2025 Aki Basho: Day 7 results and analysis

Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 Aki Basho (spoilers).

We are a week into the 2025 aki basho and we’ve got a great tournament underway. But when is sumo not great, though? Seriously, we’re so lucky to consistently get bouts where guys are going all out to win. It makes for a fantastic spectacle. And it’s also very refreshing compared to a lot of mainstream sports, where you often see players and teams going through the motions or playing it safe.

In this very awesome autumn tournament, we have a very interesting pack of leaders. However, there’s still time for all that to change. Remember, in July, it wasn’t until week two when Kotoshoho started surging into poll position.

Will we see something like that this time or will one of our current front runners be able to hold on and take the cup? I can’t wait to find out.

Scroll down for last night’s results, plenty of videos and my analysis.

The bonus gif today is someone who is always in the running for a yusho, Thanosato!

“eek, eek, eek…”

SPOILERS BELOW

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Results

• Shishi (5-2) def. Nishikigi (0-7) by yorikiri (frontal force out)

• Shonannoumi (4-3) def. Tomokaze (5-2) by oshidashi (frontal push out)

• Tobizaru (5-2) def. Kagayaki (3-4) by hatakikomi (slap down)*

• Hitoshi (3-4) def. Asakoryu (2-5) by oshidashi after torinaoshi (immediate rematch)*

• Ryuden (5-2) def. Sadanoumi (3-4) by uwatenage (over arm throw)

• Tokihayate (3-4) def. Churanoumi (3-4) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)

• Daieisho (2-5) def. Meisei (2-5) by okuritaoshi (rear push down)

• Fujinokawa (3-4) def. Roga (4-3) by kakenage (hooking inner thigh throw)*

• Shodai (6-1) def. Midorifuji (2-5) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)

• Kinbozan (2-5) def. Mitkaeumi (3-4) by oshidashi

• Onokatsu (4-3) def. Oshoma (3-4) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)*

• Ura (6-1) def. Ichiyamamoto (2-5) by hatakikomi*

• Kusano (3-4) def. Kotoshoho (2-5) by abisetaoshi (backward force down)*

• Takanosho (6-1) def. Wakamotoharu (5-2) by tsukitoashi (frontal thrust down)

• Atamifuji (2-5) def. Tamawashi (3-4) by yorikiri

• Hakuoho (4-3) def. Kirishima (4-3) by yorikiri

• Aonishiki (5-2) def. Wakatakakage (4-3) by oshidashi*

• Oho (3-4) def. Kotozakura (5-2) by oshidashi*

• Hoshoryu (7-0) def. Hiradoumi (4-3) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*

• Onosato (6-1) def. Gonoyama (0-7) by oshitaoshi*

*Must see bouts!

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Leaderboard

• Y1wYO Hoshoryu: 7-0

• Y1e Onosato, M7e Takanosho, M8e Ura, M11e Shodai: 6-1

Analysis

Hoshoryu maintained his lead of the basho with a gutsy win over Hiradoumi. Hoshoryu usually cruises in this match-up (against a man he sees a lot during practices between the Tatsunami and Sakaigawa stables). This time around, though, Hiradoumi dug in and wouldn’t let himself get easily thrown. He was thrown, but Hoshoryu had to really work for it. As Hoshoryu finished the beltless arm throw, he gracefully swept his feet away, to prevent him stepping out of bounds (even if it meant a painful fall to the ground).

Hoshoryu is very much the man to beat in this tournament. This was probably his hardest bout yet. Even so, he still looked in total control for most of it.

Onosato is still lurking in the wings, hoping for Hoshoryu to slip up. He launched poor winless Gonoyama into at least the third row.

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Onosato is joined at 6-1 by Ura. Ura is having a stellar first week of the tournament. That’s not unusual. We’ve seen him have good starts before. If he could maintain this and be in the running for the yusho, then that would be unusual.

He had a very fun bout with Ichiyamamoto last night. Ichiyamamoto has been flexing his developing yotsu-zumo (belt grappling) skills lately. He went back to his more familiar oshi-zumo (pushing/thrusting) for this bout, though. Ura did well to circle away from Ichiyamamoto and prevent any power thrusts from landing. Then, after tying Ichiyamamoto up in a clinch he was able to drag him forwards and down.

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Takanosho and Shodai are also 6-1. Takanosho pushed Wakamotoharu around the ring with long thrusts before knocking him off the edge.

And Shodai collected and hoisted Midorifuji, sending him into the judge’s lap.

Wakatakakage suffered another loss yesterday. He struggled to get past Aonishiki’s reach as he battled to get on his belt. Aonishiki did a good job of keeping Wakatakakage off him, while also forcing him back for the eventual push out.

Wakatakakage is on very thin ice now, as far as his ozeki hopes go. At 4-3 he can really only afford to lose one more bout. Ten wins might be enough to get him that promotion, but he can’t rely on that being the case.

Fujinokawa is continuing to be must-watch TV this basho. He, again, proved it’s not the size of the dog in the fight when he out-worked Roga and landed an emphatic (and rather rare) throw.

Tonight Hoshoryu gets the chance to go 8-0 when he meets Gonoyama. He’s got a 7-2 record against Gonoyama. These two once had some heat, due to a prolonged stare off before a bout, but I think enough time as past now that this doesn’t feel like much of a grudge match anymore.

Onosato gets Hiradoumi. Hiradoumi might be able to do Hoshoryu a favour there. He’s beaten Onosato twice in six meetings.

Ura and Shodai are paired off together tonight. Takanosho gets Churanoumi.

Enjoy folks!

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