2025 Natsu Basho: Day 13 results and analysis
Grand spoilers for grand sumo.
Day 13 has come and gone at the 2025 natsu basho. And guess what? It gave us more great matches.
Some of my faves from this day were Shishi vs. Churanoumi, Sadanoumi vs. Kinbozan and Onokatsu vs. Tokihayate.
I’m burying the lede, though…
Day 13 gave Onosato his chance to clinch the yusho and earn promotion to become the 75th yokozuna. Did he do it? Scroll down to find out.
Bonus gif today is Kayo!
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Shonannoumi (4-9) def. Kotoshoho (6-2-5) by tsukiotoshi (thrust down), confirmed by mono-ii (judges’ review)*
Takanosho (8-5) def. Ryuden (5-8) by oshidashi (frontal push out)
Kayo (7-6) def. Atamifuji (7-6) by yorikiri (frontal force out)
Endo (8-5) def. Tochitaikai (3-10) by hatakikomi (slap down)
Shodai (4-9) def. Tamashoho (4-9) by yorikiri
Meisei (8-5) def. Roga (7-9) by tottari (armbar throw)*
Midorifuji (4-9) def. Nishikigi (6-7) by okuridashi (rear push out)*
Sadanoumi (9-4) def. Kinbozan (8-5) by yorikiri*
Onokatsu (9-4) def. Tokihayate (6-7) by yorikiri*
Shishi (3-10) def. Churanoumi (3-10) by kimedashi (arm barring force out)*
Aonishiki (9-4) def. Hakuoho (8-5) by yorikiri*
Tamawashi (5-8) def. Chiyoshoma (4-9) by oshidashi
Gonoyama (4-9) def. Tobizaru (6-7) by tsukiotoshi
Hiradoumi (6-7) def. Abi (7-6) by yorikiri
Oho (5-8) def. Ura (3-10) by hatakikomi
Takerufuji (5-8) def. Wakamotoharu (6-7) by yorikiri
Wakatakakage (10-3) def. Asakoryu (9-4) by oshidashi*
Takayasu (4-9) def. Ichiyamamoto (4-9) by hikiotoshi (hand pull down)*
Kirishima (10-3) def. Oshoma (8-5) by yorikiri
Onosato (13-0) def. Kotozakura (8-5) by yorikiri*
Hoshoryu (10-3) def. Daieisho (9-4) by yorikiri*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
O1e Onosato: 13-0 yusho
Y1e Hoshoryu, S1w Kirishima, K1w Wakatakakage: 10-3
Analysis
He did it, folks.
Onosato handled his business on Day 13, defeating Kotozakura to claim a 13-0 record, which is good for his fourth career top division championship. That means he will be promoted to yokozuna immediately after this tournament is over.
Onosato gets his yokozuna promotion after 13 tournaments. That’s the fastest promotion since the start of the 15-day tournament system in 1958. He’s the only wrestler to earn a yokozuna promotion after posting nothing but winning records in his previous tournament. And he’s also the first Japanese rikishi to become yokozuna since 2017 (when his stable master Nishonoseki [former Kisenosato] became the 72nd yokozuna).
What a time to be a sumo fan! We are witnessing history in this sport and seeing greatness unfold before our very eyes. At 24, Onosato is on pace to break all kinds of records and become a legend on the dohyo. I hope we get to see him realize all that potential.
Onosato got himself into this position with a pretty no nonsense win over Kotozakura. When fully fit (and motivated) Kotozakura is a tough match-up for Onosato. Kotozakura is still looking a little rusty after his injury plagued January, though. He had also earned his kachi-koshi (winning record) on the previous day, so the only motivation he had was to potentially spoil Onosato’s tournament. Kotozakura doesn’t seem like the type, frankly. I think he probably went into this one feeling like he would give it a good attempt, but not risk hurting himself to get a meaningless win.
Here’s the bout itself:
Onosato let Kotozakura come to him on the tachiai. He’s gone with that approach for most of his matches this month.
Kotozakura bounced back…
And then pushed Onosato off with a nice nodowa (throat thrust)…
Kotozakura did this to create some space. His next move would be to try and secure a migi-yotsu (right arm inside, left arm outside grip) or moro-zashi (double inside grip). However, Onosato knew this. He made that position unavailable to Kotozakura by brining his arms and hands close to his body. Kotozakura recognized this and then did the same (so he wouldn’t give up an inside grip, either).
They then clashed chests…
Kotozakura then stepped out to give himself an angle on Onosato…
Onosato quickly pivoted to get himself back square to Kotozakura, though…
Onosato began moving Kotozakura back at this point. Kotozakura responded by trying to secure an outside grip with his left arm. I think he was hoping for a kotenage (armlock throw).
As Kotozakura tried to get firm lock on the left arm, Onosato rolled his arm forwards and gave Kotozakura a little knock on the nose with his shoulder. That prevented Kotozakura from getting the armlock.
Without the armlock, Kotozakura didn’t have anything left to prevent himself being pushed over the line.
And thus, history was made.
Onosato deserves a massive amount of credit for his win and for showing nerves of steel throughout this basho (and career to date). In his young career we’ve seen him be on the cusp of a number of amazing achievements and never appeared bothered by any of them.
All that being said, I do think Kotozakura went a bit easy in this match. I think he could have tried a bit harder to get his migi-yotsu after making space with the nodowa and I think the kotenage was there for him if he really committed to it. Again, though, we shouldn’t take anything away from Onosato on this day.
Hoshoryu hit the ring after Onosato’s win. If Onosato had lost, Hoshoryu would have had a slim chance of forcing a play-off. After seeing Onosato join him in the yokozuna ranks, Hoshoryu only had pride left to play for.
That seemed enough motivation for him, though. He beat Daieisho to secure his first double-digit win total as yokozuna. He had to really knuckle under to get that one, though. Daieisho, who wanted his tenth win as part of his ozeki run, blasted Hoshoryu off the tachiai. That forced Hoshoryu to improvise. He grabbed one of Daieisho’s arms and pulled him past him. Daieisho turned quickly and hounded him with more thrusts, but Hoshoryu was able to weather the storm, get on his belt and score the force out.
This will go down as a good tournament for Hoshoryu. But who’s going to remember that? He’s been totally overshadowed by Onosato this month. He’s going to have to fight hard to make sure that’s not the story of his yokozuna career.
Kirishima and Wakatakakage joined Hoshoryu with ten wins on Day 13. Kirishima bullied his fellow Mongolian Oshoma, in their first ever meeting. Oshoma’s game is built around the slapdown and seizing on mistakes. At this point in his development, he’s always going to struggle against the elite of the division (who don’t make a lot of mistakes). Kirishima was able to get a hidari-yotsu (left arm inside, right arm outside grip) immediately off the tachiai and out-muscle Oshoma for the quick force out.
Wakatakakage beat the surprising Asakoryu. He bullrushed Asakoryu with a migi-yotsu. This is revenge for their past meeting, in juryo (the second division), which Asakoryu won.
There’s no official video to share, but Shishi and Churanoumi had one of the wildest bouts of the tournament. Shishi may have been auditioning to join Churanoumi in the All Violence Team. After lots of slaps, momentum shifts and near push outs, Shishi was able to turn Churanoumi’s moro-zashi into a painful kimedashi (arm barring force out) win.
Meisei vs. Roga was a good back and forth match, too. Meisei was pushed to the brink in the bout, but was able to snatch up one of Roga’s arm and toss him out with an armbar throw.
Takayasu and Ichiyamamoto put on a good show, too, despite them both having make-koshi (losing records). Takayasu made Ichiyamamoto wilt with tsuppari (rapid palm striking) pressure and force Ichiyamamoto to go for a belt grab (which is out of character). Takayasu was then able to time Ichiyamamoto’s surge forwards and get him with a hand pull down.
Well, we still have two days left of action. There’s no drama regarding who is going to win the cup now. But there is still a zensho-yusho (undefeated championship) possibility. Onosato has already made history, but he could add an extra flex to all his accomplishments by earning a 15-0 record. Daieisho will be the man charged with trying to stop that tomorrow.
Other matches tommorow include Hoshoryu vs. Kotozakura, Hakuoho vs. Kirishima and Hiradoumi vs. Wakatakakage.
Hoshoryu is 13-9 against Kotozakura. He was dominant in this match-up before both men became ozeki. Since then it’s been far more even. Kirishima and Hakuoho have never fought before. Wakatakakage is 3-0 against Hiradoumi.
Let’s see what happens!
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What a story with Onosato, but my favorite storyline is Asakoryu sneakily having an awesome run.
Onosato has worked very hard for this promotion, we hope he gets it
I really support Hoshoryu as well and hope they both word together to lead future Sumo through the stages
I feel particularly Atamifuji needs support, I think he suffered when Yokozuna Terunofuji retired.