Report Card: 2025 Kyushu Basho - Part 3
Continuing to grade the top division rikishi who were involved in the November tournament.
Hey everyone,
There’s a couple of days left before the January basho kicks off. But I’ve still got report cards coming out covering our November tournament. It’s been fun to look back on the most recent performances. It’s certainly got me excited about seeing some new sumo this weekend.
This report card covers the jōi (wrestlers ranked maegashira 4 to 1). There’s a lot of talent in this cohort, but not a lot of great records coming out of Kyushu. Scroll down and read how I graded all these guys.
Bonus gif is Hiradoumi, who I always think has a Fistful of Dollars kinda vibe about him.
Ōshōma
Rank: Maegashira 4 West
Record: 4-11
Grade: E
Ōshōma once again failed the audition when it came to determining whether he is someone capable of performing above the mid-maegashira level. He has now been M4 or higher three times and in those tournaments he has gone 4-11, 3-12 and 4-11. I thought he might have been able to do better in November, since his September tournament (while ranked M7) was really good. In September he looked more aggressive and willing to push forwards in order to set up his slap downs. In November, though, he was back to being overly hesitant, defensive and, as a result, ineffective.
The November tournament saw Ōshōma go on an eight bout losing streak from Day 7 to Day 14 to confirm his make-koshi (losing record) and then some. Granted, Ōshōma had a very tough stretch of match-ups during that run. He lost to Ōnosato, Hōshōryū, Kotozakura, Aonishiki, Ōhō and Takanoshō over that period. He’s a combined 2-18 against that group, with his two past wins being against Ōhō and an injured Kotozakura. If Ōshōma was going to be someone, he would have found ways to pick up a few more wins against that group by now.
Tamawashi
Rank: Maegashira 4 East
Record: 7-8
Grade: C-
The fact Tamawashi is not getting blown away at a ranking like M4 is a success for the 41 year-old Iron Man. He continues to reap the rewards of his high aggression, but low impact sumō in the form of both longevity and competitiveness. He lost to the new age triumvirate (Ōnosato, Hōshōryū, Aonishiki) in Kyushu, but he was 7-5 against everyone else (which included Yoshinofuji, Kotozakura and Wakatakakage). I don’t think you can expect much more from him during this stage of his career. And his losses to Hōshōryū and Ōnosato were very competitive (and fun).
Despite being the oldest man in the division in Kyushu, Tamawashi fought with plenty of vitality. He’s still able to power that massive frame of his in a way that can blast back smaller opponents. And the viciousness of his nodowa (throat thrust) can still force the bigger opponents (who are actually easier to catch under the throat) to blench.
In November Tamawashi seemed to reserve a little extra truculence for fellow Mongolians. This is all speculation, but with effort being a sign of respect in sumo, I wonder if Tamawashi wants to give his best effort against his junior countrymen. Maybe he sees that as a way to both honour and harden them.
Ura
Rank: Maegashira 3 West
Record: 8-7
Grade: B
I thought Ura would really struggle in Kyushu (given his past recent failings as a member of the jōi), but I was pleasantly surprised to see him piece together a kachi-koshi (winning record). He lost to the triumvirate (which I think will become the norm for most wrestlers over the next few years), but he was able to pick up a win over the ōzeki, the other sekiwake and both komusubi. If you can do that then you’ve got an amazing chance at surviving in the jōi. All his other losses, other than an early one against Ōshōma, came against very good opposition (Yoshinofuji, Wakatakakage, Kirishima). If Ura continues to fight like this, then we could get to enjoy him for quite a while longer, which I think is what we’re all hoping for.
We didn’t see any…
