2025 Haru Basho: Day 8 results, replays and analysis
Spoilers, spoilers, everywhere.
After eight days of action we now have a small pack of leaders running the show. One member of that group isn’t a surprise to anyone. A few others are welcome surprises, though.
Hoshoryu vs. Takayasu was the most important bout of the day and it really delivered on excitement.
Other notable bouts include Kirishima vs. Kotozakura, Onosato vs. Ichiyamamoto and Daieisho vs. Takanosho.
Scroll down to see how those bouts went and check out who are leaders are. There’s also some video replays and my analysis on what went down.
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Bonus gif today is this moment from a future sumo rom-com.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Aonishiki (5-3) def. Shirokuma (3-5) via oshidashi (frontal push out)
Sadanoumi (4-4) def. Shiden (1-7) via uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Churanoumi (7-1) def. Mitakeumi (4-4) via hatakikomi (slap down)*
Shishi (5-3) def. Kotoshoho (3-5) via sukuinage (beltless arm throw) after mono-ii (judges review)*
Asakoryu (5-3) def. Onokatsu (5-3) via oshidashi*
Midorifuji (5-3) def. Tokihayate (4-4) via yorikiri (frontal force out)
Meisei (6-2) def. Ryuden (3-5) via yorikiri
Takarafuji (3-5) def. Nishikigi (1-7) via yorikiri
Atamifuji (4-4) def. Shonannoumi (1-7) via oshidashi
Tamawashi (6-2) def. Shodai (3-5) via oshidashi
Hiradoumi (4-4) def. Endo (4-4) via yorikiri
Takerufuji (6-2) def. Oshoma (3-5) via yorikiri
Kinbozan (2-6) def. Hakuoho (5-3) via oshidashi
Tobizaru (2-6) def. Gonoyama (2-6) via hatakikomi*
Wakamotoharu (5-3) def. Chiyoshoma (3-5) via oshidashi
Wakatakakage (3-5) def. Abi (4-4) via oshidashi
Daieisho (5-3) def. Takanosho (2-6) via hatakikomi
Oho (3-5) def. Ura (3-5) via oshitaoshi (frontal push down)*
Onosato (7-1) def. Ichiyamamoto (4-4) via hatakikomi*
Kotozakura (5-3) def. Kirishima (5-3) via yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*
Takayasu (7-1) def. Hoshoryu (5-3) via oshitaoshi*
*Must see bouts!
Leaderboard
O1e Onosato, M4e Takayasu, M14w Churanoumi: 7-1
M6w Takerufuji, M7w Tamawashi, M11w Meisei: 6-2
Y1e Hoshoryu, O1w Kotozakura, S1e Daieisho, seven others: 5-3
Analysis
Things are not going great for Hoshoryu in Osaka. On Day 8 he was beaten by Takayasu and dropped to a 5-3 record. With the leaders, including Takayasu, now at 7-1, it’s pretty unlikely that Hoshoryu ends his debut yokozuna basho with a yusho.
Takayasu has been a very tough match-up for Hoshoryu over the years. Including today’s loss Hoshoryu is 2-10 against the former ozeki. Takayasu has also won the previous six meetings in a row. Hoshoryu has trouble with guys with this physical profile (see his record with Atamifuji), who are very wide, heavy and difficult to push off balance or throw over your hip.
In this bout Hoshoryu elected for what has become his usual playbook against bigger foes. He led with a nodowa (throat thrust) from the tachiai and then went for the belt. On smaller foes he tries to get double grips and on bigger ones he likes to get a single grip with his right hand and then pull on that grip to rotate his opponent and open up the potential to push from the side or from behind them.
In this bout, he landed the nodowa, but missed when he went for the belt. His fingers were able to get on the mawashi, but Takayasu scooted his hip just out of range and then responded with a firm sashite (inside arm position and belt grab) with his left hand. When Takayasu locks onto you with a grip like this, it’s very hard to break it. Hoshoryu tried to break that grip with his forearm, but couldn’t.
When he realized that wasn’t going to work, he went for something outlandish; the katasukashi (under shoulder swing down). This was likely a spontaneous decision from Hoshoryu. I doubt he would have game-planned with this move in mind. He’s only landed a katasukashi four times in his career.
When he shot backwards and attempted to bring both hands down on Takayasu’s right shoulder, Takayasu moved off to the side to lessen the effect of that focused attack. Having missed the move, Hoshoryu was left stranded in space, with his hands down. That allowed Takayasu to do what he does best, land heavy thrusts.
When this fight turned into a striking battle, Takayasu’s strength advantage won out. Every time he touched Hoshoryu he sent the yokozuna reeling. That led to Hoshoryu taking a tumble off the south side of the ring. That’s another kinboshi in the bank for Takayasu (his sixth). And that’s more fuel to the fire for those who grumble about Hoshoryu’s latest promotion.
Hoshoryu’s loss is Onosato’s gain. The second highest ranked wrestler in the sport moved to 7-1 with an emphatic slap down on a very plucky Ichiyamamoto.
Onosato is tied with Takayasu and Churanomi. But, given who he has beaten and how he’s looked, he’s the definite front runner to win this tournament. When he’s in this form he feels unbeatable. When he is in his groove, Onosato’s dominance can feel a little boring, at times. I need to remind myself that this level of performance is what we want to see from every rikishi, though, and to not fault the youngster for not being exciting enough.
Churanoumi moved to 7-1 with a win over Mitakeumi. Mitakeumi almost forced Churanoumi out, but Churanoumi was able to escape his grip and push him down before going out over the straw. Churanoumi has looked good in the first week of this competition, but he’s not fought anyone ranked higher than M12.
Kirishima vs. Kotozakura was a very important bout, with Kirishima looking for a sekiwake promotion and Kotozakura trying to save his ozeki skin. Kirishima has a great record against Kotozakura, but he wasn’t able to move the big man in this match. That’s a great sign for Kotozakura fans who are worried he might be too banged up to get his kachi-koshi this month.
In this bout Kirishima went for a mae-mitsu (front grip) off the tachiai, but Kotozakura blocked it and forced his way to a moro-zashi (both arms on the inside) grip. Kotozakura was also moving Kirishima backwards as he established that position. Kirishima tried to turn for a throw along the straw, but that’s near impossible to do against a very big man who has that moro-zashi grip. I winched as Kirishma fell, it looked like both men came down on one of his knees. He seemed to get up without trouble, though.
Ura and Oho had one of the more exciting bouts of the day. Both these guys have been struggling this month. Ura is faltering despite the crowd in his hometown desperately willing him on. And Oho has been disappointing in his first san’yaku appearance.
Oho got the win in this bout, though. He unloaded on Ura with heavy thrusts. Ura kept moving and trying to level change to get in on Oho’s waist, but Oho did a good job of moving with him and not letting up. The win came after Oho bent Ura backwards along the boundary and then forced him into a backwards roll off the ring.
Tomorrow Hoshoryu will be tested by Ichiyamamoto (who is doing OK as a joi boy this tournament). Ichiyamamoto has a 2-0 record against Hoshoryu, but they haven’t fought since 2019. In both those wins Ichiyamamoto was able to outfox Hoshoryu with a hikiotoshi (hand pull down).
Onosato will have a tough match-up on Day 9, too. He’s got Abi, who has beaten him in the past three meetings.
Takayasu will face Kotozakura and Churanoumi will get Tokihayate.
See you tomorrow and happy Sunday!
I am thoroughly enjoying seeing Takayasu surge in this basho.
I am rooting for Hoshoryu as our new Yokozuna, and as one of my favourite rikishi, but it’s tough for him right now and I can’t see him getting double digit wins.
Aonishiki! What a story! I wonder how far he will go.
Go, Takayasu!