2025 Kyushu Basho: Day 9 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 Kyushu Basho (spoilers).
We are now nine days into the 2025 Kyushu basho and we have a very familiar story line… Can anyone stop Onosato? The 75th yokozuna has dominated this tournament for over a week and the pack are scrambling to keep up.
Last night Onosato’s perfect record was tested by Oshoma. His closest challenger Aonishiki met Hiradoumi. And don’t forget about Hoshoryu! He had the upstart Yoshinofuji to contend with.
Watch what happened in those key bouts below. Down there you’ll also find my results and analysis.
Today’s bonus gif is Takayasu in his favourite sweater.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Asakoryu (6-3) def. Tochitaikai (4-5) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Sadanoumi (3-6) def. Mitakeumi (4-5) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Gonoyama (6-3) def. Oshoumi (1-8) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Tomokaze (3-6) def. Shonannoumi (2-7) by oshidashi
Tokihayate (7-2) def. Fujinokawa (6-3) by yorikiri
Roga (5-4) def. Nishikifuji (6-3) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Shishi (3-6) def. Chiyoshoma (5-4) by yorikiri
Ichiyamamoto (5-4) def. Ryuden (4-5) by hatakikomi
Abi (4-5) def. Kotoshoho (5-4) by oshidashi
Churanoumi (5-4) def. Tobizaru (4-5) by oshidashi
Onokatsu (4-5) def. Kinbozan (3-6) by yorikiri
Atamifuji (6-3) def. Daieisho (5-4) by oshidashi*
Midorifuji (4-5) def. Shodai (3-6) by amiuchi (fisherman’s throw)*
Ura (4-5) def. Wakamotoharu (4-5) by yorikiri*
Kirishima (5-4) def. Hakuoho (3-6) by hatakikomi*
Wakatakakage (4-5) def. Takayasu (5-4) by uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Oho (4-5) def. Tamawashi (4-5) by hatakikomi*
Aonishiki (8-1) def. Hiradoumi (2-7) by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*
Kotozakura (4-5) def. Takanosho (2-7) by hatakikomi*
Hoshoryu (7-2) def. Yoshinofuji (6-3) by okurinage (rear throw down)*
Onosato (9-0) def. Oshoma (3-6) by oshidashi
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
Y1e Onosato: 9-0
S1e Aonishiki: 8-1
Y1wYO Hoshoryu, M14w Tokihayate: 7-2
Analysis
After getting through some tough bouts with Tamawashi and Ura, Onosato was able to coast to a win over Oshoma last night. The Big O steamrolled the smaller O and pushed him out without any trouble whatsoever.
That brings Onosato’s record to 9-0. This is the third time he has been 9-0 in the makuuchi. He won the yusho in those previous two tournaments (finishing 13-2 and 14-1).
Hoshoryu and Yoshinofuji are desperately trying to mount a challenge against Onosato this month. They squared off last night for the first time ever. Yoshinofuji favoured a thrusting attack in this one. I suspect the reason for this was that he was anxious about letting Hoshoryu get on his belt. Hoshoryu proved too much for the youngster when it came to pushing/thrusting. He was able to rotate Yoshinofuji with his strikes and then get on his belt anyway. He tried pushing Yoshinofuji out, but when he felt resistance, he decided to yank him back for a school-yard like throw down.
This loss, as well as yesterday’s bullying from Wakamotoharu, have brought Yoshinofuji down to earth a little. He has a shot to get right back into this competition tonight, though, when he meets Onosato.
If he were asking my advice (DMs are open, man), I’d tell him to focus on what he’s best at. He’s a very bright young yotsu-zumo (belt grappling) wrestler. But he abandoned that out of fear of Hoshoryu’s throws only to get dumped anyway. I’d love to see him believe in his yotsu-zumo tomorrow when he takes on Onosato.
Aonishiki continues to lurk right behind Onosato. Aonishiki lurking around anywhere is a terrifying image.
The Squat Sensation was at his best last night, rag-dolling Hiradoumi around the dohyo. Hiradoumi showed a lot of fight, as you’d expect, and did well to stay up when Aonishiki elevated him. However, Aonishiki’s attacks were just too varied and relentless for Hiradoumi to keep up his defense.
Tokihayate got a win over Fujinokawa last night. Tokihayate did a good job of staying close to the Blue Bullet and denying him any kind of run-up for his jackhammer like attacks. Tokihayate then defended a pretty weak kubinage (headlock throw) from the fan favourite before shoving him into the seats.
That ties Tokihayate with Hoshoryu at 7-2. Unless Yoshinofuji wins tomorrow, Tokihayate might be our only chance of a maegashira surprise this tournament.
There were signs of life from Wakatakakage last night. He looked more like his old bulldog self in tackling and taking out Takayasu (who has had a strong tournament this month).
Kotozakura got another delicate win last night. He bunny hopped his way to victory against a charging Takanosho. At the moment it seems like his nagging knee injuries are affecting his ability to push forwards more than they are his ability to side-step.
Atamifuji the pusher/thruster made another appearance last night. He was able to blast out the Battle Pug (Daieisho) with a big moroto tsuki (double handed thrust) off the tachiai followed by a push to the throat.
Midorifuji got a fun win last night. He used the fisherman’s throw to hand Shodai his sixth loss.
Tonight’s big match is Onosato vs. Yoshinofuji. This is a first time meeting between the pair. If Yoshinofuji loses, his chance of being involved in the final title push this week disappears. If he manages to win, he’ll give himself (and anyone else on three losses) a slight chance of causing an upset.
Hoshoryu has Oshoma tonight. Oshoma does terribly against the elites, so I don’t expect him to ruin Hoshoryu’s tournament here.
Aonishiki will have Tamawashi. Tamawashi continues to prove that, even at 40, he’s a tough out for anyone. This is a tough match-up for Tamawashi since there won’t be anywhere for Tamawashi to aim his famed nodowa (throat thrust) at.
Tokihayate has Chiyoshoma. He’s lost four of six matches to Chiyoshoma, but given his form, there’s a decent chance Tokihayate manages to stay in the title hunt for at least a little longer.
Enjoy!
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