Our news starts today with Bout #2 down in Jonokuchi where young Hikarumusashi, nephew of Musashigawa-oyakata, got his career started with a win over Kaitoma. Congratulations! Overwhelming forward power. We will see more of that later. Thanks to Lulit over on Twitter for the clip below.

#春場所2025初日
魁當真ー光武蔵
押し出して光武蔵！白星スタート☆ pic.twitter.com/psx6GXIleI

— Lulit (@OneLoveLulit) March 9, 2025

No one is kyujo in the top division to start this tournament. Kitanowaka is kyujo in Juryo. Your NHK videos are here: Juryo Part I and Part II, Makuuchi Part I and Part II.

Makuuchi Action

Tokihayate defeated Shirokuma. Power sumo from the pint-sized Tokihayate as he wrapped up Shirokumi with both hands inside, right hand firmly on Shirokuma’s belt and left arm hugging his trunk. Tokihayate charged forward and slammed Shirokuma onto his back outside the ring. Well, then. That’s a result. Shirokuma needs to go back to the drawing board. Yoritaoshi.

Kotoshoho defeated Mitakeumi. Mitakeumi chugged forward but Kotoshoho lazily pivoted and swung Mitakeumi down by his left shoulder. Kotenage.

Asakoryu defeated Sadanoumi. Asakoryu successfully kept Sadanoumi off his belt with his oshi-defense. Asakoryu released Sadanoumi, allowing Sadanoumi’s legs to charge forward. Like in the cartoons, Sadanoumi’s lower half got ahead of his upper half. Asakoryu then shoved Sadanoumi down for a simple but entertaining, okurihikiotoshi.

Churanoumi defeated Aonishiki. This was a great, quick brawl. Aonishiki’s big mistake came when he decided to pull at the edge. Churanoumi’s head was already lowered so he charged forward underneath Aonishiki’s trunk and blasted him down into the sea of brown vests. “Welcome to the Big Leagues, kid.” Oshidashi.

Ryuden defeated Shishi. Shishi stole Ryuden’s twerk so, Ryuden got mad and stole Shishi’s win. Ryuden grabbed Shishi with that dangerous right hand over-arm belt grip but Shishi fought valiantly with his left hand inside. It looked like Shishi actually threw Ryuden but Ryuden pressed into Shishi, forcing Shishi to fall backwards first. No mono-ii. Yoritaoshi.

Onokatsu defeated Nishikifuji. Onokatsu lifted Nishikifuji up and put him down outside the ring. Tsuridashi.

Takarafuji defeated Meisei. Meisei pulled, and pulled but Takarafuji kept his footing and charged forward. When that didn’t work, Meisei started to brawl and move forward. At the edge, that’s when Takarafuji pulled and slapped Meisei down as he, himself, tumbled down the stairs. Gunbai Meisei. Mono-ii. This was a close one so the judges took a minute to figure it out. Meisei’s hand touched down first. The gyoji’s call was over-ruled based on the video evidence. Hatakikomi.

Midorifuji defeated Shonannoumi. Midorifuji’s vermillion shimekomi stunned Shonannoumi. Midorifuji shifted to his right and attacked Shonannoumi from the side, pressing into his left shoulder. As Shonannoumi turned and pressed forward, Midorifuji locked onto that left shoulder, rotated and swung Shonannoumi to the ground. Katasukashi.

Endo defeated Nishikigi. Endo pressed forward and wrapped up Nishikigi low with his right hand while holding him high with the left. Endo pulled back and rolled Nishikigi along the dirt. Uwatenage.

Hakuoho defeated Oshoma. Oshoma had the upper hand here and quickly forced Hakuoho to the bales. But Hakuoho got inside, and locked on with a morozashi. That morozashi was enough to force Oshoma back to center. Oshoma tried to wrest himself free but Hakuoho had a firm hold with both hands. Oshoma released with his left and tried to get it inside. Hakuoho charged forward and resisted Oshoma’s overarm throw, throwing Oshoma from the ring. Shitatenage.

Atamifuji defeated Tamawashi. Atamifuji tried to go inside and get a belt grip but Tamawashi’s tsuppari forced Atamifuji to switch to Plan B. Atamifuji charged forward with his own tsuppari, leading with head butts. He steadily forced Tamawashi backward and out. Oshidashi.

Halftime

Takerufuji defeated Shodai. Shodai started moving forward but Takerufuji used his right hand grip to pivot and drag Shodai to the edge and over. Yorikiri.

Hiradoumi defeated Kinbozan. Hiradoumi is not Takayasu. I have no idea why I thought Kinbozan was facing Takayasu today, but he clearly isn’t. Anyway, Kinbozan put Hiradoumi on the back foot early with powerful tsuppari. Then Kinbozan reached inside to get a belt grip… “That’s when everything changed.” Hiradoumi pulled and Kinbozan stumbled forward but not out. The change of direction clearly caught Kinbozan off guard so Hiradoumi used one more shift. He got Kinbozan’s back to the bales and then blasted him over the edge. Oshidashi.

Ura defeated Ichiyamamoto. Ichiyamamoto started out promisingly as his tsuppari worked Ura back to the edge. But then he pulled. Ura charged forward. Ichiyamamoto stopped his backward momentum and pressed forward but Ura shifted right. This made Ichiyamamoto stumble forward. Ura followed up quickly with a forceful shove and forced Ichiayamamoto out. Oshidashi.

Takayasu defeated Takanosho. Takayasu got his left hand grip but Takanosho pulled away. Lean-fest. We don’t seem to have many of these anymore. For two solid minutes these guys locked horns at the edge of the dohyo, Takayasu with the advantage of position to the center of the ring. Takanosho thankfully got as bored as we were and tried to end it with a quick slapdown. Takayasu would not go down and instead seized Takanosho’s belt and drove forward and out. Yorikiri.

Sanyaku

Kirishima defeated Tobizaru. A quick oshi-bout. Tobizaru used his left arm to shove Kirishima back. First, Kirishima tried to use his right arm to combat Tobizaru’s attack but then quickly pivoted and shifted to the left. This caught Tobizaru off balance and Kirishima slapped him down. Hatakikomi.

Chiyoshoma defeated Oho. Well then. Oho charged forward with Chiyoshoma’s left arm wrapped up. Chiyoshoma yanked his left arm away, pivoted, and used his right hand grip to throw the “Big, Bad Sekiwake” over the bales. So much for the cake walk. Uwatenage.

Gonoyama defeated Daieisho. Daieisho plugged away with his tsuppari but Gonoyama stood his ground. Gonoyama got his left arm under Daieisho’s right armpit, lifted, and threw Daieisho to the side. That was impressive. Tsukiotoshi.

Wakamotoharu defeated Kotozakura. Kotozakura charged forward and worked Wakamotoharu to the bales but Wakamotoharu resisted. After the two settled for a moment, Wakamotoharu pulled up on the Ozeki and pressed forward, forcing Kotozakura back and out. “Ruh-Roh…” Yorikiri.

Onosato defeated Wakatakakage. Onosato charged forward as Wakatakakage pulled. At the edge, Wakatakakage shifted right and tried to pull Onosato over but Onosato shifted with Wakatakakage and threw him down onto his butt. Yay, an Ozeki doing Ozeki things. Kirikaeshi.

Abi defeated Hoshoryu. With all of those parties and press conferences, Hoshoryu did not have time to research Abi. You see, Abi has this new attack where he shoves people at the tachiai. “No, he doesn’t, Andy. That’s his thing. That’s what he’s been doing for years.” Apparently, I need sarcasm tags. Yes. That’s what he’s been doing for years and he just blasted our new Yokozuna straight back and into the laps of the geezers in brown vests. Everyone checks Twitter. Is Dorji going to say something? Tsukidashi.

Wrap-up

Kotozakura did not just lose, he still looked hurt and vulnerable. That left knee is doing him no favors. Yokozuna Hoshoryu might be a Yokozuna AND an Ozeki come May. For his own sins here against Abi, he might deserve it.