2025 Kyushu Basho: Day 10 results and analysis

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

Day 10 is now in the books, which means we have turned the corner and are now into—what I like to call—the business end of the basho.

By now our contenders and pretenders have more or less been sorted out and we have a good idea of the possibilities that could play out over the final five days.

Onosato came into Day 10 hoping to turn his grasp over the competition into a stranglehold. He was matched up with Yoshinofuji.

And Hoshoryu, looking to keep pace with his rival, was given Oshoma.

Aonishiki met the crafty Tamawashi (who gave both the yokozuna hell in their matches).

Scroll down to see how that all panned out.

Bonus gif today is Double-Stacks, for my bud Stephie.

SPOILERS BELOW

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Results

• Oshoumi (2-8) def. Sadanoumi (3-7) by oshidashi (frontal push out)

• Nishikifuji (7-3) def. Meisei (0-1-9) by yorikiri (frontal force out)

• Chiyoshoma (6-4) def. Tokihayate (7-3) by oshidashi

• Shonannoumi (3-7) def. Gonoyama (6-4) by okuridashi (rear push out)

• Mitakeumi (5-5) def. Asakoryu (6-4) by uwatenage (over arm throw)

• Midorifuji (5-5) def. Ryuden (4-6) by katasukashi (under shoulder swing down) after torinaoshi (rematch)*

• Ichiyamamoto (6-4) def. Tomokaze (3-7) by oshidashi

• Kinbozan (4-6) def. Fujinokawa (6-4) by okuridashi*

• Roga (6-5) def. Churanoumi (5-5) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw) after torinaoshi

• Abi (5-5) def. Shishi (3-7) by okuridashi

• Kotoshoho (6-4) def. Atamifuji (6-4) by yorikiri

• Daieisho (6-4) def. Onokatsu (4-6) by yorikiri

• Shodai (4-6) def. Tobizaru (4-6) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw) after mono-ii (judges’ review) confirms gyoji (referee) decision*

• Wakamotoharu (5-5) def. Hiradoumi (2-8) by yorikiri*

• Wakatakakage (5-5) def. Hakuoho (3-7) by yorikiri

• Ura (5-5) def. Takanosho (2-8) by sukuinage

• Kirishima (6-4) def. Takayasu (5-5) by tsukihiza (knee touch down)*

• Aonishiki (9-1) def. Tamawashi (4-6) by yorikiri

• Kotozakura (5-5) def. Oho (4-6) by oshidashi

• Yoshinofuji (7-3) def. Onosato (9-1) by oshidashi*

• Hoshoryu (8-2) def. Oshoma (3-7) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*

*Must see bouts!

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Leaderboard

• Y1e Onosato, S1e Aonishiki: 9-1

• Y1wYO Hoshoryu: 8-2

• M5e Yoshinofuji, M14w Tokihayate, M15e Nishikifuji: 7-3

Analysis

Well, we got ourselves a ballgame now.

Onosato suffered his first loss of the tournament last night, thanks to Yoshinofuji. This was their first ever pro match.

In this match Yoshinofuji trusted his yotsu-zumo (belt grappling) and hit Onosato hard before going for moro-zashi (double inside position). This approach denied Onosato his favourite right inside arm position. When Onosato saw that was off the table he went to his usual back-up plan, the slap down. However, I think Yoshinofuji expected that and knew that if Onosato did not have an inside position he had to put on the gas, quickly, in order to avoid getting slapped down.

Yoshinofuji rushed forwards and gave an almighty heave to send Onosato off the ring and running down the aisle, a rare sight nowadays.

Yoshinofuji has now opened up this entire tournament. Onosato is still the favourite to win it, but his closest rivals Hoshoryu and Aonishiki (who won last night) will be emboldened knowing that if they can stay perfect over the next few days and then beat the big man they will be in pole position to take the yusho (championship).

Hoshoryu got to watch Onosato lose before he took on Oshoma. Onosato breezed through Oshoma on Day 9. Last night Hoshoryu had a pretty easy time with him, too. Hoshoryu took a cautious approach with the slap down merchant. He was patient in making sure he got on Oshoma’s belt, knowing full well that once he got that position he could do anything he wanted with it.

This win pushed Hoshoryu’s record to 8-2.

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Aonishiki is tied with Onosato on a 9-1 record. He beat Tamawashi. The Iron Man might have saved his best for the yokozuna on previous nights. Against Aonishiki his nodowa (throat thrust) was ineffective. That’s because Aonishiki has no throat to thrust. Or at least when Aonishiki adopts his favourite posture, with chin tucked, it seems like that. When he stooped over Aonishiki was able to get under Tamawashi’s arms and get to his belt. Once there he landed a nodowa of his own to seal the victory.

Aonishiki, like Hoshoryu, now has a great chance to take this title if he can beat Onosato when his time comes.

Nishikifuji is the most surprising name on the list of guys who are close to Onosato. He’s 7-3, tied with Yoshinofuji. Nishikifuji might be able to stay close to the leaders in this tournament by virtue of the fact he doesn’t have to fight his teammates Yoshinofuji , Atamifuji or Hakuoho over the next five days (all of which would otherwise make sense as match-ups).

Last night he got an easy win over Meisei, who was returning to competition after sitting out the past nine days.

Tokihayate is 7-3, too, despite losing to Chiyoshoma last night.

One of the more fun bouts of the night was Midorifuji catching Ryuden with the katasukashi (after multiple attempts). He now has a 8-1 record against Ryuden, with his only loss being in their first match-up during his juryo days. Midorifuji has won by katasukashi in all but one of those victories.

Tonight Onosato will try and get back on track when he fights Takanosho. Takanosho is not having a good tournament, showing that he’s not cut out for life in the san’yaku. Onosato has a 4-2 record against him and has won the last two meetings.

Hoshoryu has Oho tonight. That’s a difficult match-up for him. He’s 5-7 against the current sekiwake. He won their last bout, in September, but was beaten in March during his debut yokozuna tournament.

Aonishiki vs. Yoshinofuji is the most intriguing match on the torikumi for tomorrow. Yoshinofuji is 2-0 against the Ukrainian. One of those wins was back in makushita (third division), though. Here is their match from September.

Yoshinofuji’s fast hands, switching from slap down to underhook, and fast feet, as seen in his pivot to centre (he’s so damn good at that!), were all too much for Aonishiki in this match.

Tokihayate has the much improved Gonoyama and Nishikifuji has Fujinokawa. Fuji-no-chill lost to Kinbozan last night.

See ya tomorrow!

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