2025 Natsu Basho: Final Day results and analysis
Spoilers. Inside. You've been warned.
The 2025 summer tournament is a wrap and what a tournament it was! We saw history this month with Onosato crushing through the competition to claim his fourth yusho on Day 13. This championships means Onosato will be promoted to become the 75th yokozuna.
On the final day of the basho he sought to make this tournament extra impressive by securing his first career 15-0 finish. Hoshoryu was the man standing in his way. Their match is a preview of what we’re going to see a lot over the next decade — it’s going to be great!
Scroll down to see what happened and get all the other top division results. You’ll also find my analysis.
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Our bonus gif today is our main event from last night…
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Roga (9-6) def. Kotoshoho (6-4-5) by yorikiri (frontal force out)*
Atamifuji (8-7) def. Nishikigi (6-9) by kotenage (armlock throw)*
Tochitaikai (4-11) def. Shishi (4-11) by oshidashi (frontal push out)*
Endo (9-6) def. Asakoryu (10-5) by yorikiri*
Shodai (6-9) def. Shonannoumi (5-10) by yorikiri
Midorifuji (6-9) def. Tamashoho (4-11) by uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)*
Aonishiki (11-4) def. Sadanoumi (10-5) by shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Kinbozan (10-5) def. Kayo (7-8) by tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)*
Onokatsu (10-5) def. Meisei (9-6) by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)
Churanoumi (4-11) def. Ryuden (5-10) by yoritaoshi*
Tokihayate (8-7) def. Hakuoho (8-7) by yorikiri*
Ura (5-10) def. Takanosho (8-7) by oshidashi
Tamawashi (6-9) def. Hiradoumi (6-9) by oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Takerufuji (6-9) def. Gonoyama (4-11) by uwatenage
Oshoma (10-5) def. Abi (7-8) by okuridashi (rear push out)*
Oho (7-8) def. Chiyoshoma (4-11) by oshidashi
Wakamotoharu (7-8) def. Ichiyamamoto (5-10) by katasukashi (under shoulder swing down)*
Wakatakakage (12-3) def. Tobizaru (8-7) by yorikiri
Takayasu (6-9) def. Kirishima (11-4) by hatakikomi (hand pull down)*
Daieisho (10-5) def. Kotozakura (8-7) by tsukidashi
Hoshoryu (12-3) def. Onosato (14-1) by uwatehineri (twisting over arm throw)*
*Must see bouts!
Final Results
Yusho: O1e Onosato (14-1)
Shukun-sho (Outstanding Performance Award): None
Kanto-sho (Fighting Spirit Prize): M9e Aonishiki (11-4)
Gino-sho (Technique Prize): S1w Kirishima (11-4), K1w Wakatakakage (12-3)
Juryo yusho: J1w Kusano (13-2)
Analysis
Well folks, this is why we watch sumo isn’t it?
What an incredible finish to a very special and exciting tournament. The title was decided long before the final day, but the last match of the summer tournament still had an incredible amount of meaning and stakes on the line.
Onosato came in having already made history and secured his ascension to the hallowed rank of yokozuna. He was looking to finish in gaudy style with a 15-0 record. Doing so would send a message that he is truly here to take over the sport.
Hoshoryu came in not just looking to spoil Onosato’s victory lap. He was looking to show that he was still a force to be reckoned with and that prove that he might be kryptonite the for the man who seems to beat all other comers with ease. Hoshoryu had an excellent tournament himself this month, as he rebounded from his poor debut yokozuna tournament, but that was rightfully overshadowed by Onosato’s dominance.
This final day wasn’t about the previous fourteen days, though. This day was about just one match and two men. And on this day, Hoshoryu was the better man.
In defeating Onosato he stopped the young phenom from racking up his first zensho-yusho (there’ll be more, I’m sure of it), but he also made sure he owned the spotlight at the very end of this basho. Had Onosato ran through him, then all we would talk about between now and July would be how great Onosato is (and he is great, he’s really really great). But because Hoshoryu scored the win (his sixth in seven meetings with Onosato) we get to ruminate on whether it will be Onosato or Hoshoryu to win the next basho and what will happen when they inevitably meet again.
Let’s look at how Hoshoryu stole the show.
Onosato got set first in this match, as he often does. Hoshoryu then gave his quick tap-and-go in the tachiai. The opening clash was pretty even with both men leaving the line at the same time and clashing right over the center of the ring. Both were looking for an opening thrust to the throat. Hoshoryu was hoping for a single hand thrust with his right arm (his go-to opener lately).
Onosato came in with both hands high, though, for the moroto tsuki (double hand thrust). His two hands beat Hoshoryu’s one and Hoshoryu was forced far back off the line.
All the space that created was a good thing for Hoshoryu, though. It gave him a very clear view of Onosato’s body and time to swim his right arm under and latch onto the mawashi with an outside grip.
If Onosato had triggered his much improved hatakikomi (slap down) here, he probably would have his first career zensho-yusho. Instead Onosato thrusted at Hoshoryu’s throat again, while pulling his left arm out and putting it on the outside of Hoshoryu’s right arm.
Onosato then closed distance, went chest-to-chest and looked for an inside grip with his right hand.
Hoshoryu side-stepped to get himself away from the straw and also take his left hip out of Onosato’s reach.
He then twisted to further hamper Onosato’s attempt to get on his belt.
Onosato kept reaching, though. So Hoshoryu back peddled to escape, with Onosato’s fingers coming perilously close to the lower lip of his belt.
This is where the magic happened. I implore you to watch the YouTube video at .25 speed and go to the 0:58 mark (our above screenshot). Then watch the next second of action. From this position, Hoshoryu switched stances — while moving backwards! It’s an incredible move to set up what comes next.
At 0:59 Hoshoryu completes his stance switch, with his right foot closest to Onosato and—importantly—his right knee nestled against Onosato’s left thigh.
Hoshoryu knows that Onosato is bearing down on him like a freight train. He can’t stop him coming forwards. But he can control how he comes forwards. With Onosato crashing against him, Hoshoryu went onto his tippy toes and scooped his right leg backwards to force Onosato’s left foot off the ground.
With Onosato’s total connection to the earth broken, Hoshoryu had him where he wanted him. As Onosato’s leg continued to rise, Hoshoryu bore down with his upper body strength, pouring all his weight down through Onosato’s torso, which had barely anything there to prop it up.
Onosato went down in a lump. Hoshoryu coolly turned his back and strutted back to his mark, allowing himself a passionate nod of the head. That nod screamed “don’t forget about me!”
What a moment.
What a rivalry.
What a future we have in store for us.
This ending also showed off a key difference between Hoshoryu and Onosato. Hoshoryu’s body awareness (of both his body and his opponents’) is second to none. He has a genius understanding of how limbs move and bodies carry weight. He knows exactly where to attack in order to capitalize on weaknesses, as if he lives in bullet-time. The reality is he can’t pause time and size up an opponent who charging down on him. All that stored knowledge simply comes online and creates a reaction. Onosato is yet to show us this kind of decision-making, but he may very well get there with more experience. Right now, though, Hoshoryu’s viper sense is a fascinating counterweight to Onosato’s size, power, speed and improving intelligence.
Side note: if you watch the ending at .25 speed, pay attention to Akua in the front row. Our newest bow twirler is Hoshoryu’s stablemate and you can tell he had to stop himself from cheering when he saw Onosato hit the deck.
Everything else that happened this day was overshadowed by that epic match. However, there was plenty of notable things which deserve some attention.
Kirishima earned the gino-sho (technique prize) despite dropping a sloppy match to Takayasu on the final day. Takayasu unleashed his heavy hands in this one and was able to batter Kirishima around the ring before sweeping him off his feet. Kirishima earned the gino-sho thanks to eight different kimarite (finishing techniques) across his 11 victories. His most exotic kimarite were the sotogake (outside leg trip) on Wakamotoharu and the kubinage (headlock throw) on Takerufuji. That’s Kirishima’s fourth gino-sho.
Wakatakakage also earned a gino-sho (his sixth). He landed six different kimarite in his twelve wins including two katasukashi (under shoulder swing down). On the final day he made short work of Tobizaru (forcing Tobi to finish with the make-kachi [losing record]).
Aonishiki earned the kanto-sho (fighting spirit prize) for the second tournament in a row. He beat Sadanoumi to register his second 11-4 record in a row. He scored a shitatenage (underarm throw) on the veteran (who had a great tournament and ended with a 10-5 record). Aonishiki showed that his impressive debut tournament was no fluke. He’ll be rewarded with a spot in the joi (ranks between maegashira 1 and 5) for these efforts. Then we’ll be able to see how he handles two yokozuna (God, it feels good to write that) and the rest of the big boys.
Daieisho beat Kotozakura on the final day to notch his tenth win. That gives Daieisho an OK start in yet another ozeki run. Kotozakura seemed to check out of this tournament once he got his kachi-koshi (winning record) a few days ago.
Tokihayate and Atamifuji earned big wins to secure their kachi-koshi on the final day. Tokihayate stormed Hakuoho and put him out with a power yorikiri (frontal force out). Atamifuji out hustled Nishikigi and put him down with a violent kotenage (armlock throw).
Abi dropped an extremely chaotic bout to Oshoma to end with a 7-8 record. Abi seemed to have Oshoma on the ropes (or straw) before letting Oshoma escape and then getting pushed out from behind.
Kayo, who is growing in popularity thanks to his shiny yellow belt and his big beautiful belly, lost his final day bout, too. He was thrust out by Kinbozan and ended with 7-8. That’s a good record for him considering he lost his first four bouts and was coming off an injury he suffered on tour.
Midorifuji finished the basho on a spirited win over Tamashoho. After opening the tournament on a woeful 0-9 run he managed to win all of his six remaining bouts.
Down in juryo (second division) Kusano dominated for the second tournament in a row. He earned the yusho with a 13-2 record. Kusano will be in makuuchi (top division) in July. The 23 year-old is the latest college stud to explode on the scene and make it to makuuchi after just a handful of basho. He looks pretty darn good and he comes from the powerhouse Isegahama stable. I wonder how long his hair will be by then? Also, he might have a shikona (ring name) for that tournament.
On the last day he powered out Tsurugisho, but also made sure the beat-up vet didn’t take a nasty fall off the dohyo. Good kid.
And that’s all folks.
Thank you all again for reading and for chatting with me over the last two weeks. I can’t wait to start pumping out report cards for you and then tee up what will be an extremely interesting Nagoya basho in July.
Take care, be kind and FIGHT WITH SPIRIT!
Tim
Looking at the pre fight for Hosh and Onosato and it looks like Hosh was in his head.
What a basho! I had that “big fight” feel getting ready for Hoshoryu and Onosato and it did not disappoint!