2025 Hatsu Basho: Day 8 results, replays and analysis

Spoilers. They're in here, so watch out.

Kid’s birthday, grocery shopping and a minor plumbing issue means this edition of Sumo Stomp! is coming to you later (and shorter) than usual.

Day 8 was a banger, though, with lots of great action to catch up on.

Evil Kotozakura vs. Oho was a fantastic bout. Hoshoryu vs. Shodai was also action-packed.

You can check out videos of those, and much more, below.

There are also full results and my analysis.

Bonus gif today is Tobizaru making a new friend.

I ship it.

SPOILERS BELOW

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Results

• Kayo (4-4) def. Nishikifuji (4-4) via tsukiotoshi (thrust down) after torinaoshi (immediate rematch)*

• Tokihayate (4-4) def. Kotoshoho (1-7) via uwatedashinage (pulling over arm throw)

• Hakuoho (5-3) def. Nishikigi (4-4) via yorikiri (frontal force out)

• Onokatsu (5-3) def. Kagayaki (2-6) via yorikiri

• Tamashoho (3-5) def. Midorifuji (1-7) via yorikiri*

• Takerufuji (7-1) def. Kitanowaka (4-4) via oshitaoshi (frontal push down)

• Kinbozan (8-0) def. Tamawashi (6-2) via yorikiri*

• Shonannoumi (3-5) def. Meisei (2-6) via kotenage (arm lock throw)*

• Takayasu (5-3) def. Oshoma (4-4) via oshidashi (frontal push out)

• Ichiyamamoto (5-3) def. Churanoumi (3-5) via oshidashi

• Hiradoumi (4-4) def. Mitakeumi (2-6) via yorikiri*

• Takarafuji (4-4) def. Chiyoshoma (7-1) via tottari (arm bar throw)*

• Ura (4-4) def. Endo (3-5) via tottari*

• Gonoyama (5-3) def. Atamifuji (2-6) via oshidashi*

• Abi (5-3) def. Tobizaru (5-3) via oshidashi*

• Kirishima (5-3) def. Wakamotoharu (1-7) via okuridashi (rear push out)*

• Daieisho (6-3) def. Takanosho (2-6) via yorikiri

• Kotozakura (3-5) def. Oho (6-2) via uwatedashinage*

• Onosato (5-3) def. Wakatakakage (3-5) via yorikiri

• Shodai (3-5) def. Hoshoryu (6-2) via oshitaoshi*

*Must see bouts!

Leaderboard

• M14w Kinbozan: 8-0

• M5w Chiyoshoma 7-1, M11w Takerufuji: 7-1

• O1w Hoshoryu, S1w Daieisho, M3w Oho, M10e Tamawashi: 6-2

Analysis

Black-clad Kotozakura is 2-0! He threw down with Oho on Day 8 earning a much needed win. The win took him to 3-5. There’s still no way he gets back into title contention this month, but he still has a shot at avoiding a losing record and then going kadoban.

Here’s the bout:

Kotozakura used good defense in the opening phase of the bout, blocking and deflecting Oho’s thrusts (thrusts which have served him well thus far this basho). When it was time to attack Kotozakura wisely latched onto Oho’s belt. Once he had hold of the front of Oho’s mawashi with his left hand he was able to lead him around the ring and also brace against Oho’s attempts to push him out. He used that grip to sling Oho down for the win.

This is the best Kotozakura has looked all tournament. He was very mobile and strong once he got hold of the belt. He may have healed a little from the injury he was certainly carrying. Or else he’s just playing through the pain with extra motivation. Or maybe his new black mawashi is magic.

Hoshoryu stumbles on Day 8, bringing his record down to 6-2.

Hoshoryu struggled to move Shodai with his opening thrusts. When Shodai regrouped and charged, Hoshoryu tried to use the tottari (arm bar throw) to pull him past him and out. He’s made good use of that technique recently. But he wasn’t able to get a firm hold on Shodai in this bout and couldn’t stop himself being plopped into the first row.

That loss has Hoshoryu two wins behind this tournament’s shock leader. Can he make up the ground in week two?

Our shock leader is Kinbozan. He came through his stiffest test yet, by beating Tamawashi on Day 8. Tamawashi is another wrestler fighting above expectations. He came into this one on a 6-1 record.

Both men came close to pushing out the other with oshi-zumo (thrusting style). But when Kinbozan switched to yotsu-zumo (belt grabbing) he managed to get Tamawashi over the line.

Chiyoshoma could have joined Kinbozan was a perfect 8-0 record, but he faltered against Takarafuji. Chiyoshoma was aggressive in this bout, but the stout Takarafuji was able to execute the tottari move that Hoshoryu was going for against Shodai.

Lastly (because I need to get out of here and cook dinner), Abi and Tobizaru had a fun tilt. Tobizaru did his best to evade Abi’s tsuppari (palm strikes), but the Troll King was eventually able to catch up to him on the straw and push him out the north side of the dohyo.

Tomorrow brings us Kotozakura vs. Ura, Hiradoumi vs. Hoshoryu, Oho vs. Atamifuji and Kinbozan vs. Takerufuji. Takerufuji moved to 7-1 on Day 8 with a win over Kitanowaka. Sadly, Kitanowaka suffered a serious ankle injury in the bout which will take him out of this tournament and perhaps a few others.

Catch you tomorrow!

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