2025 Haru Basho: Day 7 results, replays and analysis
I got some spoilers.
One week down, one to go. To be honest, the haru basho, is yet to provide a big storyline that is super engaging. Still, we’re getting good bouts and decent performances from both expected and unexpected characters.
Hopefully in week two some more interesting narratives will bubble up to the surface.
Kirishima vs. Wakamotoharu was the best bout on Day 7 (and maybe the entire basho). I also really enjoyed Churanoumi vs. Kotoshoho, Ichiyamamoto vs. Shodai and Ura vs. Tamawashi.
Head on down to check out all the results from the makuuchi. There’s lots of videos, too, including that Kirishima vs. Wakamotoharu match. As always, you’ve got my analysis down there, too.
Remember, these daily updates are free for all, but if you want to support my sumo writing the best way to do that is with a paid subscription. Paid subscribers also get entered in this month’s prize draw to win an authentic Goeido tegata (courtesy of TegataStore.com).
Bonus gif is Asanoyama who is 3-0 in the sandanme since returning from a pretty serious knee injury.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Asakoryu (4-3) def. Tochitaikai (4-3) via oshidashi (frontal push out)
Sadanoumi (3-4) def. Mitakeumi (4-3) via yorikiri (frontal force out)
Aonishiki (4-3) def. Tokihayate (4-3) via yorikiri
Churanoumi (6-1) def. Kotoshoho (3-4) via oshidashi*
Shirokuma (3-4) def. Takarafuji (2-5) via oshidashi
Meisei (5-2) def. Shishi (4-3) via sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
Midorifuji (4-3) def. Ryuden (3-4) via katasukashi (under shoulder swing down)*
Nishikigi (1-6) def. Shonannoumi (1-6) via yorikiri
Hakuoho (5-2) def. Onokatsu (5-2) via yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*
Takerufuji (5-2) def. Endo (4-3) via yorikiri
Hiradoumi (3-4) def. Atamifuji (3-4) via yorikiri*
Oshoma (3-4) def. Kinbozan (3-4) via uwatenage (over arm throw)
Tamawashi (5-2) def. Ura (3-4) via oshidashi*
Ichiyamamoto (4-3) def. Shodai (3-4) via hatakikomi (slap down)*
Takayasu (6-1) def. Wakatakakage (2-5) via oshidashi*
Kirishima (4-3) def. Wakamotoharu (4-3) via katasukashi*
Gonoyama (2-5) def. Oho (2-5) via oshidashi
Daieisho (4-3) def. Abi (4-3) via oshidashi*
Kotozakura (4-3) def. Tobizaru (1-6) via yorikiri
Onosato (6-1) def. Chiyoshoma (3-4) via yorikiri*
Hoshoryu (5-2) def. Takanosho (2-5) via tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)*
*Must see bouts!
Leaderboard
O1e Onosato, M4e Takayasu, M14w Churanoumi: 6-1
Y1e Hoshoryu, M6w Takerufuji, M7w Tamawashi, M9e Hakuoho, M11w Meisei, M12w Onokatsu: 5-2
Analysis
Onosato’s is March’s top performer, thus far, and it’s not even close.
On Day 7 he wiped out Chiyoshoma. In this match, and most his other matches this month, his sumo has looked very yokozuna-like. He’s hitting hard off the tachiai, enveloping his foes and then marching them out quickly (with a hint of grace). It’s exactly what the JSA wants to see from their top ranked sumotori.
If Onosato shows this kind of form in the second week of the tournament (and can avoid getting thrown on his head by Hoshoryu), he’ll have a great chance of securing his third yusho and setting himself up for a potential yokozuna promotion.
Kirishima vs. Wakamotoharu was a thrilling bout. And a lot of that is due to the technique and craftiness shown by Kirishima.
If you’ve read this newsletter for long enough you know that Wakamotoharu lives and dies by his ability to secure the hidari-yotsu (left arm inside, right arm outside) grip. In this bout, Kirishima made sure to prevent that happening and was rewarded for doing so.
The hardest part of a hidari-yotsu (and its opposite hold, the migi-yotsu) is getting the inside position. Off the tachiai Wakamotoharu tried to get his left arm inside of Kirishima’s right arm by scooping his left arm low and trying to come up into Kirishima’s arm pit.
He was able to get his hand on the armpit…
But Kirishima then pulled back and pushed down on Wakamotoharu’s left arm, with his forearm, to push that arm out off the inside position.
Kirishima then continued to use his forearm to block Wakamotoharu’s attempt to get his left arm on the inside position. This technique is called ottsuke.
I recommend watching at .25 speed from the 0:42 second mark and focus on Kirishima’s right arm. You can see him battling hard to prevent the hidari-yotsu, using various angles to defend against Wakamotoharu’s arm.
All that defense resulted in a stalemate, with Wakamotoharu needing to pause to figure out what to do if he can’t get his favourite grip.
Kirishima sought to break the stalemate by digging in and pushing Wakamotoharu back to the straw.
Wakamotoharu defended the force out, well, by wedging his foot in the toku-dawara (gap in the straw bales). That forced another long pause, with Wakamotoharu waiting for an opportunity to slide his left arm inside, while Kirishima continued to block with ottsuke.
Kirishima broke that stalemate by wrenching Wakamotoharu’s left arm upwards and forcing him backwards again.
When Wakamotoharu pushed back, Kirishima circled to his right and then switched his forearm block into a kote (arm lock).
Kirishima used that kote to force a separation. He did this so he could do something brilliant. Now detached from each other, Wakamotoharu was likely expecting a thrust to his chest (thrusting is his weakness and something Kirishima is good at). But Kirishima instead opted for another yotsu battle. He opened his body and locked up Wakamotoharu…
… in a migi-yotsu (right arm inside, left arm outside).
This forced Wakamotoharu to adopt a matching migi-yotsu, which is the opposite to what he’s comfortable with. Wakamotoharu smiled after this, I think in recognition of how good that play was from Kirishima.
This is where Wakamotoharu got either tired or lazy. He let his left arm hang, not doing anything to fight Kirishima’s right arm. This likely gave Kirishima the idea for what would come next.
With Wakamotoharu not doing anything to try and control Kirishima’s right arm, I think Kirishima knew the katasukashi was in play. To do that move you need to bring both hands to one shoulder, in this case that would be Wakamotoharu’s right shoulder (since Kirishima had the underhook on that shoulder already — the first component you need for a katasukashi).
Before Kirishima could do this here, Wakamotoharu burst forwards hoping to get a force out. Kirishima defended that and turned Wakamotoharu, thanks to the strength of his migi-yotsu. When he pushed back Wakamotoharu continued to ignore his right arm, which then gave Kirishima the opportunity he needed to remove it and bring it to the right shoulder for the katasukashi. And that was the ballgame.
Fantastic defensive sumo leading to offensives sumo from The Misty Island there. That put Kirishima on 4-3 for the basho, two behind Onosato, Takayasu and Churanoumi and one behind a pack that is headlined by Hoshoryu.
Hoshoryu beat Takanosho on Day 7. He did it with thrusts, using his speed advantage to deflect Takanosho’s nodowa (throat thrust) and then score the winning push out. He caught a finger in the eye during the exchange, though. Hopefully that’s not serious.
Kotozakura notched another win on Day 7. He looked strong as he collected and bounced out Tobizaru (who is having a stinker of a tournament).
Daieisho and Abi had a fun brawl. These two are good friends and both hail from Saitama. They put that all aside when they fight, though. This was their 28th meeting. All their bouts are feisty with Abi’s rapid-fire strikes up against Daieisho’s power strikes. Daieisho was able to brush off Abi’s offense this day and get inside his body for a winning shoulder barge.
Kirishima wasn’t the only wrestler who scored a katasukashi on Day 7. Midorifuji, the katasukashi master, got one on Ryuden. He’s 6-1 against Ryuden and has lulled him into a katasukashi on five of those wins. See how Midorifuji completes the move even though Ryuden is trying to lock up his right arm.
Takayasu beat Wakatakakage to remain in joint lead of this tournament. He’s looked very good this week. He used his size and strength to gobble up Wakatakakage early, but then used speed and wits to quickly switch the position and push Wakatakakage out.
Churanoumi is our other leader. He beat Kotoshosho in an All Violence Team match-up. Churanoumi winced first from the tusppari battle and grabbed Kotoshoho’s belt. He was able to pull Kotoshoho out of position and get the force out.
Takayasu’s title contentions will be tested tomorrow when he takes on Hoshoryu. Churanoumi has a gimme in the form of Mitakeumi.
Onosato will face Ichiyamamoto. Ichiyamamoto has looked good this tournament. He went 4-3 on Day 7 after a very nice win over Shodai (where he built a perfect frame and then pulled it away for the hatakikomi). Ichiyamamoto is 1-0 against Onosato, with their only meeting happening in juryo. That was Onosato’s first tournament in juryo (a tournament Ichiyamamoto would go on to win).
Day 8 also has Kirishima vs. Kotozakura, Ura vs. Oho (who is really struggling this month) and Wakatakakage vs. Abi.
Can’t wait!
Tim, your analysis w screenshots of the Kirishima v Wakamotoharu bout is superb. Seems like you’ve stepped up another level, buddy! If I weren’t always a broke schlub I’d give you lots of coin bc you deserve it all. I hope other followers recognize what they’re getting with and from you. Thanks sooooo much. 🙏🙏🙏
Much as I usually root for Wakatakakage, I like Takayasu almost as much and was rooting for him to win. Papa Bear's been second-best so often, I hope he makes a run for the cup. I say that knowing he has yet to meet the top rankers. Waka already has, which is why he's already in a hole.