Great tournament! Minor technical correction: for your opening GIF, Hoshoryu is the 74th yokozuna, not 75th. (Onosato is 75th.)
I also came away from this basho impressed by Kotozakura. He is getting back to health, it seems, and he beat Onosato fairly comfortably. The basho is more fun when he is at his technical best, with all the wins just at the edge of the straw.
This November basho was amazing we saw a lot of hard hitters deploying a lot of useable techniques that provided full scope entertainment
We also saw quite a lot of support in the form of score settling and in example Takayasu helping Onosato , though in the end it was wasted due to injury !
We cannot take away from Aonishiki his overall performances, clearly [ boring I know ] Aonishiki is a new breed of Rikishi doing his homework on his opponents, spotting their weaknesses, going in with a game plan and utilising any move with a very high success rate, non of that is to be sniffed at!
I remember when we first saw him deploy a move we hadn’t seen in possibly years the same move he used on Kotozakura yesterday to defeat and win.
On the face of it, Aonishiki won because he was the better opponent, but that’s not what it was , it was because Aonishiki used his brain, he watched all the play backs he learned that quite a lot of top rankers use the same move over and over and over again!
Be honest some of these Older more experienced Rikishi use the same move in every single game, sometimes even I have managed to predict the next move.
A few young new Rikishi are using fresh techniques not used in many years [ extremely rare moves]
I won’t be surprised if we see a Third Yokozuna by nov 26/27 and / or a possible retirement [ H ] by July next year, I do not feel Hoshoryu is performing, you all know I say this with a very heavy heart as I am a massive fan and supporter, but he just isn’t performing and he isn’t projecting a good Yokozuna at the moment, I do think it’s going to be was he pushed or did he fall ?
Now I do want to briefly touch on the extremely dangerous moves we saw
Used, and just in the last day or so the twisted head lock throw, I absolutely agree with Tim some of these moves must be banned I absolutely believe these moves are going to end in a terrible terrible tragedy.
We need someone like you Tim to convince the JSA to ban these moves.
So now lastly but definitely not least
Atamifuji he got a 8-7 record
Well done Atamifuji well done, and he came through with out being killed by the seriously big boys !! He had plenty of time
I don't think the JSA would listen to me. If anything, I'd rather they not notice me just in case I get in trouble for my gifs.
Thanks for your takes on the tournament, though, and you comments throughout. Was great to read your thoughts as things developed. I'm with you that Aonishiki is going to be a yokozuna next year. I'm more optimistic on Hoshoryu, though.
Well obviously I am just an pensioner watching, I suppose I just comment on what I see as a general viewer, I just look at the more general content of what the un- trained eye sees
I can’t know all the important technical stuff
But I do know from watching a lot of the older previous matches that for a long time, some Rikishi have just plodded along using very old techniques that they have never moved away from
Takayasu who I do believe would have made a great Yokozuna , watching him, I think try something else ! A different move something anything, but he doesn’t
For me the world has changed, even in Japan even in Sumo
We have young Rikishi, used to using all the platforms picking up what other Athletes do in other types of sports, they see them talking about say a tactic from watching another athlete and like Aonishiki then diversify and use a different move
A strategic move to get the win
Now we did see Hoshoryu use the inner thigh pull down twice taking his combatant completely off guard and it was clear for all to see, they were completely stunned
Hoshoryu lost his final to Aonishiki because his mindset looked lost already
Then for some reason only known to him he ducked? Played right into Aonishikis hand
What he should have been doing was keeping him upright, Aonishiki really doesn’t like the position he loves being down and under
Once Hoshoryu ducked it was all over Barr the screaming
I would say he gave the cup to Aonishiki and then cooked him dinner !!!
I am a massive Hoshoryu fan and I want him to be number at the top, but he needs to diversify as well
I worry it’s in his head well I am Yokozuna they can’t demote me!
Hi Tim, I really enjoyed reading this last report thanks it was brilliant
I watched today the YouTube comments from the Japanese Sumo Association
They had quite a bit to say on Onosato and Hoshoryu, they said overall they were happy with performance and that they both stayed in the race to end!
However a few other members are not happy, they were unhappy that Onosato had hurt his Shoulder, and perhaps he’s not training properly, that he was looking thinner and his back looks weak , Extremely un-happy that Hoshoryu has not had a win ! Pointing out that the association took 8 mins to promote Hoshoryu to Yokozuna despite some strong protests from other members !
They talked about Paris next year!
They said they want it to be exciting and have pointed toward a new Yokozuna
Mr insufferable said on Tuesday when I mentioned Paris in May
You wait and see Aonishiki will be made Yokozuna in time for May in Paris !!
Paris should be fun, but I wish they were going to Montreal instead! (then I could go see them). If Onosato sits out the next tournament then Aonishiki might have to be the favourite for the January tournament (considering his success against Hoshoryu). If he wins that there might be some argument for a yokozuna promotion. It would be very unusual to do that, but Aonishiki's career has been so unusual to date that they might just go with it. If not, then he'll have to win March, too. Winning three tournaments in a row would be historic stuff. It's hard to count the young man out, though, given what we've seen so far.
He says £1 to a penny Aonishiki will be Yokozuna by the time may comes around and that we might see Hoshōryū sunk under the weight of consistently loosing to Aonishiki and Onosato which means if we have three Yokozuna Hoshoryu will drop down to bottom of three, his ego will plummet and his confidence will be shattered
Mr insufferable pointed out, the only way out for Hoshoryu is if Onosato sits January out, and Aonishiki does really badly [ not likely]
Wow! I think Hoshoryu was undone by the fusen and not having a bout (the bout) that he’d probably been preparing for ahead of the Basho. And however much I like him (H), he’s not quite worked out Aonishiki, as your insightful analysis showed.
Now toasting the winner with a glass of Shabo: it is a good time to be a supporter of the sport.
Thanks for all your daily work Tim: it has been a joy to follow!
Thanks for reading Danny and for your support. It means a lot.
Yeah, I think Hoshoryu and Aonishiki's head-to-head record will even out over time. Hoshoryu is just too talented to be totally dominated in that match-up. At some point he's going to figure out a good strategy. We have enough tape on Aonishiki now to see where he struggles. All that being said, though, I like the chances of Aonishiki responding to any strategy that is working against him and finding an adjustment and new ways to win.
I'm so glad he got that promotion. It's clear he's one of the best three wrestlers in the sport right now, so it only makes sense for his rank to reflect that.
Concerning an Ozeki promotion for Aonishiki, he definitely has the 33 win total over 3 past tournaments. However, does that count since he was sekiwake only for this basho, and he has been in sanyaku for only 2 tournaments? I don't know if the JSA considers his recent accomplishments to be equivalent for the purposes of promotion.
I think they are going to give it to him, since getting the yusho, beating Hoshoryu (twice) and having the requisite wins (despite some coming as maegashira) should be enough to reward him with the promotion. Also, they need a second ozeki to balance out the banzuke.
At the end of the last tournament, someone from the JSA did say that Aonishiki's 11-4 as komusubi would count as the first tournament in his ozeki run, meaning he needed 22 wins over his next two (this one and January). I think they're going to forget about that, though, due to all the context around this yusho and his record to date.
Wow who’d a think it. Aonishiki As our champion. Like to see him move up. It’s only good for the sport. Thanks for the daily updates. Makes it a whole lot easier to follow the sport. See you in January 2026.
Hey Ken, thanks for reading and supporting The Stomp! That was such a satisfying tournament. I'm really glad that we are witnessing Onosato's rise and potentially becoming one of the best ever, but it's not total dominance from him and there are guys (like Aonishiki now) who can keep everything interesting for the next maybe 10 years. What a time to be a fan!
Great tournament! Minor technical correction: for your opening GIF, Hoshoryu is the 74th yokozuna, not 75th. (Onosato is 75th.)
I also came away from this basho impressed by Kotozakura. He is getting back to health, it seems, and he beat Onosato fairly comfortably. The basho is more fun when he is at his technical best, with all the wins just at the edge of the straw.
That's even more embarrassing given I sell a T-shirt that says "Onosato - Yokozuna 75" LOL
A healthy Kotozakura in 2026 is on my Christmas list. Imagine having him there mixing it up with Onosato, Hoshoryu and Aonishiki?
I agree! Great to see Kotozakura in better form.
Thanks for the great coverage! Love reading your recaps, analysis and takes on the tournament as a whole. Worth the subscription!
Hi Andreas, I appreciate that. Thanks for reading. Are you happy with how all this played out?
This November basho was amazing we saw a lot of hard hitters deploying a lot of useable techniques that provided full scope entertainment
We also saw quite a lot of support in the form of score settling and in example Takayasu helping Onosato , though in the end it was wasted due to injury !
We cannot take away from Aonishiki his overall performances, clearly [ boring I know ] Aonishiki is a new breed of Rikishi doing his homework on his opponents, spotting their weaknesses, going in with a game plan and utilising any move with a very high success rate, non of that is to be sniffed at!
I remember when we first saw him deploy a move we hadn’t seen in possibly years the same move he used on Kotozakura yesterday to defeat and win.
On the face of it, Aonishiki won because he was the better opponent, but that’s not what it was , it was because Aonishiki used his brain, he watched all the play backs he learned that quite a lot of top rankers use the same move over and over and over again!
Be honest some of these Older more experienced Rikishi use the same move in every single game, sometimes even I have managed to predict the next move.
A few young new Rikishi are using fresh techniques not used in many years [ extremely rare moves]
I won’t be surprised if we see a Third Yokozuna by nov 26/27 and / or a possible retirement [ H ] by July next year, I do not feel Hoshoryu is performing, you all know I say this with a very heavy heart as I am a massive fan and supporter, but he just isn’t performing and he isn’t projecting a good Yokozuna at the moment, I do think it’s going to be was he pushed or did he fall ?
Now I do want to briefly touch on the extremely dangerous moves we saw
Used, and just in the last day or so the twisted head lock throw, I absolutely agree with Tim some of these moves must be banned I absolutely believe these moves are going to end in a terrible terrible tragedy.
We need someone like you Tim to convince the JSA to ban these moves.
So now lastly but definitely not least
Atamifuji he got a 8-7 record
Well done Atamifuji well done, and he came through with out being killed by the seriously big boys !! He had plenty of time
I don't think the JSA would listen to me. If anything, I'd rather they not notice me just in case I get in trouble for my gifs.
Thanks for your takes on the tournament, though, and you comments throughout. Was great to read your thoughts as things developed. I'm with you that Aonishiki is going to be a yokozuna next year. I'm more optimistic on Hoshoryu, though.
Well obviously I am just an pensioner watching, I suppose I just comment on what I see as a general viewer, I just look at the more general content of what the un- trained eye sees
I can’t know all the important technical stuff
But I do know from watching a lot of the older previous matches that for a long time, some Rikishi have just plodded along using very old techniques that they have never moved away from
Takayasu who I do believe would have made a great Yokozuna , watching him, I think try something else ! A different move something anything, but he doesn’t
For me the world has changed, even in Japan even in Sumo
We have young Rikishi, used to using all the platforms picking up what other Athletes do in other types of sports, they see them talking about say a tactic from watching another athlete and like Aonishiki then diversify and use a different move
A strategic move to get the win
Now we did see Hoshoryu use the inner thigh pull down twice taking his combatant completely off guard and it was clear for all to see, they were completely stunned
Hoshoryu lost his final to Aonishiki because his mindset looked lost already
Then for some reason only known to him he ducked? Played right into Aonishikis hand
What he should have been doing was keeping him upright, Aonishiki really doesn’t like the position he loves being down and under
Once Hoshoryu ducked it was all over Barr the screaming
I would say he gave the cup to Aonishiki and then cooked him dinner !!!
I am a massive Hoshoryu fan and I want him to be number at the top, but he needs to diversify as well
I worry it’s in his head well I am Yokozuna they can’t demote me!
But he forgets they can push for retirement!!
Which would be awful
When Terunofuji retired I was very upset
455275
Hi Tim, I really enjoyed reading this last report thanks it was brilliant
I watched today the YouTube comments from the Japanese Sumo Association
They had quite a bit to say on Onosato and Hoshoryu, they said overall they were happy with performance and that they both stayed in the race to end!
However a few other members are not happy, they were unhappy that Onosato had hurt his Shoulder, and perhaps he’s not training properly, that he was looking thinner and his back looks weak , Extremely un-happy that Hoshoryu has not had a win ! Pointing out that the association took 8 mins to promote Hoshoryu to Yokozuna despite some strong protests from other members !
They talked about Paris next year!
They said they want it to be exciting and have pointed toward a new Yokozuna
Mr insufferable said on Tuesday when I mentioned Paris in May
You wait and see Aonishiki will be made Yokozuna in time for May in Paris !!
Looking forward to your thoughts on all this ?
Paris should be fun, but I wish they were going to Montreal instead! (then I could go see them). If Onosato sits out the next tournament then Aonishiki might have to be the favourite for the January tournament (considering his success against Hoshoryu). If he wins that there might be some argument for a yokozuna promotion. It would be very unusual to do that, but Aonishiki's career has been so unusual to date that they might just go with it. If not, then he'll have to win March, too. Winning three tournaments in a row would be historic stuff. It's hard to count the young man out, though, given what we've seen so far.
Hi Tim
Well we really did it now!!
Mr insufferable laid down ten quid to me on a bet
He says £1 to a penny Aonishiki will be Yokozuna by the time may comes around and that we might see Hoshōryū sunk under the weight of consistently loosing to Aonishiki and Onosato which means if we have three Yokozuna Hoshoryu will drop down to bottom of three, his ego will plummet and his confidence will be shattered
Mr insufferable pointed out, the only way out for Hoshoryu is if Onosato sits January out, and Aonishiki does really badly [ not likely]
Wow! I think Hoshoryu was undone by the fusen and not having a bout (the bout) that he’d probably been preparing for ahead of the Basho. And however much I like him (H), he’s not quite worked out Aonishiki, as your insightful analysis showed.
Now toasting the winner with a glass of Shabo: it is a good time to be a supporter of the sport.
Thanks for all your daily work Tim: it has been a joy to follow!
Thanks for reading Danny and for your support. It means a lot.
Yeah, I think Hoshoryu and Aonishiki's head-to-head record will even out over time. Hoshoryu is just too talented to be totally dominated in that match-up. At some point he's going to figure out a good strategy. We have enough tape on Aonishiki now to see where he struggles. All that being said, though, I like the chances of Aonishiki responding to any strategy that is working against him and finding an adjustment and new ways to win.
Hi All
Today I watched the 2dec tour
Aonishiki has been elevated right to top of the tree in terms of respect consideration and belief
I believe everyone is looking to him to take control, take charge.
Aonishiki commands respect, when he walks in the room everyone pays attention
He is usurping Kotazakuras position, even if it’s unwitting
Hoshoryu has lost all confidence and he looks deflated.
I just saw on NHK that Aonishiki was promoted to Ozeki. I think he will do well. Hes part of a bright future for Sumo.
I'm so glad he got that promotion. It's clear he's one of the best three wrestlers in the sport right now, so it only makes sense for his rank to reflect that.
Yes
Concerning an Ozeki promotion for Aonishiki, he definitely has the 33 win total over 3 past tournaments. However, does that count since he was sekiwake only for this basho, and he has been in sanyaku for only 2 tournaments? I don't know if the JSA considers his recent accomplishments to be equivalent for the purposes of promotion.
I think they are going to give it to him, since getting the yusho, beating Hoshoryu (twice) and having the requisite wins (despite some coming as maegashira) should be enough to reward him with the promotion. Also, they need a second ozeki to balance out the banzuke.
At the end of the last tournament, someone from the JSA did say that Aonishiki's 11-4 as komusubi would count as the first tournament in his ozeki run, meaning he needed 22 wins over his next two (this one and January). I think they're going to forget about that, though, due to all the context around this yusho and his record to date.
Takayasu got his K and Aoniski his first cup. I am content. Thanks, Tim, for your hard work, which makes my enjoyment of sumo all the better.
Hey man, I'm glad you enjoy it. Sorry Wakatakakage got make-koshi. Hopefully he'll look at the new year as a chance to start fresh.
Amazing basho. And Aonishiki did not disappoint. Thanks for the coverage.
You’re so welcome, thanks for reading and all the support!
Wow who’d a think it. Aonishiki As our champion. Like to see him move up. It’s only good for the sport. Thanks for the daily updates. Makes it a whole lot easier to follow the sport. See you in January 2026.
Hey Ken, thanks for reading and supporting The Stomp! That was such a satisfying tournament. I'm really glad that we are witnessing Onosato's rise and potentially becoming one of the best ever, but it's not total dominance from him and there are guys (like Aonishiki now) who can keep everything interesting for the next maybe 10 years. What a time to be a fan!
Yep the next ten years or so should be good times for sumo and fans!
i did! granted, wishful thinking based on not very deep knowledge of sumo at all, but it worked out :-)
My Husband thought it was!!
He’s been utterly insufferable since yesterday and his birthday, he said right from start of this Basho that Aonishiki would win title and so he did!
You'll have to tell us his pick for the January tournament!
Paul’s thinking on it !!
Thats awesome