2025 Haru Basho: Day 15 results, replays and analysis
Ultimate spoilers in this post. Beware!
It is done.
The 2025 haru basho is a wrap and we have our winner.
This tournament was a little underwhelming, at times, but it still managed to deliver a grand stand finish. Takayasu and Onosato were in prime position to claim the cup and there was also an outside shot of a five-way play-off to settle things.
Scroll down to see what happened and find out who our newest top division champion is. You’ll also find my analysis on how it all happened.
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The subject of today’s bonus gif is Battle Pug Jr., Hiradoumi.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Onokatsu (10-5) def. Shirokuma (5-10) via yorikiri (frontal force out)
Midorifuji (9-6) def. Mitakeumi (6-9) via katasukashi (under shoulder swing down)*
Kotoshoho (8-7) def. Endo (7-8) via yorikiri*
Hakuoho (9-6) def. Asakoryu (6-9) via yorikiri
Ryuden (6-9) def. Oshoma (9-6) via yorikiri
Sadanoumi (8-7) def. Atamifuji (6-9) via yorikiri*
Tamawashi (10-5) def. Shishi (9-6) via oshidashi (frontal push out)
Shodai (6-9) def. Nishikigi (3-12) via yorikiri
Kinbozan (6-9) def. Shonannoumi (4-11) via yorikiri
Ichiyamamoto (7-8) def. Takarafuji (3-12) via hatakikomi (slap down)*
Ura (7-8) def. Tobizaru (6-9) via oshidashi*
Meisei (9-6) def. Chiyoshoma (6-9) via hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Gonoyama (7-8) def. Takanosho (3-12) via oshidashi
Wakamotoharu (9-6) def. Takerufuji (9-6) via yorikiri
Wakatakakage (9-6) def. Hiradoumi (9-6) via oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Takayasu (12-3) def. Abi (6-9) via uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)*
Kirishima (8-7) def. Tokihayate (10-5) via yorikiri*
Aonishiki (11-4) def. Oho (6-9) via kirikaeshi (twisting backward knee trip)*
Churanoumi (11-4) def. Daieisho (9-6) via oshidashi*
Onosato (12-3) def. Kotozakura (8-7) via yorikiri*
Onosato (12-3) def. Takayasu (12-3) via okuridashi (rear push out)*
*Must see bouts!
Results
Makuuchi yusho: O1e Onosato (12-3)
Makuuchi yusho-doten: M4e Takayasu (12-3)
Shukun-sho (Outstanding Performance award): Not awarded.
Kanto-sho (Fighting Spirit prize): M14w Churanoumi (11-4), M15e Aonishiki (11-4)
Gino-sho (Technique prize): M4e Takayasu (12-3)
Juryo yusho: J14w Kusano (14-1)
Makushita yusho: Mk28e Oshoryu (7-0)
Sandamne yusho: S21w Asanoyama (7-0)
Jonidan yusho: J4e Daikisho (7-0)
Jonokuchi yusho: Jk7w Chiyotenfu (7-0)
Analysis
Takayasu came into the final day needing a win to put pressure on Onosato and to avoid a March Madness style play-off for the cup. Abi was his opponent. Abi had already secured a make-koshi (losing record) so he was fighting for pride… and the chance to spoil Takayasu’s day. And we know the Troll King loves to play spoiler.
He tried his best to do that on this day, throwing down a henka! However, Takayasu—who is very experienced at fighting Abi and has a good record against him—didn’t overcommit on his opening charge. He was able to get square to Abi, thrust with him and then grab him for the winning throw.
This win meant that Onosato needed to win his bout to force a play-off. This win also eliminated the chances of Aonishiki, Churanoumi and Tokihayate gate-crashing the play-off.
Onosato then booked his place in the play-off with an easy win over Kotozakura. Kotozakura might still be nursing an injury. Kotozakura also secured his kachi-koshi (winning record) earlier in the tournament, so he had nothing on the line in this bout. Onosato met Kotozakura with his arms down, found an uwate (underarm position) with his left arm and then powered Kotozakura out of the ring.
So it came down to this, Onosato vs. Takayasu for the cup.
This bout looked a lot like their Day 10 bout, up to a point. In this bout Onosato and Takayasu wound up in the same position they did on Day 10, but Onosato made the right choice this time around and that’s what got him the win.
Before we go any further, I recommend you head over to the Day 10 post and skim my detailed breakdown of their first bout.
Once you’ve done that, watch their play-off again. You’ll see that their tachiai was near identical, as was Takayasu’s play to get a sashite (inside arm with belt grab) with his left hand. Just like he did in the first bout, Onosato responded with an outside belt grab.
On Day 10 Onosato pulled Takayasu back and attempted an ill-advised hatakikomi.This time around, Onosato did not pull back. He dug in.
Onosato pressed Takayasu backwards, forcing the veteran into a shitatenage (overarm throw) attempt.
And it looked like he had it at one point (below).
But Onosato would not be denied. He used great strength and balance to untangle his left leg and hop forwards, landing on both feet.
From this position he was able to crowd Takayasu out for the win and his third yusho.
I think we need to take a moment to recognize just how special this kid is and the potential history we are seeing unfolding in front of us. Onosato is this good and this dominant and he’s less than two years into his career. He’s on pace to become a inter-generational talent in the sport. That’s three yusho now in just eight top division tournaments. It took Hakuho nineteen tournaments to rack up his first three.
Now, nothing’s guaranteed in sumo. This sport has a one-hundred percent injury rate. But if Onosato stays healthy and keeps improving, the sky is really the limit for him. He now heads into May gunning for another yusho and promotion to become the 75th yokozuna.
This was Takayasu’s ninth second place finish. At 35, it may be his last. Sadly, it seems Takayasu will need to settle for a legacy of not quite getting over the hump. Despite his failures to clinch a yusho Takayasu still deserves credit for an excellent tournament. He’s one of the most popular wrestlers on the circuit for a reason and we’re going to miss him when he calls it a career.
Outside of the Emperor’s Cup there wasn’t much that was left undecided on this final day. Only four wrestlers stepped to the ring with 7-7 records.
One of them was Kirishima. He met Tokihayate with his komusubi rank on the line. Tokihayate had just seen Takayasu beat Abi, so he knew he had lost his outside shot at getting into the play-offs.
Kirishima got a great start off the tachiai. He landed a mae-mitsu (front of belt) grip and then overpowered the smaller Tokihayate. He’ll get to stay in the san’yaku as a result.
The other 7-7 wrestlers were Sadanoumi, Endo and Kotoshoho.
Sadanoumi beat Atamifuji to secure his kachi-koshi. The gritty Sadanoumi is 4-1 in the last five matches he went into with a 7-7 record.
Kotoshoho won his Darwin match with Endo. Endo took yet another tumble into the seats. This was perhaps the worst one of the tournament. Endo again was very slow to get up. He has not looked well for the majority of this tournament and I’m hoping it’s not because of a brain injury. He’s looked groggy a few times, but I’ve also noticed him limp a little, as if he was struggling with a hip injury.
Aonishiki’s hopes of the play-offs were also ended when Takayasu beat Abi. Still, he went on and beat Oho in a very exciting bout. Aonishiki ends with an 11-4 record. There’s a lot to be excited for when it comes to this 20 year-old Ukrainian.
Aonishiki earns a Fighting Spirit Prize for his performances this month. Churanoumi, who finished 11-4 after two back-to-back 4-11 tournaments, also received that prize.
The Technique Prize goes to Takayasu for his seven winning kimarite (which included an uwatedashinage, shitatedashinage and oshitaoshi).
Strangely, there was no Outstanding Performance Award handed out.
Kusano won the juryo yusho with three days to spare. Isegahama’s latest hot prospect was debuting in juryo this month. He was too strong and fast for the folks he found there and quickly bounced out most of his foes. He finished with a 14-1 record. He was ranked at the very bottom of juryo, so it will be interesting to see if this record and yusho is enough for a quick promotion to makuuchi.
Further down the divisions, former ozeki Asanoyama won the sandanme yusho. He was appearing in the ring for the first time since he suffered a major knee injury in last year’s Nagoya basho.
So, that’s a wrap for the 2025 haru basho and for Sumo Stomp!’s daily update newsletters (until May). I hope you’ve enjoyed these. I, as always, have loved watching sumo with you and writing things about it that I would want to read.
I’ve also loved all the engagement I’ve seen this tournament. There have been so many comments, direct messages and emails from you all. Keep them coming!
Next up for me is the prize draw for the Goeido tegata. Then I will start pumping out report cards. I want to get those out soon, while this tournament is still fresh in our minds.
Thank you for reading, following, sharing, commenting, subscribing… this place doesn’t exist without you all doing that.
Take care, be kind and fight with spirit!
Tim
So close for poor Papa Bear! I thought he was going to drag Big O across the rice ropes, but the ozeki hit the brakes and that left Taka turned too far, almost facing away. The NHK Channel announcer said his heart was with Taka, but his head was saying Ono, and that's how I felt. Sad for Taka, but Tim, you're right, with Onosato we're seeing sumo history here.
I know this wasn’t the greatest tournament, but seeing the finale today was incredibly exciting. Sumo, as always, is a deeply inspiring and exciting sport. My favourite part of this basho was seeing Ichiyamanoto grinning ear to ear after victories against the big guns in Sanyaku. Seems like such a lovely guy.