No new kyujo but based on recent results, watch this space in the coming days. There are a few guys who are in poor form and nursing apparent injury. Getting to the action in Juryo, Mita toppled Mitoryu with a strong shove from the back of the shoulder, getting an Oshitaoshi win. He’ll take on another big boi, Daiamami, tomorrow.
Your NHK videos are here: Juryo, Makuuchi Part I and Part II.
Makuuchi Action
Mitakeumi (3-0) defeated Kotoeiho (1-2). Kotoeiho seemed to pull at the wrong time and Mitakeumi easily pushed him straight back and out. Oshidashi.
Shishi (2-1) defeated Kayo (0-3). Kayo actually moved forward for once, to start the bout, then he pulled and surprisingly found himself with his back at the edge of the ring, yet again. Shishi hit Kayo in the face with a flurry of tsuppari at the edge and Kayo seemed to say, “OK, you win,” and Shishi gently shoved him over the bales. Yorikiri.
Fujinokawa (1-2) defeated Hidenoumi (0-3). Fujinokawa blitzed Hidenoumi with a great tachiai and then used his double inside hold of Hidenoumi’s trunk to drive Hidenoumi back and over the edge. Congratulations on Fujinokawa’s first win. It may have come at some cost, though, as he seemed to struggle for a moment afterwards, as if he gave himself a hernia or something. Yorikiri.
Kotoshoho (3-0) defeated Kusano (2-1). Both men tried to push each other over the edge but Kotoshoho had the upper hand and was shoving Kusano with both hands. Kusano tried to spin away but Kotoshoho had his right hand hold of Kusano’s mawashi and did not let him escape. Kotoshoho was able to get in behind Kusano. Kusano got himself turned around but Kotoshoho gave chase and shoved him out. Yorikiri.
Asakoryu (2-1) defeated Shodai (2-1). Powerful, blitzing hits from Asakoryu at the tachiai and then at the edge to force Shodai over the edge. Oshidashi.
Churanoumi (1-2) defeated Midorifuji (2-1). As Midorifuji charged forward, Churanoumi slipped to the left and slapped Midorifuji down, causing Midorifuji to stumble and roll out of the ring. Hatakikomi.
Tokihayate (1-2) defeated Roga (2-1). Tokihayate hit Roga and drove him straight back and over the edge. Roga seemed to be competing on one leg, his left. He did not use his right leg to steady himself and that foot spent considerable time up in the air when Roga was resisting Tokihayate’s pressure at the edge. I will keep an eye on that foot. Yorikiri.
Atamifuji (1-2) defeated Takanosho (1-2). Takanosho drove forward, forcing Atamifuji to the edge. Atamifuji greased himself up prior to the bout, allowing him to slip away from Takanosho at the edge. While Takanosho tried to figure out where Atamifuji went, Atamifuji came up from behind and shoved Takanosho to the edge. Takanosho finally got himself straightened out but Atamifuji hit him again and drove him out. Oshidashi.
Ichiyamamoto (3-0) defeated Chiyoshoma (0-3). Ichiyamamoto shoved Chiyoshoma and finished him off with a nodowa. “Okay, Okay, That’s enough. My mom said I don’t have to play with you anymore.” Oshidashi.
Ura (3-0) defeated Sadanoumi (0-3). Sadanoumi charged out like he was determined to finally beat Ura. Ura grabbed Sadanoumi’s left arm, rotated, and pulled Sadanoumi to the edge. He then quickly shoved Sadanoumi out for his fourth straight win over the yotsu specialist. Oshidashi.
Halftime
Tobizaru (1-2) defeated Takerufuji (2-1). Tobizaru got a firm right-hand grip deep inside on the back of Takerufuji’s belt. The pair tussled and tried to pulle each other down but Tobizaru wrangled Takerufuji down in the center of the dohyo. Yoritaoshi.
Meisei (1-2) defeated Gonoyama (2-1). Henka. Meisei shifted left and slapped Gonoyama down. Hatakikomi.
Hakuoho (2-1) defeated Hiradoumi (0-3). This was all Hakuoho. He drove Hiradoumi to the edge but Hiradoumi slipped out to the side. Hiradoumi was not able to topple Hakuoho, though, so Hakuoho drove him back across the ring and this time shoved him off the cliff. Oshidashi.
Tamawashi (3-0) defeated Kinbozan (1-2). Kinbozan hit Tamawashi hard at the tachiai but then gave up any advantage. When Tamawashi set to charge back, Kinbozan hopped right on over to the edge. “Here, I’ll make it easier for you.” Incompetence, rightfully punished. Tamawashi drove forward and shoved Kinbozan out of the ring. Oshidashi.
Sanyaku
Onokatsu (1-2) defeated Oshoma (0-3). Oshoma henka. Onokatsu pressed forward and forced Oshoma out, quickly. Oshidashi.
Abi (2-1) defeated Wakatakakage (2-1). Henka. Abi slapped WTK down. EVERYONE IN THE BUILDING KNEW WHAT WAS COMING EXCEPT WTK. Hatakikomi.
Kirishima (3-0) defeated Oho (0-3). Kirishima tried to get a left hand over arm grip but Oho invited Kirishima inside. Kirishima took the gift and locked up a morozashi then drove Oho backwards over the bales. Yorikiri.
Takayasu (2-1) defeated Kotozakura (1-2). Kotozakura seems to only be comfortable in lean fests, so when it seemed like we were getting a lean fest, Takayasu switched things up. Takayasu shifted his right hand to get inside. Kotozakura retreated in response but Takayasu had a firm hold on the Ozeki’s belt and tugged Kotozakura down. Uwatedashinage.
Onosato (3-0) defeated Wakamotoharu (1-2). Onosato drove Wakamotoharu back to the edge. Wakamotoharu tried to escape and slap the Yokozuna down but he lost his balance and tumbled into the center of the ring. Oshitaoshi.
Aonishiki (2-1) defeated Hoshoryu (1-2). Kinboshi for Aonishiki! Meanwhile, Hoshoryu’s turning into a walking retirement plan for rank-and-filers. Aonishiki got a right-hand inside grip quickly. Hoshoryu reacted with his best Tazmanian Devil impression as he spun and spun, while trying to push Aonishiki down. Aonishiki reached forward with his left and grabbed Hoshoryu’s thigh, wrangling the Yokozuna to the ground with a beautiful watashikomi.
Wrap-up
I am happy to see Mitakeumi back in form. He had been struggling for several tournaments and seems to have come back to the division healed of whatever ailed him, previously.
Onosato will take on Oho tomorrow while Hoshoryu will face Abi. This should be two easy bouts for the pair of Yokozuna as both Oho and Abi have been in poor form/hurt. Hoshoryu needs this win, that’s for sure. Kotozakura will also need to recover against Wakamotoharu. If the Ozeki is hurt, he should drop out now and end the charade so he can recover and come back strong in September. If he’s not hurt, well, he’s really good at digging holes for himself to get out of.
This Aonishiki versus Wakatakakage bout tomorrow will be very interesting, a welcome treat after what should be an easy win for Kirishima over Oshoma.
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<<Hoshoryu’s turning into a walking retirement plan for rank-and-filers.>>
If it hadn’t been Hoshoryu, I would have laughed harder. I do enjoy your turns of phrase Andy! Oh dear, oh dear. I don’t know what to say really, other than I hope Hoshoryu gets his head in the game tomorrow. Another poke to the JSA from Aonishiki for not being promoted? Incidentally perhaps. Still, a kinboshi so early in his career, very nice.
I’m developing a soft spot for Tamawashi, you have to admire his sheer staying power (at the advanced ha ha age of 40!) Isn’t there someone in one of the non sekitori ranks still pootling away at 50 something? Must look that up.
I’m not even going there with WKTG and Abi. The world knew what was going to happen, and of course, it did.
I am glad to see Kirishima looking more like himself once again.
Thanks for the commentary Andy, great stuff!
WTK? You know Abi isn’t going to fall for your under and up, he’ll dodge one way or the other. WTF WTK. Going into day 4, it’s Onosato for the win. A legend is born. Watch and enjoy.
Abi has won the last four straight against Hoshoryu and the pressure is all on the yokozuna right now. That said the repeated henkas do maybe point to Abi carrying an injury of some kind.
Although Onosato is obviously a more likely winner over Oho he has lost twice to him before and it’s very on-brand for Oho to pull something special out of his locker after a flat start to the basho.
Shikoroyama Beya took a trip to Taiwan last month, except for Abi, who was supposedly having some medical procedure on his elbow. Maybe he’s not healed up? Or maybe he’s just being Abi.
Yeah, I am sure he should be kyujo.
[Longtime loyal Tachiai reader who hasn’t commented in many years…]
I don’t want to sound like a pedant (and I am a totally biased Abi Fan!) but that was not a henka! It was not even a semi-henka. Abi clearly makes contact with both arms at the tachiai before he makes the sudden sideways shift. It could perhaps be described as a ‘hit-and-shift’, but not a henka. Of course that does not in any way undermine Andy’s point that WKTKG should have expected some such tactic from Abi.
Aonishiki brings to sumo the classic wrestling style which is hard to figure for sumo wrestlers so far. Eventually those rikishi who don’t only do their own style, but also watch the others, will learn better how to fight against it, I think. But for now it is a puzzle.
Kirishima looks great again, I think this basho it is his time to step against Onosato.
I love Kirishima but he doesn’t seem to do well against giant bulldozers. He never managed to beat Teru and he already lost to Onosato several times.
What I enjoyed the most today – except for Astonishiki‘s merry-go-round, of course – was Asakoryu‘s win over Shodai. He brought him over the rice bales with something like a second tachiai blitz. Great stuff.
So happy for Aonishiki, even if the bad Hoshoryu vibes continue!
Who is beating Onosato this basho? Seriously?!
It’s still early and I think WMH had the right idea, he was just uncontrolled and off-balance. Lateral movement is going to be key. The way Onosato blew up Aonishiki would keep me from just trying to power through.
I think that’s the most interesting question in sumo right now. And how would he do it? Plan A, standing in the pah of a speeding freight train, can obviously be discarded. There would have to be some sideways movement. WMH tried but was swatted away like an annoying fly. Don’t think Onosato would fall for a pure henka, he seems to have tamed the impetuosity that led to some earlier defeats. Maybe a leg trip? But could you actually move his leg?
I’m still betting on Hoshoryu beating Onosato. Onosato seems to take the same pattern, and falls into the trap that Hos has put on everytime they met.
The obvious choice is Hoshoryu who has dominated Onosato 6 to 1 on the dohyo.
And then there is Takayasu with a 2 to 2 over all and a 1 to 1 in 2025 regulation bouts.
Two other rikishi have beaten the new Yokozuna more than two times: Kotozakura and Abi, but their head to head is still negative (4-5 and 3-4 respectively), as is Wakatakakage‘s with 2 to 3; and all those wins wins except one by Abi in January date not from this year.
If we take only 2025, there are two sekitori, who have won more than once against Onosato: Hoshoryu (of course) and Oho (!).
Therefore I‘d put the chances in that order: Hoshoryu, Oho, Takayasu, Wakatakakage, Abi.
If I am right, tomorrow will bring suspense. Well, a little, at least…
Onosato is a tough nut to crack for sure since he has the power/balance/skill to get a lot of simple wins against the majority of the wrestlers. I feel like the only ones that have a decent chance of a victory right now are the best of the mobile technicians (Hoshoryu, Kirishima and WTK) or the only two that seem have a chance of matching (Takayasu) or absorbing (Kotozakura) his power. (The less said about potential Abi nonsense the better.). Given Kotozakura’s current form, a victory there seems unlikely, and as much as I like papa bear, his chances aren’t that great either. Still, I think someone will put clay on him, so it’s more a matter of how the skilled 3 do against the rank and file. They just can’t take losses like the one WTK took to Abi because Onosato looks like he’s no longer taking those kinds of losses.
Thanks for the discussion, Tachiai brethren – I really enjoyed reading these comments!
Very reasonable comment. But Kirishima has been so overwhelmed by Onosato (0 to 6), they didn’t even match the two last basho, but preferred Hakuoho to the sekiwake.
I agree it isn’t very likely, especially given past bouts. Outside of Hoshoryu (who I’d currently give about even odds to), I don’t feel that anyone else wins more than 1 of 3 at best. I just wouldn’t be hugely surprised if any of them pulled off an upset, while I would be shocked if Onosato lost to anyone else right now. (Abi aside, because he’s been such a banana peel for everyone I’ve gotten used to it.)
Don’t forget Oho, who like Hoshoryu leads 2 to 1 against Onosato this year!
Good point.
Interesting article about a promising would-be rikishi who is being kept out for exceeding the maximum age requirement for entering the sport: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250711/p2a/00m/0sp/014000c
It says that the age limit didn’t exist in the 1990’s (or before that, I assume). Does anyone know its origin and justification?
I find myself wishing Hoshoryu hadn’t been promoted three days in. It’s done something to his confidence that he hasn’t been able to shake off. Day 1 had a flash of Hoshoryu in his element against Takayasu but the last two days he’s looked off. As a Ozeki you can get away with bad days as long as you get that eight-win mark but as a Yokozuna? It’s a bad look. I think he has all the tools to be a strong Yokozuna (perhaps not as strong as Onosato) but right now he’s not showing it at all. He’ll have time to get it figured out I’m sure but until that day comes, he’s going to be look like an overpromotion. Maybe it was too fast for Hoshoryu to get mentally prepared and he’s letting doubts creep in? Maybe being a great Ozeki was the height of his abilities right now? Who knows. It sure sucks as a fan regardless though.
Right now, the tournament already looks like it’s Onosato’s to fumble. I don’t think he’s invincible or unbeatable, but he’s looked awfully good so far which is more consistency then just about anyone else.
Well, the good thing about being Yokozuna is that he gets to try to figure it out for as long as he can put up with the press.
I subconsciously grade rikishi on intent, focus, & aggression .. Abi is exhibit A for always having a clear plan he sticks to + does it aggressively .. for 3-5 seconds .. Atamifuji, Oho, Takanosho, and Shodai exemplify “figure it out” rikishi who often blow matches cuz they had not figured out what they wanted to do nor how to do it .. unfortunately Hoshoryu falls into the latter behavior too often .. he has elite skills .. but too often gets himself into a pickle by apparently not really thinking through his strategy .. it looked like he wanted to blast Aonishiki upright like Onosato did .. but he lacks 80+ lbs to make it work .. Give Aonishiki credit for elite hand speed + surprising reach .. Hoshoryu couldn’t believe Aonishiki had grabbed his belt + once it became a Greco Roman match Hoshoryu was in deep doo doo .. These two will be fun going forward .. Kirishima is showing much better intent/focus/aggression .. Good to see Papayasu focussed, healthy + in form .. Agree Asakoryu was impressive v Shodai .. focussed + aggressive .. if Shodai is leaving his sternum unguarded, have at it .. Takerufuji is another one who did not really think through his attack .. Given the opening Tobizaru was not going to let go of his belt .. Let’s hope we see lots of smart aggressive sumo this basho ..
Aonishiki is a great addition to the upper ranks, he’s cool, calm and collected. And he’s been showing off a lot of different kimarite since making it to the top division. He’ll likely crack Sanyaku next basho and he’s just a baby. If Hakuoho can soon join him and with Kusano on the rise (the next Kaiju with the Original Kaiju mentoring him) the top division is looking formidable with two Yokozuna on top of the heap for a long time to come. The Blazing Star Dragon still falls prey to himself as we’ve seen ever since he made Ozeki, but he’ll turn it around. He’s going to be in the conversation even if the Wunderkind (Onosato) outshines him sometimes, he’s still the Blazing Star Dragon and that’s an amazing thing to be. Glad to see Papayasu and Ole Tom (Tamawashi) ahead of the sticks. Kirishima is also keeping in good form, the Ozeki rank needs him, as we’ve seen before, if he’s right he can perform at the highest level. Ura up to his usual tricks, I’d like to see him keep it up, he’s the showman’s showman.