2025 Aki Basho: Day 14 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 Aki Basho (spoilers).
I’m speed writing this update since I’ve just sat down to watch the Women’s Rugby World Cup final between Canada and England. I’m sitting in my English parent’s basement while my Canadian wife screams at the screen. It’s awesome.
Last night’s sumo was a little odd, but I don’t want to spoil anything. There were still some awesome matches as we careen towards our final day and the close of the 2025 aki basho.
Scroll down for all the results, some videos and my analysis!
Also, if you want to hear me talking sumo you can check out The Level Change below. I recorded this with Steph on Friday.
Bonus gif today is the Blue Whirlwind.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Shonannoumi (7-7) def. Hitoshi (6-8) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Nishikifuji (11-3) def. Asakoryu (6-8) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Tobizaru (8-6) def. Mitakeumi (6-8) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Nishikigi (2-12) def. Roga (6-8) by hikiotoshi
Shishi (10-4) def. Daieisho (6-8) by hatakikomi (slap down)*
Sadanoumi (6-8) def. Churanoumi (8-6) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down) after mono-ii (judges’ review) reversed gyoji (referee) decision*
Tomokaze (9-5) def. Midorifuji (6-8) by hatakikomi
Ura (10-4) def. Ryuden (9-5) by oshidashi*
Kinbozan (7-7) def. Tokihayate (6-8) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Oshoma (9-5) def. Shodai (9-5) by oshidashi*
Meisei (5-9) def. Atamifujiu (4-10) by hatakikomi
Fujinokawa (6-8) def. Gonoyama (1-13) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)*
Wakamotoharu (8-6) def. Hakuoho (7-7) by yorikiri
Oho (9-5) def. Kusano (7-7) by oshidashi*
Onokatsu (6-8) def. Tamawashi (5-9) by yorikiri
Ichiyamamoto (4-10) def. Abi (3-11) by oshidashi
Takayasu (6-8) def. Kotoshoho (3-11) by tsukidashi*
Aonishiki (11-3) def. Hiradoumi (7-7) by hatakikomi
Takanosho (11-3) def. Kirishima (6-8)
Onosato (13-1) def. Kotozakura (9-5) by fusen (default)
Hoshoryu (12-2) def. Wakatakakage (6-8) by hatakikomi*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
Y12 Onosato: 13-1
Y1wYO Hoshoryu: 12-2
Analysis
We will have our epic senshuraku (final day) showdown tonight with Onosato vs. Hoshoryu for all the marbles. How we got here… well, that’s not too important. What matters is we’re going to see yokozuna vs. yokozuna for the Emperor’s Cup. It’s a moment many of us sumo fans have been waiting a very long time for.
OK, I suppose we need to talk about how we got here.
Last night Onosato got his thirteenth win with a fusen victory over Kotozakura. Kotozakura’s oyakata (stable master), who is also his father, pulled him out of the tournament citing a knee injury.
This is a little curious. Kotozakura has been fighting on a bad knee all year and, reportedly, that’s because his father wouldn’t let him pull out and rest.
I think this is a case of Kotozakura’s dad (the former Kotonowaka) not wanting Kotozakura to incur more damage due to the terrifying form Onosato is in right now.
With Onosato on 13-1, Hoshoryu had to win to prevent Onosato winning his fifth top division championship.
Hoshoryu, having seen Onosato retain poll position by simply walking to the ring and bowing, decided he had to beat Wakatakakage by any means necessary. So he pulled off a perfect henka and I don’t think anyone can be mad about that. Would you rather see Onosato win the cup on a fusen?
That loss was Wakatakakage’s eighth loss. He will now be demoted from sekiwake (in a tournament where he had a great shot at claiming an ozeki promotion).
Onosato’s ‘win’ meant that Aonishiki and Takanosho were both ruled out of title contention. Despite them knowing Onosato would get the default victory, those two guys went out and won last night.
Aonishiki’s win was a little anti-climatic. Hiradoumi attacked him well, but Aonishiki survived and then benefited from a slip by Hiradoumi.
Takanosho managed to push out Kirishima, who really struggles against opponents with this kind of size. That loss gives Kirishima a make-koshi (losing record). That will cost him his sekiwake rank.
Oho got a big win over Kusano last night. Oho has been, quietly, very good this month at a ranking where he’s had trouble in the past. Kusano, who had a stellar rookie basho, has struggled this time around.
Oshoma has also had a great tournament. That’s after he went 3-12 in his debut komusubi tournament in July. He’s been more intense this tournament, as demonstrated by this win over Shodai (which came about after Oshoma landed some very hard strikes to Shodai’s face).
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Ura reached double-digit wins last night, something he hasn’t done in years. He beat Ryuden thanks to a slick wrist pull down, leading to a push out.
Tonight we get what I’ve been dreaming about ever since Hoshoryu got his yokozuna promotion, a match between two yokos with a cup on the line.
Hoshoryu needs to beat Onosato tomorrow to force a play-off.
The last time they met, Hoshoryu was able to catch and sling over a charging Onosato. That was on the final day of the May tournament. That result spoiled Onosato’s attempt at a first ever zensho-yusho (15-0 championship).
Hoshoryu has dominated this head-to-head match-up since Onosato came on the scene in 2024. He’s won six of their eight meetings. One of Onosato’s wins was a fusen. His only legitimate win was a push out on the penultimate day of 2024 aki basho (a tournament Onosato would win).
All of Hoshoryu’s wins against Onosato have been throws, where Hoshoryu has been able to exploit Onosato’s speed off the line and lack of awareness when it comes to high level judo.
In this tournament, Onosato has neglected his usual style, of crashing into an opponent, getting an inside position with his right arm and then powering them out while chest-to-chest. That’s the sequence that has led to so many throws from Hoshoryu.
Instead, Onosato has been showing a lot more pushing and thrusting. He’s been fully extending his arms and using his reach to keep opponents far away from his chest (and belt) before shot putting them into the crowd. That’s a pretty good tactic to use against Hoshoryu.
It’s going to be fascinating to see what opening/approaches these two use against each other tomorrow, for both the first bout and potential second bout.
I think Hoshoryu should assume Onosato is going to strike high off the tachiai and be ready to swipe his thrusts away and get on the belt as quickly as possible.
We have two Darwin matches tomorrow, Hiradoumi vs. Kinbozan and Shonannoumi vs. Kusano. Hakuoho, who is 7-7, is the only other wrestler who doesn’t have a settled record. He’s fighting Ura (who is 10-4).
Have a good Saturday everyone and get ready for some fireworks tonight/tomorrow morning!
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I love seeing Ura do so well. Go Pink Boy!
I could see Wakatakakage remaining at Sekiwake west if he wins tonight. It could be any of Wakatakakage, Kirinoumi, or Oho. I would put them in that order if they all win.