2025 Aki Basho: Day 12 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 Aki Basho (spoilers).
We only have three days left of the 2025 aki basho and things are tight at the top. The margin for error is razor thin as Hoshoryu and Onosato battle for the best record. Behind them, there’s Shodai, Ryuden, Takanosho, Aonishiki and Kotozakura waiting for them to slip up.
Last night all those guys had pivotal matches which have shaped what these crucial three days are going to look like.
Scroll down below to see what happened.
Bonus gif today is Hakuoho, remind us that sometimes we just have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves up and try again.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Kotoeiho (5-7) def. Tomokaze (7-5) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Tokihayate (6-6) def. Nishikigi (1-11) by yorikiri
Shishi (8-4) def. Mitakeumi (5-7) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Ryuden (9-3) def. Shodai (9-3) by yorikiri*
Roga (6-6) def. Hitoshi (6-6) by yorikiri
Midorifuji (5-7) def. Asakoryu (5-7) by hatakikomi*
Fujinokawa (5-7) def. Shonannoumi (6-6) by oshidashi*
Ura (8-4) def. Tobizaru (7-5) by hatakikomi (slap down)*
Sadanoumi (5-7) def. Kinbozan (5-7) by yorikiri
Oshoma (8-4) def. Meisei (3-9) by hatakikomi*
Churanoumi (8-4) def. Kusano (6-6) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)*
Daieisho (6-6) def. Ichiyamamoto (3-9) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Atamifuji (3-9) def. Kotoshoho (3-9) by kotenage (armlock throw)
Wakamotoharu (7-5) def. Oho (7-5) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Tamawashi (5-7) def. Hakuoho (6-6) by oshidashi*
Gonoyama (1-11) def. Abi (2-10) by oshidashi
Takayasu (4-8) def. Hiradoumi (6-6) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)*
Wakatakakage (6-6) def. Onokatsu (5-7) by hatakikomi
Takanosho (10-2) def. Kotozakura (8-4) by oshidashi*
Onosato (11-1) def. Kirishima (5-7) by oshidashi*
Aonishiki (9-3) def. Hoshoryu (11-1) by kirikaeshi (twisting backward knee trip)*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
Y12 Onosato, Y1wYO Hoshoryu: 11-1
M7e Takanosho: 10-2
K1w Aonishiki, M11e Shodai, M17e Ryuden: 9-3
Analysis
Hoshoryu is no longer in the lead of this basho. That’s thanks to Aonishiki.
The Hoshoryu vs. Aonishiki match looked a lot like the last time these two faced each other (which was their first ever meeting). In that bout, Aonishiki defended Hoshoryu’s throw by rotating away, causing a spin and then used his hand to scoop up one of Hoshoryu’s legs. This time around, Aonishiki used his leg to hook and trip Hoshoryu.
This serves as another reminder that, when you face Aonishiki, you need to have head-to-toe defense. If you aren’t paying attention to what’s happening below the belt-line then you’re likely to get tripped or knee tapped.
It’s not worth being too critical of Hoshoryu in this bout, though. A lot of credit has to go to Aonishiki, who — at just 21 years-old — continues to prove he’s a special rikishi destined for Emperor’s Cups and perhaps even the big white rope. The biggest mistake Hoshoryu made in this bout was an early hatakikomi attempt, where he leaped back and tried to push down on the back of Aonishiki’s non-existent neck.
The win increases Aonishiki’s record to 9-3. There’s still a lot that needs to happen, outside of his control, to give him a path to the cup. However, he has a good shot at winning for the rest of his matches in this tournament. He’s now faced both yokozuna, the ozeki and the entire san’yaku. His remaining match-ups are Takanosho and then possibly opponents like Ryuden, Wakamotoharu or Churanoumi.
Onosato got to watch Hoshoryu lose to Aonishiki after he did his job in beating Kirishima. Kirishima, again, seemed powerless in this match-up. He tried to thrust with Onosato, but a big push in the chest had him hopping over the boundary in no time. Kirishima now sits at 5-7 and is perilously close to losing his sekiwake rank for the second time in a year.
Takanosho is our potential spoiler for this tournament. He shoved out Kotozakura last night. For some reason Kotozakura elected to try getting Takanosho out with the nodowa (throat thrust), instead of locking him up in a clinch (where Kotozakura has a massive advantage). Takanosho was able to side-step the nodowa and then push Kotozakura back and out. The loss practically rules Kotozakura out of title contention.
Ryuden beat Shodai last night to give them both 9-3 records. These veterans had an exciting back and forth battle, which Ryuden was able to win after he got an outside right hand grip on Shodai’s mawashi.
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One of the most exciting bout of the day, in my opinion, was Takayasu vs. Hiradoumi. This was another bout where Takayasu seemed to turn up the speed dial on his tsuppari (rapid palm striking). Hiradoumi was able to keep up until Takayasu got a hold of the scruff of his neck and was able to pull him off balance.
Tamawashi got a big win last night. He used a brutal nodowa to take out Hakuoho, a man 18 years his junior.
Day 12 also gave us the All Chaos Match-up between Ura and Tobizaru (something I look forwards to every basho). In this meeting of the wild and unpredictable sumotori it was the Peach Prince who came out on top. He was able to drag Tobizaru down onto the dirt and earn his second kachi-koshi (winning record) in a row.
Tomorrow brings us more tough matches for the yokozuna.
Hoshoryu will face Kotozakura. He has a 14-9 record against him, but the last two wins have come against an injured and rather checked out Kotozakura. Kotozakura’s last win over Hoshoryu was his final day victory to claim the 2025 Kyushu basho.
Onosato has Wakatakakage. Onosato is 4-2 against him. Wakatakakage is playing for pride now, having seen his ozeki run reset to zero. Wakatakakage won his first two bouts against Onosato (in quite thrilling fashion), but has dropped the last four.
Shodai meets Kirishima tonight. They have a 10-10 record, but Kirishima has won the last five meetings. Kirishima will have to win this to avoid a make-koshi (losing record).
Takanosho and Aonishiki will face-off tonight in their first ever meeting. Ryuden has Oho (who he is 5-2 against).
If either yokozuna wins, then losses for Aonishiki, Shodai and Ryuden would officially eliminate them from title contention.
I think this tournament might end up being a nail-biter!
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Onosato has impressed me this basho by learning how to counterstrike, basically. So many of his bouts now have him parrying or blocking an initial attack and then coming back hard. This must be tough for opponents to expect him to try and steamroll them from the outset. I really like this stylistic adjustment from Onosato, more than him trying hatakikomi a bunch.
Hi All, well I am starting with Onosato and Hoshoryu
Both now on 11-1 the relief on Onosato was evident, but Hoshoryu now cannot afford to loose any more bouts, we all know that the Ruling Body have shot a warning at his performances since he made Yokozuna !!
Clearly Onosato paid particular attention to July re plays, he’s completely changed his mode of attack, his opponents taken by surprise as he slides back relaxed blocks a bit parries a bit, lures them in to a false sense of “oh this is so easy” and then bang their hit by the truck and gone with push and thrusts.
I worry about Hoshoryu I don’t see him beating Hakuoho I am afraid.
Just look at Takanosho he is rallying the troops around him and then blowing them up ! He’s amazing and he looks good, it must be said though I worry about his breathing at end of.
And you by now know where I end
Atamifuji, what happened to him? Yes he’s now playing in the big boys pen but he’s just not turning up, in a couple of cases he barely put up a fight ?