2025 Natsu Basho: Day 6 results and analysis
Spoilers! Spoilers, everywhere!
After almost a week of competition, the 2025 natsu basho has some funky records. We’ve still got wrestlers with undefeated records and wrestlers with winless records. As a result it feels like the race for the championship is quite narrow at this point. Things can certainly change, though.
On Day 6 we had Hoshoryu vs. Tamawashi, Onosato vs. Gonoyama, Daieisho vs. Hiradoumi, Kirishima vs. Wakamotoharu and Kotozakura vs. Takerufuji.
Outside of those big name matches, you really need to see Aonishiki vs. Shodai, Asakoryu vs. Nishikigi and Oshoma vs. Onokatsu.
I’ve got all the results, lots of videos and my analysis down past the bonus gif. Enjoy!
Today’s bonus gif is the Trap Master himself, Wakatakakage.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Asakoryu (5-1) def. Nishikigi (5-1) via oshidashi (frontal push out)*
Ryuden (4-2) def. Tochitaikai (3-3) via oshidashi
Kayo (2-4) def. Roga (4-2) via oshidashi
Tamashoho (2-4) def. Tokihayate (2-4) via yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*
Sadanoumi (4-2) def. Shonannoumi (1-5) via yorikiri (frontal force out)
Kotoshoho (1-0-5) def. Takanosho (3-3) via hatakikomi (slap down)
Atamifuji (4-2) def. Meisei (3-3) via kotenage (armlock throw)
Aonishiki (5-1) def. Shodai (2-4) via okurinage (rear throw down)*
Shishi (1-5) def. Midorifuji (0-6) via yorikiri
Kinbozan (4-2) def. Endo (4-2) via tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Oshoma (3-3) def. Onokatsu (3-3) via okuridashi (rear push out)*
Hakuoho (6-0) def. Ura (1-5) via yorikiri
Chiyoshoma (1-5) def. Churanoumi (1-5) via yorikiri
Tobizaru (4-2) def. Ichiyamamoto (3-3) via hatakikomi
Abi (3-3) def. Oho (3-3) via hatakikomi*
Wakatakakage (5-1) def. Takayasu (1-5) via okuridashi
Hiradoumi (3-3) def. Daieisho (5-1) via hatakikomi*
Kirishima (4-2) def. Wakamotoharu (1-5) via sotogake (outside leg trip)*
Onosato (6-0) def. Gonoyama (0-6) via oshidashi*
Kotozakura (4-2) def. Takerufuji (3-3) via yoritaoshi*
Hoshoryu (4-2) def. Tamawashi (2-4) via oshidashi*
*Must see bouts!
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Leaderboard
O1e Onosato, M7e Hakuoho: 6-0
S1e Daieisho, K1w Wakatakakage, M9e Aonishiki, M16w Nishikigi, M17w Asakoryu: 5-1
Analysis
Day 6 saw no nonsense wins for both Hoshoryu and Onosato. That means Onosato remains two victories ahead of the (for now) lone yokozuna.
Hoshoryu’s win was over his elder countryman Tamawashi.
Tamawashi tried to fool Hoshoryu with an early inashi (sidestep), not quite a henka, though. Hoshoryu was able to stay on his feet and redirect his force into the moving Tamawashi. Tamawashi put himself off balance with that move and was never able to recover.
Onosato’s win was even less dramatic. He took Gonoyama’s best shot off the tachiai. When Gonoyama realized he couldn’t push Onosato back, he tried to lure him into a lunge by springing backwards. Onosato simply advanced and pushed Gonoyama out.
Onosato’s sumo continues to look unstoppable this month. It’s really hard to see him falling apart, even when the bigger names come knocking.
Our list of undefeated wrestlers narrowed to two last night. Hakuoho is now the only wrestler standing alongside Onosato with a 6-0 record. He managed to keep hold of a slippery Ura on Day 6 and then outmuscle him for the force out.
Daieisho dropped back to 5-1 last night. He was the victim of a half henka from Hiradoumi. Hiradoumi took Daieisho’s opening charge, but quickly stepped off to the side to let the sekiwake drop to the dirt.
Kotozakura improved to 4-2 on Day 6. He showed a lot of strength to resist Takerufuji’s tachiai and opening drive. In this bout he proved that sometimes defense is the best offense (a signature of his sumo when he’s at his best). After blocking Takerufuji’s pushes, thanks to a really strong inside grip with his right hand, Takerufuji was forced to improvise and try something currently outside of his element. He tried a slapdown, but Kotozakura showed amazing footwork and balance for a big man, hopping to stay on his one foot long enough for Takerufuji to fall and him to follow soon after.
This performance is another good sign that Kotozakura’s body is feeling decent enough to compete at a high level this month. There aren’t many other wrestlers in the game who can stand up Takerufuji like that, even when 100% healthy.
Kirishima got a classic Kirishima victory on Day 6. That was at the expense of Wakamotoharu, who is now 1-5.
Kirishima blocked Wakamotoharu from getting hidari-yotsu (left arm inside, right arm outside grip) off the tachiai through some great ottsuke (forearm blocking) against Wakamotoharu’s left arm. With Wakamotoharu fixated with trying to break through with his left arm and secure his grip (which has become a safety blanket for him), he didn’t notice Kirishima attacking his legs with a nifty sweep.
Aonishiki continued to impress on Day 6. He beat Shodai (in their first ever meeting) with an okurinage (rear throw down). This kid must be a shoe-in for the gino-sho (technique prize) at this point.
In this bout Aonishiki was able to use his forearms of steel to block Shodai’s attempts to grab his belt.
He then turned this defensive position into an attack, by getting a hold of Shodai’s belt with his right hand (utilizing his long reach). He drove Shodai back to the straw, but Shodai attempted a very nice pivot throw.
Shodai’s throw was countered by amazing balance from the 21 year-old. See the series of screenshots below to see how Aonishiki stabilized himself by hopping off his toes and landed with a firm flat foot before again switching from defense to attack.
Aonishiki then just had to put his other leg down to give him the advantage against a shocked and stumbling Shodai.
I can watch Aonishiki all day.
He’s 5-1. I need to see him against more of the big names before I’m sold on whether this is a tournament he has a chance of winning.
Asakoryu and Nishikigi are two surprise names at 5-1. They landed on those records after Asakoryu beat Nishikigi on Day 6. Watch below as Asakoryu continues to prove that we don’t need weight classes in sumo.
Day 7 brings us Onosato vs. Takerufuji. This is a fun match-up. Takerufuji took their first bout (and then went on to win his yusho). Onosato beat him in their next two bouts. Last time they met, Onosato slapped him down (and then won his third yusho).
Hoshoryu has his swordbearer Hiradoumi tomorrow. He has a commanding 7-1 record over Hiradoumi. Would Hiradoumi dare henka his yokozuna?
Gonoyama and Midorifuji are our two rikishi left without wins. Gonoyama has Kotozakura tomorrow (who he is 0-7) against. Midorifuji, who was ragdolled by Shishi last night, has Takanosho (who he is 3-1 against).
Daieisho vs. Wakatakakage is a good bout set for tonight. They are both on 5-1 records. Wakatakakage beat Takayasu last night.
See you then!
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Asakoryu setting his feet and pushing huge dudes out of the ring will never cease to impress me.
This has been a fun basho to see some neat techniques. I have been impressed lately with Atamifuji's use of armlocks as a counter to underhooks. You mentioned it in one earlier post as a relic of Terunofuji's style, and it looks pretty brutal.