2025 Haru Basho: Day 11 results, replays and analysis
Spoilers.
After 11 days on the dohyo we are firmly at the business end of this basho. We know who the major players are now and… things are starting to take an interesting turn.
We have a pretty diverse selection of wrestlers who are still in with a shot to win this thing.
Onosato vs. Ura and Kirishima vs. Takayasu were both exciting and meaningful bouts on the day. For pure excitement I also really enjoyed Tokihayate vs. Ryuden, Aonishiki vs. Hakuoho and Onokatsu vs. Mitakeumi.
Scroll down for results, analysis and full video replays.
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Bonus gif is Tobizaru landing his sweep earlier in the tournament.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Shirokuma (4-7) def. Asakoryu (6-5) via oshidashi (frontal push out)
Tokihayate (7-4) def. Ryuden (4-7) via sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
Onokatsu (7-4) def. Mitakeumi (4-7) via yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*
Kotoshoho (5-6) def. Meisei (7-4) via hatakikomi (slap down)
Shonannoumi (2-9) def. Sadanoumi (6-5) via oshidashi*
Aonishiki (8-3) def. Hakuoho (6-5) via hatakikomi*
Oshoma (6-5) def. Takarafuji (3-8) via okuridashi (rear push out)
Atamifuji (6-5) def. Shishi (7-4) via kimedashi (arm barring force out)*
Tamawashi (8-3) def. Midorifuji (6-5) via hatakikomi
Endo (6-5) def. Shodai (4-7) via tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*
Takerufuji (9-2) def. Churanoumi (8-3) via tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)*
Hiradoumi (6-5) def. Nishikigi (1-10) via yorikiri
Chiyoshoma (4-7) def. Kinbozan (5-6) via okuridashi
Wakamotoharu (7-4) def. Takanosho (3-8) via hatakikomi
Wakatakakage (6-5) def. Tobizaru (4-7) via oshidashi
Gonoyama (4-7) def. Abi (4-7) via tsukiotoshi*
Kirishima (5-6) def. Takayasu (9-2) via oshidashi*
Daieisho (8-3) def. Ichiyamamoto (6-5) via hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Kotozakura (6-5) def. Oho (4-7) via oshidashi
Onosato (9-2) def. Ura (4-7) via hatakikomi*
*Must see bouts!
Leaderboard
Oe1 Onosato, M4e Takayasu M6w Takerufuji: 9-2
S1e Daieisho, M7w Tamawashi, M14w Churanoumi, M15e Aonishiki: 8-3
Analysis
And just like that, we’ve got a three-way tie for the lead.
Takayasu’s time as the sole leader at this tournament was cut short due to his loss to Kirishima, a wrestler he has now lost his last seven bouts against. In this bout Takayasu came in with hands low, hoping to get on Kirishima’s belt. When he couldn’t get it he was forced into a thrusting battle. He landed some good shots on Kirishima, but Kirishima is one of the very few rikishi who is better at hand-fighting and deflecting thrusts than Takayasu is. Kirishima was able to swat away one of Takayasu’s hands then use his speed to get into Takayasu’s body and bounce him off the ring.
This match meant that Onosato could tie Takayasu with a win over Ura, something he’s never found difficult. Ura’s low attacks really don’t work well against someone as tall and strong as Onosato. Onosato was easily able to keep Ura at arm’s length and then force him into the dirt.
Takayasu and Onosato are joined by Takerufuji at the top. Takerufuji fought Churanoumi on Day 11. They both came into the bout with an 8-2 record. Takerufuji did what he does best in this bout. He hit hard off the tachiai and needed just a single follow up push to get the job done.
At this point, these three are our likely contenders for the cup this month. There is a pack of wrestlers who are one win behind this trio. That group will likely canibalize itself in the following days. Of those chasers, Daieisho is perhaps the one with the best shot at wedging himself into the title picture.
Daieisho beat Ichiyamamoto for his eighth win of the basho. He forced Ichiyamamoto into a slip in this bout. A win’s a win, though. And Daieisho won’t care how they come. He’s now just two wins away from double-digit wins this tournament, which would provide a very nice platform to compete for an ozeki promotion in May.
Tamawashi is in that same group with Daieisho. He’s been a lot of fun this month. He beat up on poor Midorifuji on Day 11, thrashing him around the ring and off of his feet.
Aonishiki secured his kachi-koshi on Day 11. He blocked Hakuoho’s migi-yotsu (right arm inside, left arm outside) grip attempt off the tachiai and then fooled him into a desperate lunge forwards. Very impressive stuff from the 20-year-old.
Aonishiki’s countryman Shishi was denied his first makuuchi kachi-koshi (winning record) on Day 11. He came up against Atamifuji and suffered a painful kimedashi loss (Atamifuji likely learned that from his stablemate Terunofuji).
Kotozakura notched another win on Day 11. That gets him to 6-5 and keeps his hopes of retaining his ozeki rank alive. He outmuscled Oho quickly, dropping the new sekiwake to 4-7.
Gonoyama had a fun win on Day 11. He avoided Abi’s henka, wrapped him up and then slung him down. That staved off a make-koshi (losing record) for Gonoyama (for now).
Onosato and Takerufuji will meet tomorrow. They are 1-1 in their head-to-head match-up. It feels like this rivalry could mature into one for the ages, though. The winner of that will move to 10-2.
Takayasu has a great chance to get to 10-2 tomorrow. He’s got the struggling Oho (who he is 3-0 against).
Daieisho will meet Kotozakura on Day 11. The win there is perhaps crucial for both men’s chances of being or staying an ozeki.
Tamawashi vs. Kirishima, Churanoumi vs Abi and Aonishiki vs. Meisei are the other most important bouts on the docket. Tamwashi, Churanoumi and Aonishiki all need to win to stay within a single win of whomever gets to 10-2 tomorrow.
See you then!
With Aonishiki doing pretty well it will be fun to see how he does this year. Also I didn't realize how small he is or how big Shishi is until they had their match. I was really surprised how small he looked next to Shishi.
Yesterday I commented, "Wow. Papa Bear Takayasu has already beaten Kotozakura! Who else stands in his way?"
Now we know, lol.