2025 Nagoya Basho: Day 14 results and analysis
Recapping all the top division action from Grand Sumo's 2025 Nagoya Basho (spoilers).
The penultimate day of the Nagoya basho delivered plenty of drama and it’s set up a fascinating final day for us.
I spoke about this tournament on the Level Change yesterday. You can hear my thoughts on the tournament (which doesn’t include the action that happened last night). I also previewed UFC Abu Dhabi, which is happening right now.
Bonus gif today is Kusano, the latest rookie to take the makuuchi by storm.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Kotoeiho (5-9) def. Nishikigi (7-7) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Kayo (3-11) def. Hidenoumi (1-11-2) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Churanoumi (9-5) def. Mitakeumi (9-5) by oshidashi
Fujinokawa (9-5) def. Takanosho (8-6) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)*
Shishi (6-8) def. Tokihayate (6-8) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Shodai (9-5) def. Roga (7-7) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Midorifuji (9-5) def. Ura (8-6) by fusen (default)
Asakoryu (6-8) def. Chiyoshoma (1-13) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Tamawashi (10-4) def. Ichiyamamoto (9-5) by yorikiri*
Onokatsu (6-8) def. Kinbozan (3-11) by yorikiri
Oho (6-8) def. Gonoyama (8-6) by hatakikomi
Hakuoho (8-6) def. Abi (8-6) by oshidashi
Kusano (11-3) def. Aonishiki (11-3) by yorikiri*
Wakamotoharu (6-8) def. Meisei (3-11) by tsukitaoshi (thrust down)*
Sadanoumi (4-10) def. Oshoma (3-11) by oshidashi
Takayasu (9-5) def. Atamifuji (10-4) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Kotoshoho (12-2) def. Kirishima (8-6) by uwatenage*
Kotozakura (8-6) def. Hiradoumi (7-7) by sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
Onosato (10-4) def. Wakatakakage (9-5) by oshidashi
*Must see bouts!
Leaderboard
M15e Kotoshoho: 12-2
M1w Aonishiki, M14e Kusano: 11-3
Analysis
Aonishiki is no longer in control of this basho. That’s thanks to Kusano. The top division rookie hit his stride this week and is peaking at just the right time in this tournament.
Aonishiki was quicker off the line in the tachiai, but Kusano was stronger — knocking back Aonishiki with a moroto-tsuki (double handed thrust) to the chest. Aonishiki pushed back and got back to the centre of the ring. As he came forwards, Kusano swam his right hand under Aonishiki’s left arm and then reached around with his left. Aonishiki thought Kusano was setting up a migi-yotsu (right arm inside, left arm outside grip). However, as Aonishiki leaned forward to match the grip and get his left hand on the belt, Kusano drew his right arm away, slide to his left and then used his powerful outside grip to drag Aonishiki around and towards the straw. Aonishiki was in survival mode here and didn’t catch Kusano sliding his right arm under again for the migi-yotsu. Kusano then wrenched Aonishiki to the side, forcing Aonishiki to step out and then get thrown down.
This result ties Aonishiki and Kusano on 11-3 records.
Kotoshoho watched all this happening and then went into his fight with Kirishima knowing that he could take the lead in this basho with a win. I suppose that could make some people nervous. It didn’t seem to affect Kotoshoho, though.
He looked very cool in this fight with Kirishima (someone he had previously never beaten).
Kirishima tried to get a left arm inside position off the tachiai, but Kotoshoho circled away from the arm and kept himself free. Kotoshoho then knocked Kirishima back with a firm nodowa (throat thrust). As Kirishima recoiled forwards, Kotoshoho stepped back to his right and pulled down on Kirishima’s wrist. He then quickly side-stepped and got a hand on the back of Kirishima’s mawashi for the easy push out.
That win gave him a 12-2 record and gives him a chance to win the cup tomorrow.
The loss means that Kirishima can only get to nine wins in this tournament. That reduces the likelihood he gets back to the ozeki rank this year.
Earlier in the night Atamifuji missed his chance to join Kusano and Aonishiki on 11-3 records, and still give himself a chance to win the cup. His chances were dashed by Takayasu.
Takayasu put on a defensive clinic against Atamifuji, using ottsuke (forearm blocking) to prevent Atamifuji getting an early grip on his belt. He also showed great footwork to escape the straw after Atamifuji launched him backwards. Takayasu then initiated the yotsu battle, locking up migi-yotsu. Atamifuji was too casual after that happened. He didn’t fight to get a hand on Takayasu’s belt and was punished when the veteran stepped back and used his sashite (under arm and belt grab) to execute the winning shitatenage.
Buying merch is another way you can support what I do at Sumo Stomp! To celebrate the Nagoya tournament, and the promotion of Onosato, my partner (ex-Bloody Elbow colleague Anton Tabuena) and I have made a special Onosato ‘flames’ shirt. This organic cotton t-shirt includes the words “Onosato” and “Yokozuna 75”.
All Sumo Stomp! paid subscribers get 15% off everything in the store. Find the discount code at the bottom of this paywalled article (link)
Last night Onosato got to double digit wins with a victory over Wakatakakage. He was too powerful moving forwards for Wakatakakage this time and was able to bundle him out before the sekiwake could get his feet under him.
Kotozakura secured his kachi-koshi with a win over Hiradoumi. Kotozakura tossed Hiradoumi down with a flourish, landing the throw without any kind of hold on the belt.
Tamawashi got his tenth win last night, claiming another title as king of the pusher/thrusters. He beat fellow oshi-zumo practitioner Ichiyamamoto, but used yotsu techniques to do it.
Kotoshoho fights Aonishiki tonight. If he wins, the cup is his. If he loses, he and Aonishiki will fight a play-off for the cup.
After that first bout, Kusano will take on Takayasu. If Kotoshoho loses and Kusano wins, then Kusano will join Kotoshoho and Aonishiki in a three-way play-off.
Kotoshoho and Aonishiki have met once before, with Aonishiki winning with a pulling over arm throw. That was in Aonishiki’s debut makuuchi tournament.
Kusano and Takayasu have never met.
To finish off the tournament we’ll have Kotozakura vs. Onosato. We’ll also have Wakatakakage vs. Kirishima, with Wakatakakage looking to bank ten wins.
We’ve only got one Darwin match on the docket tomorrow. Hiradoumi and Roga will face off with a kachi-koshi on the line.
We’re going to have an epic senshuraku (last day). I can’t wait to see who walks away with their first ever top division championship!
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Just the other day I mentioned how there's nobody better than Wakatakakage with two heels on the ropes. This time he lost his situational awareness. I hope he gets his 10th tomorrow!
I can't imagine the kind of power Takayasu has, to throw a guy like Atamifuji around like a hay bale, just like he did Ichiyamamoto the other day too. He won't be runner-up tomorrow, but he can be the spoiler.
Kayo was winning while going forward, then suddenly decided to back up and lost. Is it a strength issue, or just a lack of self-confidence that keeps him from going on offense?
Shodai also having his best tournament in months. Time to go for ozeki again! ;-D
Such exciting bouts, we saw some proper execution styles, that have absolutely demonstrated and shown that for example some have been on the ball, watching Aonishiki taking notes, watching playbacks, putting techniques in to practice Kotozakura used a Beltless arm throw, we don’t often see that move, today we saw Aonishiki outmanoeuvred by his own slippery moves and Kusano got one over him.
Shodai used an over arm throw, and
Now we are seeing these Rikishi uses there brains, learning from watching using unusual movements and technique to get a basic move like a frontal push out, but the opponent hasn’t seen it coming because they are confused by the sudden technique changes
So I got one right Aonishiki and was unsure about Kusano, but here we are.
Now Atamifuji beaten by Takayasu who has clearly been watching and learning and to be fair he completely out manoeuvred Atami with an under arm belt throw, again we don’t see that often either
But our boy got ten and maybe tomorrow he will finish on 11-4
But the great Tim Bissell is right, this showed that Atamifuji needs more experience before he gets thrown into the stadium of full elite, keep clapping people
Takayasu is not to be sniffed at he’s power full and experienced, he wants to go up, let’s not forget Tamawashi very impressive for a 40 yr old,