2025 Kyushu Basho: Day 1 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 Kyushu Basho (spoilers).
The 2025 Kyushu basho has begun!
Day 1 of a tournament always feels like Christmas morning and, after what—for some reason—feels like a very long break, the big lads delivered some great matches last night.
Scroll down below for all the top division results, some bout videos and my analysis.
A quick disclaimer, though. I mentioned in September how short my time has been, with school, field placement, work, parenting, etc. I don’t think my hectic schedule was felt much during the last tournament. I was still able to crank out daily updates to a quality I was happy with.
This time around, I’m going to be tested even more by my schedule. This week is especially heavy for me. I have two assignments due, in addition to my usual classes and field placement duties, and it’s a UFC PPV week, which doubles my workload over at MMA Mania. Because of all that, a lot of the weekday updates might be more brief than we’re used to. Hope you still enjoy them.
These daily updates are free for everyone and I don’t have any plans to change that at the moment. If you are a paid subscriber, though, thanks for making all of this possible. Paid subscribers this month will be entered into a prize draw for another great sweatshirt from Cheeky Sumo. Check out their website here (link).
The first bonus gif of the tournament features a rising and triumphant Peach Prince.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Asakoryu (1-0) def. Hitoshi (0-1) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Chiyoshoma (1-0) def. Sadanoumi (0-1) by shitatedashinage (pulling underarm throw)
Oshoumi (1-0) def. Shonannoumi (0-1) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Tokihayate (1-0) def. Nishikifuji (0-1) by yorikiri
Ryuden (1-0) def. Mitakeumi (0-1) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Gonoyama (1-0) def. Tomokaze (0-1) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)*
Fujinokawa (1-0) def. Roga (0-1) by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*
Daieisho (1-0) def. Shishi (0-1) by okuritaoshi (rear push down)*
Tobizaru (1-0) def. Kotoshoho (0-1) by hatakikomi (slap down)*
Kinbozan (1-0) def. Midorifuji (0-1) by uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Abi (1-0) def. Ichiyamamoto (0-1) by hatakikomi
Churanoumi (1-0) def. Onokatsu (0-1) by yorikiri
Atamifuji (1-0) def. Shodai (0-1) by oshidashi
Yoshinofuji (1-0) def. Oshoma (0-1) by yorikiri
Ura (1-0) def. Tamawashi (0-1) by oshidashi
Hiradoumi (1-0) def. Takanosho (0-1) by oshidashi
Oho (1-0) def. Wakamotoharu (0-1) by katasukashi (under shoulder swing down)*
Aonishiki (1-0) def. Kirishima (0-1) by okuridashi (rear push out)*
Kotozakura (1-0) def. Wakatakakage (0-1) by yorikiri*
Hakuoho (1-0) def. Hoshoryu (0-1) by yoritaoshi*
Onosato (1-0) def. Takayasu (0-1) by yorikiri
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
Too early!
Analysis
All of us hoping for a repeat of September, with both yokozuna crushing it out the gate and setting up a yoko-bowl for the cup, were dealt a big blow on Day 1.
Hoshoryu was bested by Hakuoho last night. Hakuoho’s extremely powerful tachiai put Hoshoryu on his heels immediately. As Hakuoho was forcing him backwards, Hoshoryu secured an outside right grip and tried to perform a last ditch uwatenage (over arm throw). Hakuoho gave a little hop on his standing leg to stay upright just long enough to lose the race to the ground. Hoshoryu lingered at the bottom hoping for a mono-ii (judges’ review), but it never game.
That feels a little unfair. The dead body rule was in effect here with the referee (and seemingly the judges) believing Hoshoryu was an inert object in the air while Hakuoho was launching him off the ring. That gives no credit to Hoshoryu’s uwatenage attempt or his attempted slap down in mid-air.
At least things have been consistent, though (at least when applied to Hoshoryu). This loss is very reminiscent of Hoshoryu’s loss to Onosato, where he was declared a “dead body” despite working for a slap down in mid-air. Hoshoryu needs to take the hint now and know that the shimpan (judges) aren’t going to view those mid-air attempts as worthy of a torinaoshi (rematch).
Hakuoho earned his third kinboshi with this win and his first against Hoshoryu. He was the only man, other than Hoshoryu, to beat Onosato in September.
Onosato watched Hoshoryu lose and then went into his bout with Takayasu knowing he could take an early lead on his rival.
Takayasu hit Onosato hard off the tachiai. One of Onosato’s few weak areas is that he is sometimes a little slow off the line. Takayasu then went for an outside grip, but Onosato batted his hand away and then swam underneath to score his favourite right arm inside position. When he gets that hold, few can stop him. Takayasu showed some resistance, but was ultimately forced over the line (gently — since he’s a close friend and mentor to Onosato).
Aonishiki started this tournament with a win, too. He took out Kirishima. He’s now 3-0 against the former ozeki.
In this bout Aonishiki and Kirishima traded thrusts, with Kirishima initially doing a good job of keeping Aonishiki off his belt. He tried to keep Aonishiki upright by pushing up on his shoulders and, at one point, chin. That frustrated Aonishiki. With his preferred leaned over clinch off the table he had to improvise. And Aonishiki is phenomenal at improvisation.
He decided to keep up a thrusting attack with Kirishima and then caught Kirishima’s bicep with his right hand. He then pushed on Kirishima’s elbow to force Kirishima past him.
Once Aonishiki had his eyes on Kirishima’s back it was over. At just 21 Aonishiki continues to prove he is a force to be reckoned with.
Kotozakura looked sturdy and strong on Day 1, despite there being strapping on both his knees. He gathered up Wakatakakage, in familiar fashion, and was able to hoist him up and back for the no nonsense force out.
Yoshinofuji (formerly Kusano) is someone to keep an eye on this tournament. He’s from Kyushu (Kumamoto to be exact). And this is his first top division tournament on his home island. I’ve seen very seasoned wrestlers crack under the pressure of the crowd support in Kyushu, but on Day 1 it didn’t seem to bother Yoshinofuji.
He showed very quick hands and feet against Oshoma, wining the thrusting exchange before locking on the moro-zashi (double inside position) for the win.
Shodai is also from Kyushu. He gets some of the biggest roars from the partisan crowd there. Last year he went a disappointing 4-11 in this arena, one of many Kyushu wrestlers to finish with terrible records.
He got off to a poor start this month. Atamifuji was able to quickly force him out with a strong opening charge. Atamifuji didn’t get much of a grip on Shodai, but was still able to drive him out.
There’s no official video of it, but Oho looked great last night. He dispatched of Wakamotoharu with a graceful katasukashi after some very mean looking harite (palm strikes). He also did a great job of keeping his arms moving and preventing Wakamotoharu from getting his preferred hidari-yotsu (left arm inside, right arm outside grip).
The pick of tonight’s bouts are Takanosho vs. Hoshoryu and Onosato vs. Hakuoho.
Hoshoryu has a good record against Takanosho, who was a surprise runner-up in September. Hakuoho is one of very few wrestlers with a winning record against Onosato. He’s taken gold stars off him in their last two meetings.
We’ve also got Kotozakura vs. Kirishima, Wakatakakage vs. Oho and Aonishiki vs. Wakamotoharu on deck.
I’m especially interested in Aonsihiki vs. Wakamotoharu. In the last tournament, Wakamotoharu beat Aonishiki and showed a blueprint for how many others might do well against the Ukrainian. He was able to get inside position and force Aonishiki to fight with a straight-up posture. Wakamotoharu will, without doubt, look to repeat this. I’m fascinated to see what kind of adjustment Aonishiki makes to counter this.
I’ll talk about that tomorrow!
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I thought Shishi missed several opportunities to defeat Daieisho. He's too slow, or too unaggressive.
I thought Shodai stood a good chance against Atamifuji, but I also think his height works against him. If you can get under and tip him up the way AtomBomb did, he goes backwards, and Shodai never fights well going backwards.
I didn't think Kotozakura would make such short work of Wakatakakage. I guess at Maegashira 1 Waka is looking at another murderer's row to start and another deep hole he'll need to dig out of. However, at M1 he should face more lower rankers, too, and I think he'll do better than that 7-8 you predicted.
Shishi does lack a killer instinct. And I wondered about not having a mono-i on the Hoshoryu bout. But you’re right, he should get the message. No worries if shorter recaps follow. I don’t always have time to get through all of them.