2025 Aki Basho: Day 13 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 Aki Basho (spoilers).
Thirteen days down and just two to go. Things were tight coming into Day 13. Regardless of how things went last night, we are still scheduled for a close finish at the 2025 aki basho this weekend.
There hasn’t been a ton of drama lower down the banzuke, but this tournament has delivered a great storyline at the top with our two yokozuna battling it out (against other opponents) to prove who is the best in this, their first tournament as fully fit yokozuna.
Last night Hoshoryu met Kotozakura (who is looking close to full fitness himself) and Onosato faced the crestfallen Wakatakakage.
Aonishiki, Takanosho, Shodai and Ryuden all came into last night’s bouts hoping to stay close to the leaders and mount a potential challenge down the stretch.
Scroll down to see what happened and what the state of play is as we head into the final weekend.
Bonus gif today is the Big Slo, who I hilarious picked as a runner-up for this tournament in fantasy sumo.
SPOILERS BELOW
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Results
Chiyoshoma (8-5) def. Shonannoumi (6-7) by shitatenage (underarm throw)
Tomokaze (8-5) def. Sadanoumi (5-8) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Shishi (9-4) def. Churanoumi (8-5) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Asakoryu (6-7) def. Daieisho (6-7) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Hitoshi (6-7) def. Fujinokawa (5-8) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Midorifuji (6-7) def. Nishikigi (1-12) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Kinbozan (6-7) def. Tobizaru (7-6) by hatakikomi
Ura (9-4) def. Tokihayate (6-7) by oshidashi
Mitakeumi (6-7) def. Oshoma (8-5) by yorikiri
Kusano (7-6) def. Roga (6-7) by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)
Meisei (4-9) def. Ichiyamamoto (3-10) by hatakikomi
Atamifuji (4-9) def. Gonoyama (1-12) by yorikiri*
Oho (8-5) def. Ryuden (9-4) by hatakikomi*
Hakuoho (7-6) def. Onokatsu (5-8) by yorikiri
Abi (3-10) def. Kotoshoho (3-10) by uwatenage
Hiradoumi (7-6) def. Tamawashi (5-8) by yorikiri*
Aonishiki (10-3) def. Takanosho (10-3) by watashikomi (thigh grabbing push down)*
Takayasu (5-8) def. Wakamotoharu (7-6) by yorikiri
Kirishima (6-7) def. Shodai (9-4) by yorikiri*
Kotozakura (9-4) def. Hoshoryu (11-2) by yorikiri*
Onosato (12-1) def. Wakatakakage (6-7) by yorikiri*
*Must see bouts!
If you’re unable to pick up a paid subscription to Sumo Stomp! but would still like to tip me for these posts, please consider buying me a coffee below (via PayPal).
Leaderboard
Y12 Onosato: 12-1
Y1wYO Hoshoryu: 11-2
K1w Aonishiki, M7e Takanosho: 10-3
Analysis
Advantage Onosato.
Last night Hoshoryu lost to Kotozakura, dropping his record to 11-2 and allowing Onosato to leap-frog him with his victory over Wakatakakage.
The change at the top is due to the blossoming form of Kotozakura in this tournament. He’s hobbled through much of this year, showing mere flashes of his brilliant full potential. This month, those flashes have been more prolonged and frequent. He’s starting to look more like the man who won the November tournament and set himself up to become the 74th yokozuna.
Against Hoshoryu, the actual 74th yokozuna, he showed off his improved strength and stability with an enveloping tachiai, where he immediately secured migi-yotsu (right arm inside, left arm inside) and then marched his opponent out. This all happened without Kotozakura moving a millimetre backwards. That’s yokozuna sumo.
Hindsight is 20-20 and I’m sure, if Hoshoryu could run this one back, he would lead with his hands high. He approached this tachiai hoping to grapple with Kotozakura. He may have had more luck trying to soften up the big man with some thrusts to the throat.
With Hoshoryu losing it felt inevitable that Onosato would rise to the occasion to take his spot at the top. Onosato has looked like the Terminator since his loss to Hakuoho on Day 4. He’s shoved out everyone since then, adding extra oomph on his oshi-zumo (pushing/thrusting) while still barely breaking a sweat.
Last night Wakatakakage did well to get inside and tight with Onosato. He then shaped for a throw, which had Mrs. Sumo Stomp! almost out of her seat. However, Onosato showed good awareness and balance to stuff the throw. He then overpowered Wakatakakage out of the north side of the ring.
Onosato now has a grip on this tournament. However, it’s not going to be easy for him to close the deal. Tonight he’ll face Kotozakura and then, on the final day, he’ll see Hoshoryu.
After last night’s matches the only other wrestlers with a mathematical chance of winning the cup are Takanosho and Aonishiki. They faced each other last night, with Aonishiki winning, thus giving them both 10-3 records.
Takanosho threw heavy strikes on Aonishiki in this one. Aonishiki gave some back, but he seemed to be wilting from the pressure (and pain). He picked the perfect moment for his inashi (side-step), though. He hopped off centre as Takanosho was attacking and manged to get side on. Takanosho showed good mobility in being able to turn back into Aonishiki, but by the time he did that the Blue Whirlwind was shooting in on his hips. Aonishiki then pulled off a very freestyle wrestling looking move. It’s the watashikomi in sumo, but to most other folks that’s a single-leg takedown. It’s a risky move, because it puts your arm in the dirt, but it worked out for him this time.
Both Aonishiki and Takanosho now need Onosato to lose his next two. If they win their next two they would tie him with 12-3 records. If Hoshoryu wins his next two, as well, then we’d have a four-way play-off for the cup!
Shodai and Ryuden were eliminated from title contention last night. Shodai met Kirishima, who fought tooth and nail to avoid his make-koshi (losing record). Kirishima put a lot of intensity into his harite (palm strikes), with one slap ringing out across the arena. This succeeded in putting Shodai on the back foot, where Kirishima could then force him out.
Buying merch is another way to support this blog. This month’s featured item is a mug, perfect if you watch sumo over a cup of tea in the mornings (like I do).
IMPORTANT: AT THIS TIME I CAN NOT COMPLETE SALES TO CUSTOMERS IN THE USA (full details here)
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.
Ryuden lost to Oho in the Battle of the Bronze mawashi. Oho’s long thrusts prevented Ryuden from getting his favoured mae-mitsu (shallow front grip). This forced Ryuden to over-reach and fly past the side-stepping Oho.
All eyes now shift to four matches happening tonight.
Onosato and Kotozakura are the penultimate match of the night. Onosato has a 6-4 record against Kotozakura. He’s won the last four bouts. However, three of those contests have been during Kotozakura’s walking wounded period this year. Prior to that four bout winning streak, Kotozakura had a 4-2 record against Onosato.
Kotozakura, when fully fit, is perhaps the only wrestler who is big and strong enough to not get pushed back by Onosato’s tachiai. Onosato has more athleticism than Kotozakura, and he can summon up a little more raw power, but he’s a distant second best when it comes to technical grappling. If Kotozakura is able to give us his best tonight, this will be a fascinating contest.
Hoshoryu has Wakatakakage in the main event. He’s 7-8 against the current sekiwake. Wakatakakage has looked out of sorts since losing his ozeki run, but I’m sure he would savour getting a win over a yokozuna. Hoshoryu has won the last four of their bouts.
Takanosho meets Kirishima tonight. He’s 15-5 in that match-up. Kirishima really struggles against guys with a lot more mass than him. Kirishima is 6-7, fighting to avoid an eighth loss.
Aonishiki has the plucky Hiradoumi. They’ve never fought. Hiradoumi is 7-6, fighting to secure an eighth win.
Takanosho and Aonishiki will be eliminated from title contention if they lose or if Onosato wins.
If Onosato wins and then Hoshoryu loses, Onosato will be our champion. Hoshoryu needs to win tonight and then beat Onosato on the final day to force a play-off.
I can’t wait to see how this all plays out. Hopefully things don’t get settled tonight and we go into the Final Day with everything to play for.
Help me get to 1,000 subscribers on YouTube (so then I can monetize the thing).
A real nail biter!