2025 Kyushu Basho: Day 12 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 Kyushu Basho (spoilers).
Day 12 has been and gone and we only have three days left of the 2025 Kyushu basho. This has been a really great tournament and we are building to a fascinating finish that will include at least Onosato, Hoshoryu and Aonishiki vying for the title over these last few days.
Those big names were tested last night. Scroll down to see how they did and who, if any, has the advantage heading into the last weekend.
Bonus gif today is Hakuoho after his opening day win over Hoshoryu.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Ryuden (5-7) def. Meisei (1-2-9) by uwatehineri (twisting over arm throw)
Chiyoshoma (8-4) def. Gonoyama (6-6) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Fujinokawa (7-5) def. Sadanoumi (2-9) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
Tomokaze (5-7) def. Asakoryu (6-6) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Roga (8-4) def. Shonannoumi (3-9) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Oshoumi (4-8) def. Midorifuji (6-6) by yorikiri
Ichiyamamoto (8-4) def. Nishikifuji (8-4) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Kinbozan (5-7) def. Mitakeumi (5-7) by yorikiri
Shishi (5-7) def. Churanoumi (6-6) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Tobizaru (5-7) def. Abi (5-7) by kekaeshi (minor inner foot sweep)*
Tokihayate (9-3) def. Atamifuji (7-5) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Kotoshoho (7-5) def. Onokatsu (5-4) by yorikiri
Daieisho (7-5) def. Shodai (4-8) by oshidashi*
Kirishima (8-4) def. Wakamotoharu (6-6) by oshidashi
Hakuoho (4-8) def. Hiradoumi (3-9) by sukuinage*
Wakatakakage (6-6) def. Ura (6-6) by oshidashi*
Tamawashi (5-7) def. Takanosho (3-9) by oshidashi
Aonishiki (10-2) def. Oshoma (3-9) by abistetaoshi (backward force down)*
Kotozakura (7-5) def. Yoshinofuji (8-4) by hatakikomi*
Onosato (10-2) def. Oho (4-8) by yorikiri
Hoshoryu (10-2) def. Takayasu (5-7) by oshidashi*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
Y1e Onosato, Y1wYO Hoshoryu, S1e Aonishiki: 10-2
M14w Tokihayate: 9-3
Analysis
Onosato, Hoshoryu and Aonishiki remain locked in a tie with 10-2 records after last night’s matches.
Hoshoryu had to work very hard to keep up with the other two, though. He went last and took on a very feisty Takayasu. Takayasu really wanted to win this one. And I think that’s because he was trying to clear a path for Onosato.
Takayasu is Onosato’s dew sweeper and he has been a mentor to him over recent years (they are both in the Nishonoseki stable group). Takayasu has shown very aggressive pushing/thrusting this basho, but he kicked it up a notch against Hoshoryu last night. He also pawed/gouged at Hoshoryu’s face a few times. Mrs. Sumo Stomp! said it looked like bar fight and I can’t think of a better way to describe it.
Hoshoryu didn’t shy away from Takayasu’s violence, though. He responded in kind and you could see his ferocity growing throughout the bout. That culminated in an extra shove to put Takayasu in the seats and then a stare down. I think Hoshoryu understood that Takayasu was trying to do Onosato a solid and that this pissed him off even more.
Onosato’s path to 10-2 was far less painful than Hoshoryu’s. Oho landed a hard nodowa (throat thrust) early, but as soon as Onosato put hands on his body he was moving back and over the line.
Aonishiki had more trouble than I thought he would against Oshoma. Oshoma almost got him with a slap down early on and then did a good job of keeping his distance. Aonishiki showed us why he’s the Blue Whirlwind, though. He turned Oshoma and used that rotation to create an opportunity to take him down.
These three are really starting to separate themselves from the pack. And that’s not just for this tournament. The yokozuna plus Aonishiki feels like a class above everyone else in the sport right now.
A healthy Kotozakura and a more developed Yoshinofuji might be on the level of the three I just mentioned. Yoshinofuji had a chance to crash the leader board and make a serious title challenge last night. But that pretty much evaporated with his loss to Kotozakura.
I’ve said it all tournament, but whatever is hampering Kotozakura’s pushing strength is not effecting his reactions and ability to dodge, hop and balance while under pressure. Yoshinofuji worked quickly to try and push him out, but he didn’t do anything to cut off Kotozakura’s mobility. The youngster should have really tried to bear hug him and marshal him out instead of lunging at him.
Tokihayate remains in the title chase. He took a very solid win over Atamifuji (who is having a good tournament). Tokihayate is an expert at using his low centre of gravity to get under guys and then turn them towards a throw. Atamifuji had him on the ropes a few times in this bout, but Tokihayate showed a lot of character to stay in the fight and work towards a victory. We see a lot of maegashira guys crack when a path to the title begins to open up for them. But, so far, Tokihayate has been very composed and technically sound.
Nishikifuji failed to match Tokihayate last night. He lost to Ichiyamamoto (who is also having a good tournament). That pretty much takes him out the running for the yusho.
Kirishima continued to quietly rebound from his awful aki basho. He got his kach-koshi with a strong showing opposite Wakamotoharu.
Daieisho and Shodai put on a fun bout. Daieisho was able to eventually blast the former ozeki out, though. That gave Shodai his losing record. He’s now had losing records in the last four Kyushu tournaments. It feels like the pressure put on by his home island fans might be too much for him to handle.
Sadanoumi is also having a poor tournament on his home island. The Little Big Man Fujinokawa was able to throw him down with a less than technical throw.
Wakatakakage is fighting hard to prevent a second make-koshi in a row. He bowled Ura into the third row last night.
Time for another juryo check-in. Fujiryoga is close to wrapping up the yusho in the second division. He improved to 11-1 after beating Tamashoho.
His closest competition is Asanoyama, Daiseizan and Hatsuyama who are all on 9-3.
Asanoyama beat Kazekeno last night.
Former top division champ Takerufuji is struggling this month. He’s now 6-6 after losing to Fujiseun. It seems very unlikely that he’ll earn a promotion to makuuchi for January’s tournament.
Fujiryoga takes on Daieseizan tomorrow. If he wins and Asanoyama and Hatsuyama lose, he wins the title. This is only the fifth senior tournament for the 22 year-old.
How about a makushita (third division) check-in, too?
The makushita yusho will be decided tomorrow when Ryusho and Kazuma (the only 6-0 wrestlers in the division) face-off.
Both these guys are elite prospects. Ryusho, 23, is in his third senior tournament and reps Oitekaze heya. The 428 lbs. Kazuma, 24, is in his ninth senior tournament and is out of Kise heya.
Both had stellar college careers and were able to start their Grand Sumo lives at makushita. Kazuma suffered a big injury in his debut tournament, though, and had to sit out his next four basho. That put him in the jonokuchi (sixth/lowest division). He won the title, with a 7-0 record, there on his return from injury and then won the sandanme (fourth division) title in September to earn his spot back in makushita.
Here’s Ryusho’s bout with Ohata from Tuesday.
Tomorrow is a very big day in the tournament.
Onosato vs. Aonishiki could be a very pivotal match in deciding who lifts the cup. Onosato is 2-0 against the Ukrainian and has, thus far, proved too big and strong to fall for Aonishiki’s tricks and twists.
Hoshoryu will have Kotozakura. He has a 14-10 record against the ozeki. Kotozakura beat him in September, though. Hoshoryu has won all their other meetings this year. Prior to this year (and Kotozakura’s injury) Kotozakura was on a 6-2 run against him.
Tokihayate’s chances of remaining in the hunt rest on him beating Yoshinofuji. This is their first ever match.
Due to either Onosato or Aonishiki being guaranteed to get their eleventh win, anyone with five losses after tomorrow night will be eliminated from title contention.
Can’t wait for this one!
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Is Hoshoryu ever happy? His intensity is fun but also seems overboard and will get him enemies. I am reminded of how bad Terunofuji and Tobizaru disliked each other.
Fujiryoga seems like another one trick pony, but that trick doesn’t seem to rely as much on explosiveness as it does for Takerufuji or even for Takakeisho. He’s got some pretty tremendous strength but is short armed and was manhandled in his one loss