2025 Haru Basho: Day 2 results, replays and analysis (plus a new tegata giveaway!)

Spoilers ahead.

Another day of fine sumo was served in Osaka last night. In two days we’ve already had some really great matches, including some that were marathons compared to the five second wonders we’re used to.

Takayasu vs. Ura was especially exciting on Day 2.

I also liked Tobizaru vs. Abi, Hoshoryu vs. Wakatakakage, Midorifuji vs. Onokatsu, Asakoryu vs. Aonishiki and Shishi vs. Takarafuji.

You can check out all the top division results below, along with full match replays of the most important bouts.

Bonus gif today is Takerufuji looking like he feels all warm and fuzzy.

Me after seeing your birthday well wishes.

But wait, there’s more!

Ben at Tegatastore.com is providing another tegata for me to give away this month. This time around it’s an authentic signed Goeido tegata, from his time spent as an ozeki.

Goeido is one of the more popular and successful rikishi from Osaka in recent times. Given that we’re in Osaka for this tournament, this is the perfect sumo artifact to give away. Keen viewers might even notice Goeido in the front row, fulfilling his shimpan duties during this tournament.

Goeido retired in 2020. During his time on the dohyo he won a single makuuchi championship, eleven special prizes and a kinboshi (against Asashoryu).

Check out his makuuchi yusho, from September 2016, below:

If you want to win his tegata, buy a paid subscription to Sumo Stomp! Monthly subscribers will get a single entry into the prize draw. Annual subscribers will get six entries into the draw. And founding members will get fifteen entries into the draw. The draw will happen on April 1.

SPOILERS BELOW

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Results

• Mitakeumi (1-1) def. Tokihayate (1-1) via yorikiri (frontal force out)

• Kotoshoho (2-0) def. Shirokuma (0-2) via sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*

• Asakoryu (2-0) def. Aonishiki (0-2) via okuridashi (rear push out)*

• Churanoumi (2-0) def. Sadanoumi (0-2) via yorikiri

• Ryuden (2-0) def. Nishikifuji (0-2) via fusen (default)

• Shishi (1-1) def. Takarafuji (1-1) via shitatenage (underarm throw)*

• Onokatsu (2-0) def. Midorifuji (1-1) via yorikiri*

• Meisei (1-1) def. Shonannoumi (0-2) via oshidashi (frontal push out)

• Hakuoho (2-0) def. Nishikigi (0-2) via yorikiri

• Endo (2-0) def. Atamifuji (1-1) via katasukashi (under shoulder swing down)

• Tamawashi (1-1) def. Oshoma (0-2) via oshidashi

• Shodai (1-1) def. Hiradoumi (1-1) via oshidashi

• Takerufuji (2-0) def. Kinbozan (0-2) via oshidashi

• Takayasu (2-0) def. Ura (1-1) via hatakikomi (slap down)*

• Ichiyamamoto (1-1) def. Takanosho (0-2) via yorikiri

• Abi (2-0) def. Tobizaru (0-2) via tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*

• Daieisho (1-1) def. Chiyoshoma (1-1) via tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)

• Wakamotoharu (2-0) def. Oho (0-2) via sukuinage*

• Onosato (2-0) def. Kirishima (1-1) via oshidashi*

• Kotozakura (1-1) def. Gonoyama (1-1) via yorikiri*

• Hoshoryu (1-1) def. Wakatakakage (1-1) via yorikiri*

*Must see bouts!

Leaderboard

Too early!

Analysis

Hoshoryu rebounded on Day 2 with a win over Wakatakakage. Hoshoryu tried to use his nodowa (throat thrust) off the tachiai, but he struggled to get good purchase on it and wasn’t able to launch the stout Wakatakakage backwards. Wakatakakage responded to that by attempting a slap down, but Hoshoryu was far too balanced and centered for that to work. When Hoshoryu got in grip range, he put his right hand on the belt. However, he then noticed how close Wakatakakage was to the straw, so he let go of that and opted for a gentle lift and force out for the win.

Joining Hoshoryu with wins this day were our two remaining ozeki.

Kotozakura showed signs of life against Gonoyama. He was able to resist Gonoyama’s thrusts and secure a hidari-yotsu (left arm inside, right arm outside) grip. Kotozakura prefers the opposite grip (migi-yotsu), but he was still able to get the job done in this match, smothering Gonoyama’s attempts to escape and then forcing him out on the south east corner of the ring. Hopefully this is a sign that Kotozakura is close enough to fighting shape and is capable of retaining his rank this month.

Onosato’s win came against former ozeki Kirishima. Kirishima tried arm-barring Onosato off the tachiai, to pull him out of position and open an opportunity to shove him in the chest. But Onosato is just too big and too strong for that. He was able to bring his arm back and then give Kirishima a shove right off the ring. Onosato is now 6-0 against Kirishima.

It’s very early days, but Onosato is showing the kind of form that has him as a pre-tournament favorite for most onlookers.

What do you think? Is this where he nabs his third yusho?

Kinbozan and Oho are both still looking for their first wins of the tournament. Kinbozan was turned around and pushed out by Takerufuji (who is 2-0 now and looking very good). Oho lost to Wakamotoharu.

Oho beat Wakamotoharu in the last tournament, using his long thrusts to keep the grappler off of him and then power him off the ring. Oho tried that again this time. But Wakamotoharu did a far better job of responding to his thrusts. He also moved his feet in this bout, circling to the side and not letting himself get pushed straight backwards. Once he started hitting and moving, Wakamotoharu was able to capitalize on an off-balance Oho for the rare sukuinage (only the fifth of his career).

One of the most exciting bouts of the day was Takayasu vs. Ura. These two threw down in a high paced tsuppari (palm striking) battle. Takayasu’s strikes were more deliberate than Ura’s though. The bigger Takayasu aimed and landed his hands right on Ura’s cheeks. Ura, whose eyes were closed for a lot of the bout, was throwing at Takayasu’s chest, hoping to find a way to grapple or push Takayasu’s waist. Eventually, Takayasu’s focused strikes broke down Ura and forced him to roll out of bounds (and into the waiting and willing hands of Ichiyamamoto).

Tobizaru vs. Abi is a bout I always look forwards, too. Both bring intensity and a complete disregard for their opponent. In this bout, Abi showed some patience and then pulled off a fantastic matador slide to send Tobizaru twirling off the ring and into the front row. Abi’s 2-0 now (watch out for him folks).

Asakoryu and Aonishiki had a fun bout, too. The mini-muscle man was able to get behind the Ukrainian and push him into the seats.

Today also gave us our first injury pull out in the top division. Nishikifuji is likely out for the tournament due to a back issue.

Tomorrow’s schedule includes Hoshoryu vs. Wakamotoharu, Onosato vs. Gonoyama, Abi vs. Kotozakura and Daieisho vs. Wakatakakage.

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