiri*
Onosato (9-1) def. Kotoshoho (2-8) by tsukidashi
Hoshoryu (10-0) def. Wakamotoharu (6-4) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
Y1wYO Hoshoryu: 10-0
Y1e Onosato: 9-1
K1w Aonishiki, M7e Takanosho, M11e Shodai, M17e Ryuden: 8-2
Analysis
Hoshoryu is still in control of the 2025 aki basho.
He improved to 10-0 last night when he beat familiar foe Wakamotoharu. Wakamotoharu scored a shock victory over Hoshoryu in July. That was only the fourth win he’s had over Hoshoryu in twenty meetings.
Hoshoryu clearly wanted some revenge for that loss last night. After a long stare-off, Hoshoryu hit Wakamotoharu hard off the tachiai, getting his right arm on the inside immediately (thus denying Wakamotoharu his favoured hidari-yotsu [left arm inside, right arm outside position]). Hoshoryu tried to force Wakamotoharu over, but was met with good resistance. Hoshoryu responded by hooking his right arm upwards and stepping back for the arm throw.
It looked like Hoshoryu put a little extra mustard on the throw at the end there. He also gave the felled Wakamotoharu a little glance before strutting away. The scene was similar to when Wakamotoharu tried, and failed, to henka Hoshoryu back when Hoshoryu was on his ozeki run in 2023. Back then Hoshoryu caught the leaping Wakamotoharu in mid air, locked him up and then threw him down. Check out the replay (and the death stare), below:
You can read all of this as these two not liking each other. From the backstage footage I’ve seen, though, they seem to be friends. I think this is just a case of friendships going on pause when it’s game-time. Sumo wrestlers manage that like no other athletes on the planet.
Onosato also got revenge last night. He thrusted Kotoshoho out without too much trouble. In the previous tournament Kotoshoho beat Onosato, with an outstanding performance, that essentially cleared his path to the title.
Onosato has really been flexing his muscles over the past few days. Most of his opponents have ended up in the crowd.
Wakatakakage’s chance of an ozeki promotion this month likely died last night. He and Hiradoumi gave each other the right arm inside position off the tachiai (which both men prefer). Hiradoumi then used superior gaburi-yori (torso thrusting) to straighten up Wakatakakage and put his heels on the straw. Wakatakakage tried, with all his might, to save himself from the force out (you can see his calf muscles almost popping off the bone).
However, Hiradoumi was just too strong and Wakatakakage had to step out. He looked crushed after that one.
The best Wakatakakage can manage this tournament is now 10-5. That would land him at 32 wins over the past three tournaments, one shy of the usual 33 needed to qualify for an ozeki promotion.
He still has the yokozuna ahead of him, so it will be hard for him to manage ten wins this month. If he can beat both of them, though, maybe we see him get that promotion after all.
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Kotozakura looked great last night. Kirishima, who has looked quite mediocre after his hot start to the tournament, tried to maintain range with Kotozakura in this bout. However, Kotozakura laid in some heavy harite (palm strikes) and I think that had Kirishima looking for a clinch. In the clinch Kotozakura showed us why he’s the best yotsu-zumo (belt grappling) practitioner in the game.
Both of these guys favour migi-yotsu (right arm inside, left arm outside). Kotozakura blocked off Kirishima’s right hand from that inside position early and then slowly crept his right hand onto Kirishima’s belt. Kirishima had his left hand on the belt with the outside position, but the inside position is the stronger hold. At the 1:05 mark of the video above you can see Kotozakura flick his left wrist and extend to get a hold of Kirishima’s belt on both sides.
Two hands on the belt beat one hand on the belt in sumo.
Kirishima tried to reach under with his right hand to match Kotozakura, but Kotozakura moved his hips to stay out of reach. Kotozakura then wrenched up and started his advance. Kirishima shaped for a throw and Kotozakura paused, sensing Kirishima was going to try and capitalize on his momentum.
Kotozakura then shot his hips backwards to reset, which was brilliant. He was able to keep both hands on Kirishima’s belt and peel Kirishima’s left hand off of his. Kirishima panicked at this point and went for the makki-kae (switch from outside position to inside position) with his left hand. When he did that Kotozakura crunched his forearm against his chest and carried him out. The makki-kae is a very risky move (Kotozakura is the best at doing it) and this is the second time this tournament that Kirishima has been forced out while going for it.
This is the Kotozakura we saw last year, the man who seemed the favourite to succeed Terunofuji as the next yokozuna.
At 7-3 it’s not impossible that Kotozakura ends up with a title this month, especially if he’s able to fight Hoshoryu and Onosato to the best of his abilities when they meet this week.
There are a couple of wrestlers on 8-2 who will also fancy themselves to upset the potential yokozuna bowl.
Aonishiki is now 8-2. He fought Hakuoho with sumo that looked a lot more classic than his usual style (which borrows a lot from freestyle wrestling). Hakuoho forced him into that pulling him up into a more straight-up position. But guess what, folks? Aonishiki is great at this traditional style, too. With his left arm inside (the opposite of what he prefers) he was able to out muscle the very strong Hakuoho for the win.
Takanosho and Shodai are both 8-2. They met last night. In that bout Takanosho’s oshi-zumo (pushing/thrusting) was too much for Shodai (a yotsu guy) to handle.
Speaking of oshi-zumo. Daieisho gave us a perfect demonstration of how to push and thrust when he blew away Kusano.
Tonight our yokozuna will get their toughest tests of the tournament.
Hoshoryu meets another ‘frenemy’ in the form of Kirishima. He’s 11-10 against his countryman and former judo clubmate.
Onosato meets his mentor and swordbearer Takayasu. Onosato has 3-2 record against him, including his play-off win in March.
Aonishiki and Shodai are paired off together, along with their 8-2 records. They’ve only fought once and Aonishiki was the winner. Whoever loses this one is likely out of title contention for this month.
Takanosho and Ryuden are also fighting. They are both on 8-2, as well.
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What in the world is isamiashi, the way Tobizaru won? Does that mean his opponent just stepped himself out of the straw? Is Tobizaru just that intimidating? ;-)