2025 Hatsu Basho: Day 7 results, replays and analysis
Spoilers included.
We are a week into the New Year tournament and we have a really interesting pack of front runners (including some real surprises). Next week the match-making is going to get tougher for a lot of those guys, so it will be interesting to see how our current high flying maegashira rikishi will respond.
Hoshoryu vs. Oho was the best bout of Day 7 and one of the best of the tournament thus far. Hoshoryu entered that bout with a 5-1 record, chasing Oho’s 6-0.
Other bouts which delivered on excitement include Tobizaru vs. Shodai, Kotozakura vs. Gonoyama and Kirishima vs. Wakatakakage.
I’ve got lots of videos below, along with full results and analysis.
If you want to hear me talk about this stuff (and play guess the accent) you can check me out on The Level Change this week. Stephie and I talk about Terunofuji’s retirement, the state of the current basho and that Ura commercial.
Bonus gif today a fan of everyone’s favourite shower salesman.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Hakuoho (4-3) def. Tamashoho (2-5) via yorikiri (frontal force out)
Kinbozan (7-0) def. Tokihayate (3-4) via oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Kagayaki (2-5) def. Kotoshoho (1-6) via oshidashi (frontal push out)
Nishikifuji (4-3) def. Shonannoumi (2-5) via yorikiri
Onokatsu (4-3) def. Kitanowaka (4-3) via yorikiri
Tamawashi (6-1) def. Nishikigi (4-3) via hatakikomi (slap down)*
Takerufuji (6-1) def. Oshoma (4-3) via oshidashi*
Churanoumi (3-4) def. Midorifuji (1-6) via hatakikomi
Takarafuji (3-4) def. Meisei (2-5) via yorikiri
Takayasu (4-3) def. Mitakeumi (2-5) via yorikiri*
Chiyoshoma (7-0) def. Roga (0-3-4) via fusen (default)
Hiradoumi (3-4) def. Endo (3-4) via yorikiri
Ura (3-4) def. Ichiyamamoto (4-3) via oshidashi
Tobizaru (5-2) def. Shodai (2-5) via okuridashi (rear push out)*
Kirishima (4-3) def. Wakatakakage (3-4) via tottari (arm bar throw)*
Takanosho (2-5) def. Abi (4-3) via oshidashi
Daieisho (5-2) def. Wakamotoharu (1-6) via hikiotoshi (hand pull down)*
Onosato (4-3) def. Atamifuji (2-5) via yorikiri
Hoshoryu (6-1) def. Oho (6-1) via okuritoashi (rear push down)*
Kotozakura (2-5) def. Gonoyama (4-3) via tsukiotoshi (thrust down)*
*Must see bouts!
Leaderboard
M5w Chiyoshoma, M14w Kinbozan: 7-0
O1w Hoshoryu, M3w Oho, M10e Tamawashi, M11w Takerufuji: 6-1
Analysis
Hoshoryu and Oho had a very entertaining bout on Day 7. Hoshoryu fought with an intensity that suggested he deemed Oho a serious threat in this basho and someone he needs to keep tabs on in the future. Oho’s form this tournament can’t be that much of a surprise to Hoshoryu, though. Despite this win he still has a losing record against the 24-year-old (4-5).
Hoshoryu had a great tachiai against Oho, landing a stiff nodowa (throat thrust) with his right hand. See the freeze frame below and note how Hoshoryu was able to get his hand right under Oho’s chin. What I really like is what happened next, though.
Hoshoryu took advantage of this above position by reaching out with his left hand and pushing Oho back even further, capitalizing on the fact Oho was already moving backwards.
Look at the shot below to see how much space Hoshoryu created with that follow up fingertip thrust.
Hoshoryu then crashed through all that space and tried to land big thrusts that would put Oho out along the boundary. Oho was smart, though. He deflected Hoshoryu’s attack (below) and prevented himself absorbing all the power in that shot.
Oho deflected more shots and gave himself an opening for charging back at his foe. Hoshoryu was ready for him, though. He grabbed one of Oho’s arms and attempted a tottari (arm bar throw), something he used to great effect in November. Oho blocked that, but he got stuck perpendicular to Hoshoryu and was unable to halt Hoshoryu pushing him back across the ring and into the dirt.
After the win Hoshoryu gave Oho a long look. I don’t know if his intention is to try and intimidate Oho by doing this, but in my mind it should give the youngster a lot of encouragement. If Hoshoryu cares about beating you that much you must be doing something right.
This is Hoshoryu’s six different kimarite (winning technique) in six bouts. Thus far he’s collected yorikiri, yoritoashi, tsukidashi, tsukiotoshi, okuridashi and now thie okuritoashi. Bets on what he’ll do tomorrow? I’ll go with a meat and potatoes oshidashi.
Hoshoryu’s win tied him with Oho on 6-1 records. They are both trailing two surprise leaders.
Kinbozan and Chiyoshoma remained undefeated on Day 7. Chiyoshoma got there thanks to a fusen, with Roga exiting the tournament due to injury. Kinbozan got there by blasting through Tokihayate.
Kinbozan’s thrusting game has looked really strong in this tournament. The smaller Tokihayate, didn’t have an answer for Kinbozan’s reach and power in this bout.
Tamawashi rebounded from yesterday’s loss to Takarafuji with a win over another fellow veteran. He and Nishikigi clinched in the center of the dohyo and Tamawashi then used Nishikigi’s forward pressure to his advantage. He stepped back and gave Nishikigi a runway and then slapped him down for the win.
Takerufuji is also at 6-1. He blocked Oshoma’s attempt to shoulder roll him and then pushed him off the ring, with extra force than needed. That’s the second time he’s done this in this tournament. The first time was against Meisei on Day 2.
Kotozakura must have sensed that he needed to do something new to turn this basho around for him. He came out on Day 7 without his familiar teal mawashi. Instead, he was wearing black (the best colour for a mawashi in my humble opinion).
Kotozakura started his evil era with a much needed win. He absorbed all of Gonoyama’s force (which is impressive given how much a push over the ozeki has looked this week). He was then able to summon up the strength he needed to turn Gonoyama. Gonoyama was able to escape, though. After that Gonoyama showed us his toxic trait, diving head first and leaving his feet to try and clinch a win. When he did this Kotozakura side-stepped him and drove him down, reminding us that he has the best feet among all big men in sumo.
Kirishima is also looking to turn the page on a rough start to the tournament. He got two hands on Wakatakakage’s right arm and then wheeled him around before dumping him out the south west corner of the ring. That’s four wins in a row for the former ozeki (after three losses to start the tournament).
The best match not uploaded by the JSA was Tobizaru vs. Shodai. Tobizaru continued to show his top tier evasiveness in that bout, something which has helped him get a number of high calibre victories in the last seven days. Tobizaru also showed some good strength, though, resisting and troubling Shodai in the clinch. Tobizaru got the win via okuridashi (rear push out). Tobi wins close to 9% of his matches like that. The average rate among all rikishi is just 3.3%. That speaks to how good Tobizaru is at getting behind his opponents and pushing them out. Pushing guys out from behind helps Tobizaru cancel out the strength and size disdavantage he usually has.
Tomorrow’s action is highlighted by Hoshoryu vs. Shodai and Kotozakura vs. Oho.
Hoshoryu has a commanding 5-11 record against Shodai. Kotozakura is 4-2 against Oho, but has lost the last two meetings.
Onosato (who beat Atamifuji on Day 7) has Wakatakakage on Day 8. He’s 0-2 against the former sekiwake.
Other interesting match-ups include Abi vs. Tobizaru and Tamawashi vs. Kinbozan.
Enjoy the weekend, folks!
Thank you for this update
I'm still trying to catch up.
Kotozakura has gone to the dark-side and I'm really to embrace it lol