2025 Nagoya Basho: Day 3 results and analysis

There's spoilers in here, beware!

Another day of wild matches at the 2025 Nagoya basho has come and gone. And it now seems clear that, despite the new arena, the conditions in Nagoya remain challenging for those competing there. The surface appears to be slippery, just like it always has been at this tournament. With a day’s worth of sweat hitting the clay, it’s the wrestlers competing at the end of the program who are most affected. We saw that in both Onosato vs. Wakamotoharu and Hoshoryu vs. Aonishiki.

Those are must see bouts, for sure. But others definitely worth your time include Ura vs. Sadanoumi, Tobizaru vs. Takerufuji, Kirishima vs. Oho and Hakuoho vs. Hiradoumi.

Scroll down to check out the winners and losers from Day 3, along with plenty of vids and my analysis on what went down.

Bonus gif today is the cherub faced Atamifuji.

Boing.

SPOILERS BELOW

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Results

• Mitakeumi (3-0) def. Kotoeiho (1-2) by oshidashi (frontal push out)

• Shishi (2-1) def. Kayo (0-3) by yorikiri (frontal force out)

• Fujinokawa (1-2) def. Hidenoumi (0-3) by oshidashi

• Kotoshoho (3-0) def. Kusano (2-1) by yorikiri*

• Asakoryu (2-1) def. Shodai (2-1) by oshidashi*

• Churanoumi (1-2) def. Midorifuji (2-1) by hatakikomi (slap down)*

• Tokihayate (1-2) def. Roga (2-1) by yorikiri

• Atamifuji (1-2) def. Takanosho (1-2) by oshidashi

• Ichiyamamoto (3-0) def. Chiyoshoma (0-3) by oshidashi

• Ura (3-0) def. Sadanoumi (0-3) by oshidashi*

• Tobizaru (1-2) def. Takerufuji (2-1) by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*

• Meisei (1-2) def. Gonoyama (2-1) by hatakikomi

• Hakuoho (2-1) def. Hiradoumi (0-3) by oshidashi*

• Tamawashi (3-0) def. Kinbozan (1-2) by oshidashi

• Onokatsu (1-2) def. Oshoma (0-3) by oshidashi

• Abi (2-1) def. Wakatakakage (2-1) by hatakikomi

• Kirishima (3-0) def. Oho (0-3) by yorikiri*

• Takayasu (2-1) def. Kotozakura (1-2) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)

• Onosato (3-0) def. Wakamotoharu (1-2) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)*

• Aonishiki (2-1) def. Hoshoryu (1-2) by watashikomi (thigh grabbing push down)

  *Must see bouts!

Leaderboard

Too early!

Analysis

Game, set, match Onosato?

I don’t want to sound too extreme, but with his loss to Aonishiki, Hoshoryu is now two losses behind Onosato. He needs Onosato to lose twice now, just to get a chance to beat him and force a play-off. There are a lot of matches to be played, of course, but if Onosato fights like he did in May (which he appears to be doing), him losing twice might be wishful thinking.

Either way, Hoshoryu’s back is now firmly against the wall in this basho. He got there due to the brilliance of Aonishiki… and the clay of Nagoya.

Hoshoryu led with the nodowa (throat thrust) in this bout, something I had been crying out for him to do in the previous two bouts. Aonishiki matched it and used his longer reach to push Hoshoryu back on his heels. Aonishiki then easily secured a right hand inside grip. Just like with Wakamotoharu yesterday, I am baffled at how easily Hoshoryu is conceding that inside position.

Once Aonishiki got his hand on the belt, he was like a dog with its favorite chew toy. Aonishiki has heavy hands and forearms of steel. Once he locks onto a belt he is very tough to shake.

Hoshoryu tried to break the grip with a shitatenage (over arm throw), but Aonishiki’s grip was too tight and his balance was too good. This led to them rotating together in the middle of the ring.

As they spun, Aonishiki kept trying to reach out his toes to brush Hoshoryu’s shins and put him off balance. That lead to Hoshoryu shifting his feet and slipping on the clay, appearing to roll his ankle in the process.

Once Hoshoryu started going down, Aonishiki reacted brilliantly to get his body airborne and ensure that he landed on top of his opponent.

This is Aonishiki’s first career kinboshi. More importantly, though, this is proof that this kid isn’t a flash in the pan. He’s the real deal and, at still just 21, he could have a very good career ahead of him.

Hoshoryu was slow getting up from his fall. A rolled ankle should be something he can walk off. They do that in basketball all the time and a sumotori is tougher than a point guard.

The clay had an affect in Onosato’s bout, too. Wakamotoharu went down like a horse that had been bitten by a rattlesnake, after a mighty push from Onosato forced him to slide and trip on the wet surface.

A win’s a win in sumo, though. And all that matters now is Onosato is 3-0 and looking like the biggest threat to win this yusho.

The clay also played a role in Kotozakura vs. Takayasu. These two clinched up and, when Takayasu tugged Kotozakura down, one of the ozeki’s feet slid out from him — forcing him into a near split (good job these guys practice those daily).

Kirishima stayed perfect through three bouts, could he be the man who challenges Onosato this month?

He beat Oho, after expertly dictating how and when the yotsu (belt grabbing) battle would take place. Oho, a pusher/thruster, again failed to adjust to the grappling exchange when it came and was forced out (as Wakatakakage did to him on Day 2).

Wakatakakage took his first loss of the tournament yesterday. Abi did Abi things, teleporting out the way of Wakatakakage off the tachiai and slapping him down. This is exactly how Abi got his Day 1 win over Onokatsu.

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Takerufuji vs. Tobizaru was one of the most exciting bouts on the day. Tobizaru always brings a lot of fire to bouts with boys from the Isegahama stable. The stable is now led by former yokozuna Terunofuji (who loathes Tobizaru).

In this bout Tobizaru angled off to the side to prevent himself being blown away by Takerufuji’s blitzing tachiai. Tobizaru was then able to stifle Takerufuji’s attempts to get a firm hold on his belt, through a technique called ottsuke (forearm blocking). This frustrated Takerufuji and forced him to go for throws and slap downs (not his forté). As he did that he ignored what was happening below the belt, though. Tobizaru was able to get a foot behind Takerufuji’s skinny left ankle and trip him up as he powered forwards for the crush out.

It’s early doors, but Onosato and Kirishima are currently joined by Tamawashi, Ichiyamamoto, Ura, Kotoshoho and Mitakeumi on 3-0 records.

On Day 4, things aren’t going to get easier for Hoshoryu. He’s drawn Abi, someone he has just an 11-8 record against. Abi has won the last four contests between them (which includes two since Hoshoryu was promoted to yokozuna).

Onosato has Oho tomorrow. Oho is 0-3, but he’s fought well against Onosato in the past. Oho has won two of the last three bouts between them.

Kirishima has Oshoma. Oshoma is struggling in his debut komusubi tournament. He’s 0-3 right now.

Wakatakakage gets Aonishiki, who he is 1-0 against.

It’s gonna be good!

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