2025 Natsu Basho: Day 12 results and analysis
Spoilers, spoilers, everywhere.
After last night’s action we’ve got just three days left before we put this basho to bed. And it’s been a good one. We’ve seen lots of great bouts and interesting/rare finishes. Ura, Aonishiki and even Nishikigi have helped us out in that regard.
On Day 12 the biggest match was Onosato vs. Hakuoho, with Hakuoho hoping to do what no one has been able to do thus far; stop Onosato and make this tournament competitive.
Also on Day 12 we had Hoshoryu vs. Kirishima (my favourite of all match-ups), Aonishiki vs. Daieisho and Wakatakakage vs. Oshoma.
Scroll down for the complete results, lots of videos and my analysis.
This post is free, but it would still be very cool if you bought a subscription to Sumo Stomp! This month paid subscribers are entered in a prize draw to win a Cheeky Sumo sweatshirt. Paid subscribers will also be able to read my archives and premium posts (like the report cards I’ll be doing for this tournament).
Bonus gif today are some of the biggest homies we’ve got.
SPOILERS BELOW
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Results
Kotoshoho (6-1-5) def. Tamashoho (4-8) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Nishikigi (6-6) def. Tokihayate (6-6) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Asakoryu (9-3) def. Atamifuji (7-5) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*
Kayo (6-6) def. Takanosho (7-5) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Endo (7-5) def. Shonannoumi (3-9) by yorikiri
Ryuden (5-7) def. Shishi (2-10) by yorikiri
Sadanoumi (8-4) def. Meisei (7-5) by yorikiri*
Midorifuji (3-9) def. Tochitaikai (3-9) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)*
Onokatsu (8-4) def. Roga (7-5) by yorikiri*
Churanoumi (3-9) def. Shodai (3-9) by oshidashi
Kinbozan (8-4) def. Tobizaru (6-6) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)*
Tamawashi (4-8) def. Abi (7-5) by oshidashi
Chiyoshoma (4-8) def. Gonoyama (4-9) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Wakamotoharu (6-6) def. Ura (3-9) by hatakikomi
Hiradoumi (5-7) def. Oho (3-8) by yorikiri
Takayasu (3-9) def. Takerufuji (4-8) by uwatenage (over arm throw)
Wakatakakage (9-3) def. Oshoma (8-4) by yorikiri*
Daieisho (9-3) def. Aonishiki (8-4) by tsukidashi*
Onosato (12-0) def. Hakuoho (8-4) by hatakikomi*
Kotozakura (8-4) def. Ichiyamamoto (4-8) by yorikiri
Kirishima (9-3) def. Hoshoryu (9-3) by uwatenage*
*Must see bouts!
If you’re unable to pick up a paid subscription to Sumo Stomp! but would still like to tip me for these posts, please consider buying me a coffee below (via PayPal).
Leaderboard
O1e Onosato: 12-0
Y1e Hoshoryu, S1e Daieisho, S1w Kirishima, K1w Wakatakakage, M17w Asakoryu: 9-3
Analysis
Onosato improved to 12-0 on Day 12 and he can now win the championship on Day 13. The only ways he can lose this tournament, and miss out on a yokozuna promotion, is if he loses his last three bouts. His opponents for those will be Kirishima, Kotozakura and Hoshoryu.
Anything is possible in sports, but with how Onosato is performing this month you have to expect him to pick up at least one win there and thus seal the deal.
Onosato showed off his sparking form in last night’s match with Hakuoho. This was their first ever meeting. Onosato went into this one with a solid game-plan and he executed it flawlessly.
He caught Hakuoho off the tachiai, pushing him up as they collided with a moroto tsuki (double handed thrust). He then, immediately, put a hand on the back of the shorter Hakuoho’s neck and drove him down into the dirt — skipping off to the side as he did.
The story of Onosato’s tournament, for me, is this hatakikomi (slap down). This is his third of the tournament. It’s something he’s gotten a lot better at in recent tournaments. A lot of his losses (which are still very few) happened when he was being driven back and he waited too long to perform this move. Now, he’s not only using the hatakikomi as a defensive weapon, but he’s also using it as an offensive weapon, setting it up by himself with the moroto tsuki.
Buckle up, folks, the fully evolved version of Onosato (which we might still be years from seeing) is going to do some amazing things in this sport.
Hoshoryu’s chances of denying Onosato the cup (and a promotion) dried up days ago. Right now the lone yokozuna is fighting for a respectable win-loss record, which—for a yokozuna—is generally considered no fewer than 10 wins. Unfortunately for him, his old judo club mate denied him that on Day 12.
Hoshoryu vs. Kirishima is my favourite match-up in sumo. Kirishima is the only wrestler who has judo skills on par with Hoshoryu. Hoshoryu has made a reputation for himself with his judo throws. Kirishima has those throws, too, and trips, but he’s beefier than his compatriot and has been able to rely on out muscling opponents straight over the line without needing to toss them over his hip. Hoshoryu is the more technical wrestler, but Kirishima is the more creative and spontaneous. When they get together there are often fireworks. Day 12 was no exception.
In this bout Kirishima went low off the tachiai, with his chin tucked. He did this to prevent Hoshoryu using a nodowa (throat thrust). Hoshoryu likes to start his bouts with the nodowa to stand his opponents up and then give him an open shot at getting in on their body and belt.
Kirishima kept his arms narrow and hands close to his chest in this tachiai, too, allowing him to get his left hand inside and onto Hoshoryu’s belt immediately. Hoshoryu recognized the danger and quickly pulled out of his nodowa. He used his thrusting hand to reach for an outside grip on his right.
Both men were able to complete their grips on this side, momentarily.
Kirishima squared his feet when he got his grip. This allowed him to put a lot of power into wrenching Hoshoryu’s belt. As he did that he stepped forward, hoping to push Hoshoryu back as he elevated him slightly off his feet. This made Hoshoryu give up on his outside grip and instead look for an armlock on Kirishima’s left arm.
Hoshoryu then tried to throw Kirishima down from that armlock.
Kirishima was too strong for that, though. He had an outside grip on Hoshoryu’s belt with his other hand. That helped him brace against Hoshoryu’s throw attempt and keep his feet planted.
Hoshoryu then scooted back to re-asses what was happening. At this point Kirishima had him in a solid hidari-yotsu (left arm inside, right arm outside grip).
Hoshoryu just hung out like this for a few seconds. Eventually Kirishima decided to step forwards and go chest-to-chest. Hoshoryu seemed to be waiting for that moment. When Kirishima moved closer he tried to get an outside grip again…
But Kirishima’s position was far too strong and Kirishima was able to twist Hoshoryu away from his belt, thanks to that commanding double grip.
Kirishima then stepped forwards again and put Hoshoryu on his heels.
Hoshoryu was in a desperate situation at this point. That was made even worse when Kirishima lifted him off his feet.
This is shades of the lift out win that Hoshoryu scored over Kirishima a few tournaments ago. From here Kirishima planted Hoshoryu close to the boundary and then released his inside grip. He then used his outside grip to throw an off balance Hoshoryu down.
That result tied Hoshoryu and Kirishima on 9-3 records.
Our other 9-3 wrestlers, the only wrestlers with mathematical shots at beating Onosato to the cup this month, are Wakatakakage, Daieisho and Asakoryu.
Daieisho got to that number by beating Aonishiki (thus denying the Ukrainian from getting to 9-3). Aonishiki tried to go blow-for-blow with Daieisho in this bout. By doing that Daieisho was able to prove he’s the most powerful pusher/thruster in the game.
Wakatakakage beat Oshoma, another wrestler who was hoping to hit that 9-3 mark. Oshoma tried to shoulder roll Wakatakakage off to the side during the tachiai. Wakatakakage was able to quickly get square to Oshoma and then put him out with a moro-zashi (double inside grip).
Asakoryu beat Atamifuji on Day 12. Asakoryu is punching well above his weight in this tournament. He and Atamifuji locked up with a snug matching migi-yotsu (right arm inside, left arm outside grip) to start their bout. Asakoryu then pulled and circled away to force Atamifuji off to the side and into the dirt.
Kotozakura secured his kachi-koshi (winning record) on Day 12. He beat Ichiyamamoto, giving Ichiyamamoto a make-koshi (losing record) in the process. He held Ichiyamamoto at arm’s length, to prevent getting struck, and then secured a migi-yotsu. He turned that into a moro-zashi and was able to comfortably marshal out Ichiyamamoto (whose strength is not belt grappling).
Takayasu and Takerufuji are two wrestlers we expected to see better performances from this tournament. Takayasu is coming off a runner-up finish and Takerufuji had been consistently close to a title run every since returning to the top division. In this bout Takayasu used great ottsuke (forearm blocking) to prevent Takerufuji getting an inside grip. He then locked up a firm migi yotsu and used his strength to muscle Takerufuji down to the ground. That gave Takerufuji a 4-8 record. That’s his first career make-koshi (not counting the two tournaments where he was injured/absent after winning his yusho in March, 2024). Takayasu is just 3-9.
Onosato vs. Kotozakura is the big match tomorrow. They are tied 4-4 in their head-to-head record. Onosato won the last two meetings, during a time when Kotozakura was most notably carrying an injury. When fit, Kotozakura found a lot of success beating Onosato with his superior knowledge/abilities inside the clinch. When it comes to size and raw power, these two are pretty even, though Onosato is much faster.
If Onosato wins that match, he’s our champ.
If he loses, he leaves the door slightly open for his chasers.
Hoshoryu vs. Daieisho and Asakoryu vs. Wakatakakage will create two wrestlers with 10-3 records. Kirishima has Oshoma and if he wins he’ll also have a 10-3 record and still be in with a mathematical chance of forcing Onosato into a play-off.
Hoshoryu is 13-4 against Daieisho (who want his tenth win as part of his ozeki run). Oshoma and Kirishima have never fought. Neither have Asakoryu and Wakatakakage.
Fun!
I’m planning some content for YouTube in the very near future. Please head on over and subscribe to the channel and hit the notification bell so you get an alert when that content drops.
I’m an Onosato fan. Don’t have a whole lot to cling to in today’s Sumo. I love you putting this together Tim throughout the year. It brings the world a little closer to home in the US. I fell in love with Sumo in the early 80s during the Chiyonofuji days while stationed in Japan.
If Onosato clinches the win on day 13, does he still fight the last two days?