2025 Aki Basho: Day 4 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 Aki Basho (spoilers).
After an OK few days of sumo, things have started to get spicy on the dohyo. Day 4 brought us some great matches and some very interesting results higher up the rankings.
It’s still too early for me to make a leaderboard, I usually wait until Day 5. But some wrestlers are certainly signaling that they will be making a big push for the Emperor’s Cup this month.
Scroll down for the results from last night, some great videos and my analysis.
Bonus gif today is Hakuoho trying to contain his excitement.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Tomokaze (3-1) def. Hitoshi (0-4) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Chiyoshoma (2-2) def. Nishikigi (0-4) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Tobizaru (3-1) def. Ryuden (3-1) by yorikiri
Shonannoumi (2-2) def. Shishi (2-2) by yorikiri
Meisei (3-1) def. Asakoryu (2-2) by yoritoashi (frontal crush out)
Sadanoumi (3-1) def. Tokihayate (2-2) by yoritoashi
Shodai (3-1) def. Roga (2-2) by uwatenage (under arm throw)*
Churanoumi (3-1) def. Mitakeumi (1-3) by yorikiri*
Midorifuji (2-2) def. Daieisho (1-3) by yorikiri
Fujinokawa (1-3) def. Kinbozan (1-3) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*
Takanosho (3-1) def. Ura (3-1) by oshidashi
Kusano (2-2) def. Oshoma (2-2) by oshidashi
Onokatsu (3-1) def. Kotoshoho (2-2) by yorikiri
Wakamotoharu (3-1) def. Ichiyamamoto (1-3) by tsukiotoshi
Hiradoumi (3-1) def. Atamifuji (1-3) by yorikiri*
Oho (2-2) def. Aonishiki (2-2) by kotenage (armlock throw)*
Wakatakakage (2-2) def. Takayasu (0-4) by yorikiri
Kirishima (4-0) def. Gonoyama (0-4) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)*
Kotozakura (3-1) def. Tamawashi (1-3) by tsukiotoshi*
Hakuoho (2-2) def. Onosato (3-1) by tsukiotoshi*
Hoshoryu (4-0) def. Abi (0-4) by oshidashi*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
Too early!
Analysis
Advantage Hoshoryu.
Onosato was the first to blink in this month’s Battle of the Yokozuna. He lost to Hakuoho last night, for the second time in a row!
And it was a great bout. Both men hit hard off the tachiai, bouncing off each other and back into space. They then exchanged harite (palm strikes) before Hakuoho went for a left arm inside position. Onosato reacted well, side-stepping and going for a slap down. Hakuoho used good balance to stay up and then turn and face Onosato. That caused him to be backed up against the straw, though. Onosato then pounced! He latched onto Hakuoho and tried to force him over. But in doing so, he went hidari-yotsu (left arm inside, right arm outside). Onosato is much more comfortable with his right arm on the inside. Onosato couldn’t get his right arm on the inside, because Hakuoho had already gotten his left arm on the inside (which forces the opponent’s right arm to the outside). This is Hakuoho’s preferred position and he showed why, as he twisted he used his strong outside right arm on Onosato’s elbow to send him past him and onto the floor.
This was a great display of guts and technique from Hakuoho and I’m happy to see him getting one over the yokozuna, again.
Back when he was 19 year-old Ochiai and had announced that he would be joining his idol Hakuho at the Miyagino stable, many projected Hakuoho would have the instant impact and career rise that Onosato has had. He got off to a good start, coming close to the title in his debut makuuchi tournament, but a shoulder injury, surgery and the witch hunt against Hakuho have all taken a toll on the 22 year-old. He’s progressed since all that, but slowly. And he’s been overshadowed by Onosato every step of the way. But, at least in the last two tournaments, he’s shown he was worth a lot of that hype he had as a teenager.
To capitalize on Onosato’s stumble, Hoshoryu had to get past one of his personal boogeyman. Abi has owned Hoshoryu during the Mongolian’s ozeki and yokozuna eras. He’s managed to get Hoshoryu down with his usual bag of tricks. This time around he went for a henka. It did not work.
Hoshoryu attacked high off the tachiai, guarding against this exact move. Hoshoryu was able to stay connected to the strafing Abi and then he easily closed distance and forced the Troll King out over the edge.
Now, for the first time ever, yokozuna Hoshoryu is a front runner in a basho. And, also for the first time as a yokozuna, he has a lead over Onosato.
There’s only one other wrestler on a 4-0 record right now. And it’s Hoshoryu’s old judo clubmate turned ‘frenemy’ Kirishima. The sekiwake had to sit through a couple of false starts from Gonoyama before hand-fighting his opponent’s thrusts on route to finding his belt and pulling off the stylish walk-off uwatedashinage.
Wakatakakage got a win last night, too, beating Takayasu (who is now 0-4). Wakatakakage got migi-yotsu (right arm inside, left arm outside) position almost immediately. Takayasu tried to break his grip on the belt, but couldn’t manage it until it was too late.
Kotozakura rebounded from his loss to Aonishiki. He looked very spry in side-stepping and slinging out Tamawashi.
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Aonishiki’s teething pains in the san’yaku continued last night. Oho beat him and used an interesting tactic to defend against Aonishiki’s now famous leaned over stance. When Aonishiki got that position, Oho used gaburi-yori (torso thrusting) to straighten him up. When he did this, Aonishiki continued to try and pull him back into that leaned over position. This created a lot of tension on Aonishiki’s left arm, which Oho then targeted with a fantastic kotenage.
Speaking of gaburi-yori…
Atamifuji and Hiradoumi had an ultimate hug-and-chug battle last night. And it was Hiradoumi’s tenacity that won out over Atamifuji’s size.
Daieisho took another loss last night. I think, at this point, it’s safe to say we’re not going to see Daieisho run the table at the low maegashira ranks. It feels like he’s still quite hampered from the injury that took him out of the last tournament. He didn’t have the power in his legs to push back Midorifuji last night and was easily forced out as a result.
Tonight Onosato will look to rebound against Oho. That’s not an easy task, though. Oho is coming off a big win and he’s been tough for Onosato in the past. Onosato’s record is 4-3 against him, but Oho was one of the men to take a kinboshi from him in his maiden yokozuna tournament.
Hoshoryu will look to keep his nose in front by beating Atamifuji. That’s also not an easy task. Hoshoryu is 3-5 against Atamifuji. The last time they met, Atamifuji flung Hoshoryu off the ring with a kotenage. The resulting elbow injury spoiled Hoshoryu’s debut yokozuna tournament.
Kirishima will try and stay perfect when he meets Aonishiki. They met for the first time in the last tournament. Aonishiki was able to get the win, with a trip. I think Kirishima looked a little checked out in that bout, though. It will be interesting to see what a fully engaged Kirishima has in store for Aonishiki’s game (which some others are starting to figure out).
Wakatakakage’s hunt for ozeki gets tested by Abi tonight. Abi is 7-4 against him.
Should be fun!
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