2025 Aki Basho: Final Day results and analysis

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

The 2025 aki basho is a wrap. Last night the autumn tournament crashed through its final act and gave us our latest top division champion.

And it was pretty darn epic.

If you scroll down you’ll see full results for our last day of the tournament, along with videos (including the championship deciding action). There’s also my analysis and takeaways from what has been a very fun tournament.

Now, before you get there, if you’ve enjoyed my coverage this month please consider sending a little coin over to your friendly neighbourhood sumo writer. These daily updates have been completely free (and I don’t plan on changing that anytime soon), but there are some premium pieces in the pipeline. Those include my banzuke prediction and report cards for everyone in the top division.

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In addition to keeping the lights on over here at Stomp HQ, paid subscriptions will also enter you in this month’s prize giveaway. More details on that under the bonus gif.

The bonus gif today is Takayasu, who I always think has a bit of a Western vibe.

“You gon’ regret comin’ roun’ these parts, pard.”

SPOILERS BELOW

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Results

• Tobizaru (9-6) def. Asakoryu (6-9) by oshidashi (frontal push out)

• HItoshi (7-8) def. Meisei (5-10) by hatakikomi (slap down)

• Mitakeumi (7-8) def. Nishikigi (2-13) by yorikiri (frontal force out)

• Roga (7-8) def. Ryuden (9-6) by yorikiri

• Shodai (10-5) def. Shishi (10-5) by kotenage (armlock throw)

• Churanoumi (9-6) def. Tomokaze (9-6) by oshidashi after mono-ii (judges review) confirms gyoji (referee) decision*

• Tokihayate (7-8) def. Fujinokawa (6-9) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*

• Midorifuji (7-8) def. Sadanoumi (6-9) by yorikiri

• Kusano (8-7) def. Shonannoumi (7-8) by yorikiri*

• Hiradoumi (8-7) def. Kinbozan (7-8) by okuridashi (rear push out)*

• Daieisho (7-8) def. Gonoyama (1-14) by hatakikomi*

• Atamifuji (5-10) def. Ichiyamamoto (4-11) by yorikiri

• Oho (10-5) def. Oshoma (9-6) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*

• Hakuoho (8-7) def. Ura (10-5) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)*

• Onokatsu (7-8) def. Abi (3-12) by yorikiri

• Tamawashi (6-9) def. Kotoshoho (3-12) by oshidashi

• Wakamotoharu (9-6) def. Aonishiki (11-4) by yorikiri*

• Takayasu (7-8) def. Kirishima (6-9) by tsukiotoshi

• Takanosho (12-3) def. Wakatakakage (6-9) by oshidashi*

• Hoshoryu (13-2) def. Onosato (13-2) by oshidashi*

• Onosato (13-2) def. Hoshoryu (13-2) by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out) after mono-ii confirms gyoji decision*

*Must see bouts!

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Final Standings

• Yusho: Y12 Onosato (13-2)

• Yusho-doten: Y1wYO Hoshoryu (13-2)

• Jun-yusho: M7e Takanosho (12-3)

• Shukun-sho (Outstanding Performance Award): M2e Hakuoho (8-7)

• Kanto-sho (Fighting Spirit Prize): M7e Takanosho (12-3)

• Gino-sho (Technique Prize): K1w Aonishiki (11-4)

• Juryo yusho: J11w Asahakuryu (13-2)

• Makushita yusho: Ms20e Shimazuumi (7-0)

• Sandanme yusho: Sd7e Kazuma (7-0)

• Jonidan yusho: Jd44w Kaki (7-0)

• Jonokuchi yusho: Jk24e Tatsubayama (7-0)

Analysis

Last night, two yokozuna duelled it out for the Emperor’s Cup for the first time in sixteen years. We’ve been waiting a long time for this folks and I think it delivered.

Hoshoryu and Onosato were the best rikishi on the planet this month, dispatching of opponents with strength, speed and guile. It became obvious, pretty early on, that the 74th and 75th yokozuna were on a collision course that would determine the yusho.

Hoshoryu came into last night’s final bout off the back of his first two losses of the competition. He needed to beat Onosato to force a play-off. And that’s exactly what he did.

Hoshoryu caught Onosato cold in their first match, hitting him with the nodowa (throat thrust) and quickly pushing him out. Key to his success was that he hit a one-two combo with his nodowa. I think that surprised Onosato and made his body rotate, giving Hoshoryu an easier time of pushing him back and out.

After getting their hair put back in place, the yokozuna returned for a play-off bout to settle things.

Onosato came hard on the tachiai, with his chin tucked to avoid the nodowa. Hoshoryu didn’t deliver that move, though. Instead he stepped off centre and put his left hand on the belt, in an outside position.

He was hoping to scoop Onosato over or past him here. Onosato has shown great poise and balance in this tournament, though. He was able to quickly get his footing and turn to face-up Hoshoryu.

Hoshoryu’s decision to overhook with his left meant that Onosato was able to have inside position with his right arm. That’s Onosato’s preferred hold. He’s quite poor when he has his left on the inside. So this was either bad luck or bad strategy on Hoshoryu’s part.

With the right arm on the inside, Onosato was able to counter Hoshoryu’s shitatenage (overarm throw attempt), with the crush out. He made that happen by making sure he got his left toes down when he hopped forwards. That bought him precious time and gave him a base to spring upwards so he could put some oomph into forcing Hoshoryu down.

This lead to a mono-ii and I think that was entirely appropriate. This was a huge stakes bout and I love that the shimpan deemed it worthy of a conversation. I’ve seen some chatter online about how this was an ‘obvious’ win for Onosato and I firmly disagree. I think this is a very close decision and I wouldn’t have been shocked or angry if it resulted in a torinaoshi (immediate replay).

Those in the camp who say this is an obvious win for Onosato seem to have two main arguments. The first is that Hoshoryu breaks the imaginary plane of the dohyo before Onosato touches the actual physical surface of the dohyo. The second argument is that this is a use of the shini-tai (dead body rule).

Also, it seems that there is a lot of tribalism online when it comes to supporting either Onosato or Hoshoryu. Sections of those fanbases seem to believe liking one guy means disliking the other. Couldn’t be me.

Anyways, back to the match.

The first argument is moot, in my opinion. There is no rule that states that the plane of the dohyo extends out from the actually physical ring. Leading English-language sumo expert John Gunning once wrote a long post explaining this and saying that it’s not something that has ever been codified. Therefore it’s not something that should be considered when ruling the winner of a bout.

When it comes to the dead body rule, I can see an argument for and against it in this scenario.

The dead body rule is ambiguous. That’s a feature, not a bug (as I will get into in a bit). It basically states that, if a wrestler is executing a recognizable finishing move which has their opponent going airborne, with no chance of escape, then it doesn’t matter who touches down first. The wrestler who is executing the move should be credited for the win (since the loser is putting up as much resistance as a dead body would).

Many have said that, because Onosato still has his toes down while Hoshoryu is airborne, the dead body rule is in effect and that Onosato should be rewarded for executing the move that sent Hoshoryu into the air.

I can understand that interpretation. However, I think it misses a key detail of that furious final sequence.

Hoshoryu is the one who initiates the move that sends them both over the edge. Onosato responds with a very intentional crush out attempt. However, I think there’s a chance that the only reason Hoshoryu went airborne is because he, meaning Hoshoryu, swept his own feet off the ground to try and generate hang time and torque that would allow him to hit the ground second. Hoshoryu often uses this technique in these situations, sweeping his own feet off the ground to avoid touching down out of bounds, usually while executing a last ditch tottari (arm bar throw).

Now, only Hoshoryu knows if he scooped up his own feet or if Onosato’s pressure took him off his feet and Hoshoryu would, if asked, say he did it on purpose.

Because of that, I’m not mad that the shimpan decided to air on the side of Onosato winning (and I don’t think there’s any big conspiracy there).

If the shimpan would have decided this was too close to call and we needed a rematch, I would have been delighted — since I can’t get enough of seeing these two fight.

A big point about sumo, and the dead body rule, that needs to be appreciated is that a lot of things in this sport are ambiguous. And that’s because Japan is a culture that is built on ambiguity.

The Japanese language is famous for not indulging in definitive, black-and-white statements and sentiments. In Japan, vagueness is appreciated, if not celebrated. Ambiguity means that multiple avenues are open and that there is room for different opinions and no one has to be absolutely right or absolutely wrong (thus making it less likely for someone to be embarrassed or offended).

Sumo has a number of very clear rules which don’t ‘suffer’ from ambiguity. But there are aspects in the sport which reflect this component of Japanese identity. So I don’t moan about things being unclear or confusing in this context. I think it’s healthier to just take a breath and accept that not everything in life can be black-and-white.

Also, being comfortable with ambiguity, is one of four key components of being a well functioning person according to Carl Rogers (a father of person-centred approach and a social work idol of mine).

Ok, I said what I wanted to say on that. But also, what a fantastic tournament for both Hoshoryu and Onosato. They both looked like yokozuna this month and this latest chapter in their history together has me very excited for what comes next.

Takanosho ended up with the second best record this tournament. He manhandled the poor soon-to-be sekiwake Wakatakakage and thrusted him into the seats. Takanosho earned a Fighting Spirit prize for his efforts this month.

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Aonishiki could have earned an Outstanding Performance Prize if Hoshoryu won the cup. He’ll have to make do with just the Technique Prize instead. He lost to Wakamotoharu on the final day to end with an 11-4 record. He has now finished 11-4 in all four of his top division tournaments.

Wakamotoharu got the win by forcing Aonishiki to straighten up and fight chest-to-chest. That’s been revealed as an Achilles’ Heel for Aonishiki (who loves to lean into his clinch). It will be interesting to see how many wrestlers try to fight him chest-to-chest in the next tournament.

Aonishiki will be promoted to sekiwake for November. However, he won’t be in line for an ozeki promotion after that tournament (unless he wins it, probably). The JSA have already stated that this tournament was the start of his ozeki run (so he will need 22 wins across November and January to get that promotion).

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Hakuoho is the surprise recipient of the Outstanding Performance prize. He got that despite going just 8-7 this month (thanks to a final day win over Ura). Hakuoho received the award in recognition of being the only person (other than Hoshoryu) to take a win off Onosato.

The juryo championship was won by Asahakuryu, after he defeated Nishkifuji on the final day. The 26 year-old Mongolian was appearing in his first juryo tournament. He fights out of the Takasago stable, alongside Asakoryu, Asanoyama and Asasuiryu.

Former ozeki Asanoyama was the runner-up in juryo. He was competing in his fourth tournament since returning from a major knee injury, suffered in the top division last year. Asasuiryu is the brother of Asakoryu. He also competed in juryo this month.

Shimazuumi won the makushita yusho. The 29 year-old started 2024 in makuuchi, but has struggled with injuries since then.

Kazuma, who won the sandamne yusho, is name to keep an eye on. The 23 year-old was a top collegiate wrestler out of the powerhouse Nihon University. He’s only in the fourth division because he was injured in his debut makushita tournament last year. He trains out of Kise with Ura, Kinbozan and Churanoumi.

And that’s a wrap on my daily coverage of the 2025 aki basho. Thank you so much to everyone who read this newsletter and who commented on the posts. This tournament was a challenge for me, because of how busy life is right now, but I truly loved stopping in here to write about sumo and engage with you all.

I hope you enjoyed the coverage, as well as the tournament itself.

Next from me are some longer posts and deep dives on what we just witnessed.

Until then, take care, be kind and FIGHT WITH SPIRIT!

Tim

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