2025 Hatsu Basho: Day 10 results, replays and analysis
#Spoilers.
With five days remaining in our basho we’ve got a pretty good read on the runners and riders and know who has a shot of winning the first Emperor’s Cup of the year. And it’s a surprising cadre of rikishi at the top of the leaderboard, with the maegashira ranks leading the way. There are a couple of elite guys who could, theoretically, catch up, though.
Kinbozan got his biggest test of the basho on Day 10, he faced Abi.
We also had Chiyoshoma vs. Kirishima, Hoshoryu vs. Daieisho, Oho vs. Tamawashi and Takerufuji vs. Ichiyamamoto.
Match of the day has to be the chaotic affair between Wakamotoharu and Ura.
You can see all these bouts below, along with full results and my analysis.
Bonus gif is our sweet and cuddly Ura.
SPOILERS BELOW
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Results
Nishikifuji (5-5) def. Nishikigi (5-5) via yorikiri (frontal force out)
Tokihayate (5-5) def. Onokatsu (6-4) via kotenage (armlock throw)*
Midorifuji (3-7) def. Kagayaki (3-7) via uwatedashinage (pull over arm throw)*
Meisei (3-7) def. Tamashoho (3-7) via oshidashi (frontal push out)
Churanoumi (4-6) def. Kotoshoho (2-8) via tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Oshoma (5-5) def. Hakuoho (6-4) via uwatenage (over arm throw) after torinaoshi (immediate rematch)*
Shonannoumi (5-5) def. Takarafuji (4-6) via kotenage
Takerufuji (8-2) def. Ichiyamamoto (6-4) via tsukiotoshi
Shodai (5-5) def. Mitakeumi (2-8) via oshidashi
Oho (8-2) def. Tamawashi (6-4) via yorikiri
Endo (5-5) def. Atamifuji (2-8) via yorikiri
Takanosho (3-7) def. Takayasu (6-4) via oshidashi*
Kirishima (7-3) def. Chiyoshoma (8-2) via hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Abi (6-4) def. Kinbozan (9-1) tsukiotoshi*
Wakatakakage (5-5) def. Tobizaru (5-5) via hatakikomi (slap down)*
Wakamotoharu (3-7) def. Ura (5-5) via oshitaoshi (frontal push down)*
Onosato (7-3) def. Gonoyama (5-5) via hatakikomi*
Kotozakura (4-6) def. Hiradoumi (5-5) via oshidashi
Leaderboard
M14w Kinbozan: 9-1
M5w Chiyoshoma, M3w Oho, M11w Takerufuji: 8-2
O1w Hoshoryu, O2w Onosato, M1w Kirishima: 7-3
Analysis
Kinbozan took his first loss of the tournament on Day 10. It came to Abi, who has never seen a hype train he doesn’t want to derail.
Here’s how he spoiled Kinbozan’s hopes of a zen-yusho (15-0 championship).
This was a very Abi-like win for ol’ machine-gun arm. Around every third bout he tries this set-up and finisher, where he sticks his opponent in the throat, creates a frame with his long arms and then whisks that frame away just as his opponent is springing forwards. Kinbozan was particularly hasty off the tachiai in this bout, so Abi didn’t need to make much of a frame. When he felt how much pressure Kinbozan was putting into his hand, he knew he could zip out of the way and get the win.
That was only the second time these two have faced each other. The first bout was during Kinbozan’s debut makuuchi tournament in 2023. Kinbozan went on to bank an 11-4 record that tournament and earn a kanto-sho (fighting spirit prize).
Despite his loss to Abi, Kinbozan’s chances of a regular yusho are still on. Though, all but one of the following pack picked up wins on Day 10 to shorten his lead.
Hoshoryu beat Daieisho to move to 7-3 and give himself a glimmer of hope of catching Kinbozan and potentially putting his yokozuna-run back on track. Even if Hoshoryu does manage to win this basho he would have a rather weak case for a yokozuna promotion (13-2 jun-yosho, 12-3 yusho). However, with Terunofuji now retired, the JSA may be extra lax on their promotion criteria.
Anyways, here’s Hoshoryu’s win over Daieisho:
Unlike in yesterday’s loss to Hiradoumi, Hoshoryu lead with arms low in this tachiai.
Daieisho would quickly shrug off Hoshoryu’s right arm underhook. Hoshoryu then circled around Daieisho, grabbed his belt and pulled him down. I bet he’s still kicking himself that he didn’t do this routine with Hiradoumi.
What do you think folks? Is Hoshoryu going to close the gap on Kinbozan?
Chiyoshoma took a loss on Day 10. If he would have beaten Kirishima he would have tied Kinbozan for the lead on 9-1. With Kirishima winning, though, Kirishima improves his record to 7-3 (tied with Hoshoryu). This also extends Kirishima’s winning streak to seven and puts a kachi-koshi firmly in his sights.
Striking and footwork won the bout for Kirishima. Chiyoshoma had looked great in those departments throughout this tournament.
Oho and Takerufuji are tied with Chiyoshoma, with one win behind Kinbozan.
Oho landed big strikes on Tamawashi (and ate the ones sent back his way) before transitioning to yotsu-zumo (belt grabbing) for the win.
Takerufuji got Ichiyamamoto with a henka.
Onosato is still lurking in the background of this basho. He’s tied with Hoshoryu and Kirishima.
He beat Gonoyama on Day 10. Gonoyama false started twice and was then driven down by Onosato. This wasn’t a good showing for him. Everything he did was far too telegraphed for a wrestler of Onosato’s calibre.
Bout of the day was Wakamotoharu vs. Ura.
Wakamotoharu led with a forearm strike off the tachiai. Both he and Wakatakakage did this with Ura in the last tournament. I think they are trying to stun Ura with this shot and prevent him from going low and getting a hold of their belts.
I think Ura might be annoyed at this tactic. Him clenching his fists, too me, looked like frustration with a hint of real animosity (as much as we can expect from the usually serene Peach Prince). When they clinched up after that Ura attempted to get back Wakamotoharu the best way he knows how, by putting him on a poster.
Unfortunately for Ura he missed on his tsutaezori attempt. He tried this move on Wakamotoharu in the last basho, too. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens the next time Ura takes on a Waka Bro.
Kotozakura showed signs of life on Day 10. He looked back to his best in quickly pushing out Hiradoumi. That’s too little, too late for him, though, when it comes to this month’s yusho and his immediate chance at yokozuna.
We’ve got some fascinating bouts on tap for tomorrow. Chiyoshoma vs. Hoshoryu and Kinbozan vs. Onosato are the most important.
If both ozeki win we’ll have Kinbozan on 9-2 and Chiyoshoma, Hoshoryu and Onosato all tied on 8-3.
Fun!
Even if Hoshoryu does close the gap with Kinbozan and wins this basho, I don't think he should be promoted to Yokozuna. He's still too inconsistent in his performance and his headspace despite his long streak of Kachi-koshi's.
Especially now with Terunofuji's retirement, I think a promotion would be primarily serving the JSA's agenda at his expense.
Let him earn it the right way!