Mita suffered his first loss of the tournament to Oshoumi while Kotokuzan defeated Asahakuryu and Shirokuma took down Asanoyama. Mita and Kotokuzan share joint lead in Juryo with one loss apiece. Five men, including Oshoumi, Asakakuryu, Nishikifuji, Fujiseiun, and former Ozeki Asanoyama chase with two losses.
On Nakabi the Kyokai presents its maezumo class to the world. This basho we have one recruit in maezumo, Oshiogawa-beya’s Kazemitsuki. He got to wear a kesho mawashi borrowed from Oshiogawa stablemate and Juryo 11-ranked, Kazekeno.
＜八日目の様子＞
— 日本相撲協会公式 (@sumokyokai) September 21, 2025
新序出世披露が行われました。
九州場所より、番付にしこ名が載ります。
押尾川部屋の風光希。#sumo #相撲 #九月場所 #秋場所 pic.twitter.com/jDNsa0ahYe
The other two recruits from the Shin Deshi Kensa are Mongolian and will participate in Maezumo this November after visas get sorted. This includes Ochirusaihan, from Isegahama. We will cover him more next tournament when we see him in maezumo.
Makuuchi Action
Ryuden (6-2) defeated Tomokaze (5-3). Tomokaze effectively kept Ryuden off his belt and steadily powered forward after the tachiai. Ryuden countered with his own hazuoshi, shoving Tomokaze and eventually caught Tomokaze too far forward, slapping him down. Hatakikomi.
Nishikigi (1-7) defeated Sadanoumi (3-5). Sadanoumi had a right arm outside grip at the tachiai but reared up to try to change it to an inside grip. That was the opening Nishikigi needed to power forward and pick up his first win. That is the danger we’re used to seeing with makikae. Yorikiri.
Asakoryu (3-5) defeated Tochitaikai (3-5). Henka’ing the Juryo visitor is going to be a hilarious new trend if this catches on. Asakoryu left to his left and Tochitaikai zoomed by. Asakoryu then shoved him from the back to make sure he went out. Okuridashi.
Shishi (6-2) defeated Meisei (2-6). Shishi had the opposite situation from Sadanoumi. His left hand was outside and he wanted to bring it in. But he didn’t rear back like Sadanoumi and got his hand briefly on Meisei’s belt. Meisei freaked out and spun away from Shishi’s grip. However, Shishi was determined and reacquired his left-hand inside belt grip. Once he got it, he drove Meisei back and out. Yorikiri.
Hitoshi (4-4) defeated Tokihayate (3-5). Tokihayate pivoted in retreat as he tried to catch Hitoshi for a slapdown. But Hitoshi caught Tokihayate’s right arm and pulled him forward, instead. Hikiotoshi.
Shonannoumi (5-3) defeated Mitakeumi (3-5). Mitakeumi powered forward but Shonannoumi grabbed his belt with a right hand outside. He used the leverage from the bales to pivot and that right arm to swing Mitakeumi around. Once in behind, he finished Mitakeumi with a shove. Okuridashi.
Tobizaru (6-2) defeated Roga (4-4). Tobizaru pulled Roga forward with a left hand grip on his belt and a quick pull. Hikiotoshi.
Shodai (7-1) defeated Ura (6-2). Ura attempted a feat of strength as he tried to hoist Shodai into the air on his shoulders like a big bale of rice. But Shodai’s freaking heavy, dude. He used the awkward position to grab Ura’s belt, deep over Ura’s back. Shodai then used his left arm to pull Ura back and get some space, then pivoted and yanked Ura down with that right hand belt grip. Uwatenage.
Takanosho (7-1) defeated Churanoumi (5-3). Takanosho used his right arm to shove Churanoumi back. Churanoumi pressed forward in response, so Takanosho slapped him down. Hatakikomi.
Oshoma (4-4) defeated Daieisho (2-6). Daieisho lashed out with tsuppari at the start but Oshoma pivoted, forcing Daieisho to rush by. Oshoma then followed up with thrusts of his own and shoved Daieisho out. Oshidashi.
Onokatsu (5-3) defeated Midorifuji (2-6). After a decent oshi brawl, Onokatsu stepped inside and wrangled Midorifuji with a left-hand over-arm grip. He pressed forward and drove an exhausted Midorifuji over the bales. Yorikiri.
Halftime
Kusano (4-4) defeated Fujinokawa (3-5). Kusano used his right-arm overarm grip to haul Fujinokawa down. Uwatenage.
Kinbozan (3-5) defeated Ichiyamamoto (2-6). Ichiyamamoto plowed forward but Kinbozan grabbed his belt with a left-arm overarm grip. Kinbozan pivoted at the bales and threw Ichiyamamoto down as both fell from the ring. Gunbai Kinbozan. Mono-ii. Video review confirmed Kinbozan threw Ichi and Ichi landed first. Uwatenage.
Hakuoho (5-3) defeated Kotoshoho (2-6). Hakuoho’s bicep was wrapped in a sleeve but he was still able to use that right arm today to throw Kotoshoho. Hakuoho attacked at the tachiai, got a right arm overarm grip, then pulled and dragged Kotoshoho down. Uwatedashinage.
Oho (4-4) defeated Abi (0-8). Abi hit Oho with a flurry of tsuppari, most aimed at Oho’s chin. Oho powered through the torrent and drove Abi back and over the tawara. Abi is make-koshi. Oshidashi.
Sanyaku
Aonishiki (6-2) defeated Tamawashi (3-5). Tamawashi thrust out at Aonishiki, driving him back to the bales. At the bales, Aonishiki stopped trading tsuppari, lowered his head and grabbed Tamawashi’s belt. Since Tamawashi was still lobbing volleys of tsuppari, Aonishiki’s outside belt grips became inside belt grips. Morozashi engaged, Tamawashi’s volleys stopped. He was too close and had to try to grab Aonishiki’s belt. Aonishiki, however, took control of Tamawashi’s belt as if he was a truck driver controlling the steering wheel of a big rig. He got that bus turned around toward the tawara and drove it over the edge. Yorikiri.
Wakatakakage (5-3) defeated Atamifuji (2-6). Wakatakakage grabbed Atamifuji’s belt with his right hand inside. Atamifuji trapped it with his left and used the kotenage to push Wakatakakage backward. Atamifuji’s right arm was being held at bay by WTK’s left ottsuke. Atamifuji tried to change his attack from the left but that allowed Wakatakakage to seize his belt with an inside grip. Morozashi engaged, we had another big rig driver. Wakatakakage put his rig in drive and forced Atamifuji over the edge. Yorikiri.
Wakamotoharu (6-2) defeated Kirishima (4-4). Kirishima might be nursing an injury. After trading tsuppari briefly, both men locked on to each other’s belts with left hand inside, right hand outside grips. Wakamotoharu was in full control. Though Kirishima tried to topple Wakamotoharu, WMH virtually ignored Kirishima’s pressure and powered through. WMH forced Kirishima to the edge and then over. Yorikiri.
Takayasu (2-6) defeated Kotozakura (5-3). Kotozakura was not content to play edge games today. He grabbed Takayasu with a right hand inside hold of Takayasu’s trunk. While he tried to get the left hand grip on Takayasu’s belt, he shoved Takayasu toward the bales. Takayasu had his own firm right hand grip on Kotozakura’s belt. Sensing danger, he pivoted and used all of his might to throw Kotozakura. Shitatenage.
Onosato (7-1) defeated Hiradoumi (4-4). Hiradoumi attacked with a firm tachiai and locked onto Onosato’s belt with the right hand. Onosato shoved Hiradoumi and forced him back to the bales and over. Oshidashi.
Hoshoryu (8-0) defeated Gonoyama (0-8). Gonoyama had early control in this bout and pushed the Yokozuna back. Hoshoryu tried to use his right-hand hold for a sukuinage at the edge. Gonoyama retreated and Hoshoryu chugged ahead, shoving Gonoyama out. Oshidashi.
Wrap-up
Day 8 is in the books so let’s take a look at the leaderboard.
Hoshoryu picked up his kachi-koshi on nakabi and continues to lead the field in this yusho race. Onosato, Takanosho and Shodai are in the chase group. Shodai and Takanosho have certainly turned up their game a bit. I think Shodai was insulted earlier this tournament when he got two wins in a row…but no kensho. I remember one bout he went to do his sonkyo and tegatana and looked at the empty hands of the gyoji like, “really?” He needs to get those wins in order to have sponsors. Other than the one blemish on his record against Mitakeumi, he has been fighting well and appears to be more focused than in recent basho. “If you win it, they will come.”
Tomorrow, Shodai will fight Tobizaru and Takanosho will fight Midorifuji. Meanwhile, in sanyaku, Onosato will battle Wakamotoharu. We know Wakamotoharu likes to play edge games in retreat, so look for a confident Onosato to press forward and get a surprise as they near the bales…if WMH wants a kinboshi. Hoshoryu will fight Kotoshoho and Kotozakura will take on Atamifuji.
In our Tale of Two Ozeki Hopefuls, Wakatakakage will fight Kirishima. Wakatakakage really needs to be hot this week to clinch promotion. Kirishima, on the other hand, needs to get his head back in the game. The Komusubi bouts should be fun as Takayasu will fight Hakuoho and Abi will fight Aonishiki.
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Whew! Technique and strength displayed by Takayasu today. Really good to see even though neither rikishi is a favorite.
Kirishima is kind of collapsing again, I think you’re correct re injury Andy. Great summary as ever, thank you. Aonishiki has been taking some tsuppari the last few days, good to see it’s not fazing him overmuch, if at all WKTG has really got to focus, I’d like to see him reach the rank of Ozeki.
Not talking about either Yokozuna other than to say Hoshoryu is the more exciting (and nerve-shredding) fighter to watch.
Kirishima injured his right wrist at the summer jungyo. Mita’s broken left ring finger might account his henka on day seven, he got injured during the May tournament.
Why are we already looking to let Kirishima off the hook? The doubt has been etched on his face since his first loss, it is mental again. The shame of it is he IS good wrestler and has all the techniques, unlike the one-technique wonders who mostly populate megashira and range back and forth in mediocrity over bashos — like Atamifuji. Kirishima doesn’t need a trainer, he needs a sports shrink.
I think it is mental, yeah. He looked possibly the best of all the contestants up until that first loss and now he is just looking shaky. Maybe he does have some lingering injury but the mental aspect is definitely there.
Kotoshoho is obviously pretty badly injured, which is basically the story of his career: have a great showing then have a string of bad to mediocre ones after where he is nursing injuries.
Takayasu’s being doing this for a long time, kid.
Hiro Morita also asserted that Gonoyama started well but I don’t think Gonoyama was ever in control of this match. One of Hoshoryu’s standard game plans against a (habitually or even just momentarily) more forward-moving opponent is to work for a throwing position while being taken back toward the edge — “come into my parlor said the spider to the fly”. If you’re just moving him and not stifling his hands you’re riding for a fall.
I enjoyed the bus/big rig metaphors very much!
Thank you!
Good narratives from Andy .. Aonishiki put on a clinic today .. When your opponent is going crazy throwing pushes. slaps, nodowas and/or dancing in circles .. focus .. put your head down ., and grab his belt .. .. hang on and it will tame them down ..
It looked like that’s what Shishi did w Meisei .. although in slo mo .. he might even avoid the juryo barge, hang around and become the Ukrainian Ryuden ..
Some/most of these rikishi are like the tides .. ebb .. flow .. wax and wane .. high and low .. Shodai & Takanosho are in their periodic flow states .. Kotoshoho & Abi are back in their ebb states .. WTK and Kirishima need to decide which tide they want to ride .. Since most rikishi do this tidal thing to some degree .. the amazing ones are those that break the mold and remain at high tide ..
My bets for yusho are down to the two Yokozuna (that’s great!) .. and then Aonishiki .. then Takanosho .. or WTK .. Now watch Shodai get really motivated and take the cup! .
Shodai SEVEN-ONE on Nakabi, it comes with a glistening halo around it! Last time was 2020 (double), then back in 2015, Juryo. I‘m excited for the later outcome!
WTKG’s Ozeki run is over, sad to say because he’s been my guy since I started following Grand Sumo 5 years ago. Too many times he’s fallen into his bad habit, get stood up, pushed back and around, then out. Not Ozeki level sumo. Aonishiki Is my bet for the next Ozeki.
Agreed.