Check out Leonid’s update on the Makushita race. I was bummed to see Enho lose the other day but he faced a stiff challenge in Kazuma. Seihakuho could also make it to sekitori before long. No news to report on the kyujo front in either of the sekitori divisions. Fujiryoga continues to steamroll through Juryo and stands at 7-0. Shirokuma and Daiseizan chase with one loss. Fujiryoga will fight Tohakuryu tomorrow while Shirokuma will face Shiden and Daiseizan will fight Kotoeiho.
＜七日目の様子＞
— 日本相撲協会公式 (@sumokyokai) November 15, 2025
十両取組
藤凌駕（７勝）押し出し 若ノ勝（３勝４敗）#sumo #相撲 #十一月場所 #九州場所 pic.twitter.com/eLKVofYVVw
Makuuchi Action
Nishikifuji (5-2) defeated Asakoryu (5-2). Henka! Asakoryu jumped to the left but Nishikifuji caught him. Asakoryu followed up with a blitzing and shoving attack which Nishikifuji withstood and then began his own attack. Asakoryu spent much of the rest of the bout in retreat around the edge of the ring until Nishikifuji caught up and shoved him out. Yorikiri.
Asanoyama (Juryo 5-2) defeated Tokihayate (5-2). Asanoyama fought hard to get his right hand inside Tokihayate’s left. Tokihayate, like Asakoryu, entered retreat mode and Asanoyama used that hard-earned right hand inside to usher him over the bales. Asanoyama supporters were out with their hand towels, delighted in his victory. Asanoyama is determined to earn his return to makuuchi this tournament. Yorikiri.
Sadanoumi (2-5) defeated Ryuden (4-3). Sadanoumi acquired a morozashi, double-inside grip, lifted, and drove Ryuden back and out. Yorikiri.
Chiyoshoma (4-3) defeated Mitakeumi (3-4). This was a one-sided affair as Chiyoshoma attacked Mitakeumi, drove him to the edge, got a morozashi and lifted the former Ozeki out. I had chosen a good bout to watch from the kitchen while getting tea. Yorikiri.
Roga (4-3) defeated Oshoumi (1-6). Roga locked in quickly on the newbie with his left hand over-arm grip (uwate). When he locked on with the right hand inside, he rolled clockwise and hauled Oshoumi down to the clay. Uwatenage.
Shishi (2-5) defeated Shonannoumi (2-5). Shishi buried his head in Shonannoumi’s breast and followed him everywhere he went. When Shonannoumi grew tired of this Kuato, he pulled again and Shishi walked him over the bales. Yorikiri.
Gonoyama (4-3) defeated Kotoshoho (4-3). Gonoyama kept pace with Kotoshoho’s retreating style. At the bales, Gonoyama shoved Kotoshoho out. Oshidashi.
Daieisho (5-2) defeated Tomokaze (1-6). Tomokaze pulled and Daieisho drove him out. No pivot, no win. Oshidashi.
Fujinokawa (6-1) defeated Tobizaru (3-4). Fujinokawa resisted Tobizaru’s twisting throw attempt and used his right hand inside to shove Tobizaru over the bales. Oshitaoshi.
Churanoumi (4-3) defeated Abi (2-5). Abi grabbed a hold of Churanoumi’s arm and pulled him toward the edge. It wasn’t a firm grip, though. When Churanoumi took his hand back, Abi let up because knew he was cooked. Churanoumi gently finished Abi off with a shove from behind. Okuradashi.
Onokatsu (3-4) defeated Midorifuji (2-5). Onokatsu deliberated the kimedashi hold but that would give Midorifuji a dangerous morozashi. Onokatsu then resolved to work his right hand inside. Migi-yotsu. With his firm hold, Onokatsu followed Midorifuji everywhere he went. Midorifuji missed a step and his leg finally gave out in retreat. Onokatsu rode him to the ground. Yoritaoshi.
Halftime
Kinbozan (2-5) defeated Atamifuji (5-2). Kinbozan quickly locked on to Atamifuji’s belt, pivoted on his left foot and dumped Atamifuji on the tawara. Uwatenage.
Shodai defeated Ichiyamamoto. With a right hand inside grip, Shodai entered attack mode and hauled Ichiyamamoto over to the bales. Ichiyamamoto scampered right along the bales trying to lose him but Shodai kept up. Ichiyamamoto gave a half turn to twist and get away but Shodai was determined and drove Ichiayamamoto out, delighting the home crowd. Shodai is from Kumamoto prefecture. Yorikiri.
Yoshinofuji (6-1) defeated Hiradoumi (2-5). Hiradoumi showed now ill effects after getting hit by a truck yesterday. Yoshinofuji was too strong, though. He forced Hiradoumi to the edge. When Hiradoumi resisted at the bales, he twisted and hauled Hiradoumi around with his left hand uwate. He tried to get Hiradoumi down with his big paw on Hiradoumi’s head but settled for shoving him out. Yorikiri.
Hakuoho (3-4) defeated Oshoma (3-4). Solid yotsu from Hakuoho as he drove Oshoma back with his left hand inside. Yorikiri.
Sanyaku
Wakatakakage (2-5) defeated Takanosho (1-6). Once Wakatakakage withstood Takanosho’s initial driving attack, Takanosho really didn’t have a follow-up. WTK resisted at the bales and drove his way forward, settling with Takanosho’s heels on the bales at the opposite side of the ring. After a bit of a lean, Wakatakakage twisted and knocked Takanosho in the right shoulder, causing Takanosho to stumble to the left. Wakatakakage easily shoved him out from behind. Okuridashi.
Kirishima (4-3) defeated Oho (3-4). This was a great brawl. A fairly even matched exchange of tsuppari, and some headbutts. Kirishima finally got his right hand inside Oho’s left arm and drove Oho back to the bales. When Oho resisted, Kirishima then twisted and forcefully threw him to the ground. Oshitaoshi.
Aonishiki (6-1) defeated Takayasu (4-3). This was a great, spirited fight. Lots of tsuppari, twists and feints. Takayasu got a right hand uwate and tried to haul Aonishiki over the bales but Aonishiki tripped him up just enough to cause Takayasu to stumble a bit. Aonishiki used his own left hand inside grip to push Takayasu over the bales first. Yorikiri.
Wakamotoharu (2-5) defeated Kotozakura (3-4). A bout that Kotozakura could not lose, and he lost it. Kotozakura pressed forward with his right hand inside. But Wakamotoharu pivoted at the edge and used his left hand uwate to dump the Ozeki to the ground. Uwatenage.
Hoshoryu (5-2) defeated Tamawashi (4-3). Hoshoryu fought like a Tamawashi-clone, both men hitting the other with brutal thrusts as they twisted and brawled around the ring. Like a pair of Tasmanian Devils, the two blasted each other until they both stood, rather gassed, opposite each other at the center of the ring. Hoshoryu seemed to taunt Tamawashi. “Well, bring it old man.” Tamawashi obliged and engaged for a final charge but Hoshoryu locked him up with his right hand inside and easily drove the exhausted Tamawashi back and out. Yorikiri.
Onosato (7-0) defeated Ura (3-4). Ura showed that you have to get low to drive Onosato back. Ura tried to get Onosato’s leg but missed and had to settle for the belt. Onosato reached over Ura for the back of his belt and pulled. He had enough space behind him to run Ura to ground before leaving the dohyo himself. Uwatehineri.
Wrap-up
Even in the loss, Tamawashi draws level with Kaio, tied for second place all-time with 1444 bouts in the top division. Only Kyokutenho has more (1470). Tamawashi is on pace to break Kyokutenho’s record in Osaka next year.
I feel like Hoshoryu won their bout because he was patient and didn’t try to rush anything. None of Tamawashi’s parries were able to shake the Yokozuna. But Hoshoryu had more gas in the tank. He will need to refuel to be ready to face Ura tomorrow on Nakabi in the musubi-no-ichiban.
Onosato will take his turn to fight Tamawashi as Tamawashi takes sole possession of second place in his 1445th makuuchi bout.
If Kotozakura shows up tomorrow, he will fight Hiradoumi. The Ozeki is digging a massive hole for himself which is likely already impossible for him to climb out of. He needs six wins in eight days against the heart of his schedule…just to avoid kadoban.
Aonishiki will fight Oho, Hakuoho will fight Takayasu, and Takanosho will give it the old college try against Kirishima.
There are two rank-and-filers tied with Aonishiki, Yoshinofuji and Fujinokawa. Fujinokawa will fight Tomokaze who withered quickly against Daieisho today. Tougher fights will likely come in the following days. Yoshinofuji on the other hand, is already in the thick of it. He will fight Wakamotoharu tomorrow.
See you on Nakabi!
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And here‘s the list:
http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&columns=6&n_basho=1&show_total=on&sum_wins=36&sum_range=6&form1_year=2025&form1_month=1&sort_by=sum_total
and again the link isn’t where it should belong, which is my older post further below about Onosato, Aonishiki, Yoshinofuji and Fujinokawa leading not only this basho, but also the „2025 open ranking“.
And tomorrow Tamawashi also has his birthday. Now all he has to do is to go and get his birthday present by beating Onosato. I wonder whether anyone realized this when the banzuke was made.
Does Kadoban mean that Kotozakura will be demoted with a losing record this basho? Or would it just put him on notice for the next one? I wish he had just gone kyujo and come back at somewhere approaching full health in January.
Kadoban means that an Ozeki is at risk of demotion if they don’t get at least eight wins (a kachi-koshi) in the tournament following the one where they had a losing record.
Basically, ‘we’ll give you a pass on this one, and this one only’.
Kotozakura has narrowly avoided kadoban status in the last couple of tournaments at least, scraping a kachi-koshi at the last minute. It might well be more than two tournaments, I can’t remember.
Kotozakura has been Hachinana (8-7) most of the year since he went Kadoban in January, with a 9-6 last time, a disappointing Ozeki performance to say the least.
If he has a losing record this tournament, he will still be Ozeki in January but he will be kadoban, or “on notice”, that another losing record will demote him to Sekiwake in March. I agree, kyujo may have been a good idea.
Further stage: If a wrestler achieves at least 10 wins in the first tournament after being demoted from Ozeki to Sekiwake, then he gets re-promoted to Ozeki. (That was the case for ex-Takakeisho in September 2019, when he was immediately re-promoted to Ozeki with 12 wins. More recently, in July 2024, Kirishima failed to achieve immediate return to Ozeki.)
Andy, wonderful descriptive match recaps, as usual, but think you swapped records with Kotozakura and WTK. Maybe you needed a stronger cup of tea from the earlier matches.
One cruel 41st birthday present for Tamawashi, but the kinboshi leader could be ready for another.
Oops, I meant WMH, not his brother
We have to give Ura kudos and points for his fight against Onosato today. He stayed in it longer and just didn’t get pushed back and flung out like all the rest. Would have been an amazing conclusion to today’s great day of Sumo, had Ura’s final push run have lasted just a second longer! Despite Ura’s loss, this left me with a good feeling.
Fun stats: our four leaders of the basho are also the leaders when it comes to wins in the year 2025 (a remark for oldies but goldies: I had difficulties not to write „in the year 2525“).
True, there are juryo victories counted for the three 6-1 rikishi. But I think it still proves that they belong to the in-form fighters.
My brother listened to that 45 endlessly, Zager & Evans? Oldie but goldie for sure!!
Interesting statistic herbern!
I thought I inadvertently bumped up the playback speed for the Fujinokawa bout.
That was a great day of sumo. It seemed like a lot of the wrestlers were hitting their physical condition peak. But attrition is lurking!
Yes, Sadanoumi exhausted, WTK in pains, Abi out of the game, Kotozakura longing for kyujo – and so on. Even a day before Nakabi.
It‘s good to see some healthy and obviously spirited Shodai next to the young cannons.
Incredibly fun matches from the yokozuna today. Between Hoshoryu staring down Tamawashi and Onosato realizing Ura’s not getting blown off the dohyo and is still trying to grab his leg, I had a lot of fun watching.
Wow! when Onosato started retreat and pull, I almost yelled That’ It~! Maybe, this match gives out Aonishiki some hint facing Onosato. Go lower, and more lower!
Ironman almost got Hosh at the initial tachiai. That was real fun match between two men, mano-a-mano. Regardless W-L, Hosh is a real Yokosuna tha sumo needs now. Hosh always bring excitements in this sports.
What a match between Aonishiki vs Old bear! At least twice, Bear had him. In this basho, opponents bring out Aonishiki’s strength and weakness that I didn’t see before. But I always see the grit inside him.. which I don’t see from current ozeki.
I would say 12 W this basho will certainly start the discussion of the new ozeki.
It’s good to see Kirishima leading w his head for his attacks .. it opens up more sumo moves for him than reaching, shoving and dodging .. perhaps his neck/back are healthier .. i’d like to see him return to being a worthy sanyaku ..
I agree .. Ura illuminated a possible chink in Onosato’s sumor armor ..stay low + threaten/ attack his legs .. this was not one of Onosato’s east-west-sumo road kill matches .. His dominance starts w great foot work .. threatening to neutralize that strength may be a workable strategy ..
Hoshoryu showed his counter-move skill + speed today .. my read of his stand off w Tamawashi was .. “whatever you try, i can counter before you can do anything about it” .. He was correct ..
Who here coined “lumberati” the other day? It’s all I could think about watching that Shishi Shonanoumi match 😂🤣
If you thought you had the playback speed turned up on accident for the Fujinokawa bout, this was the exact opposite.
I think that was jmotzi, iirc?
I want to talk Hakuoho. This has to be the best 3-4 I’ve seen. Each of his losses were great efforts and he was right there in all of them. Keep your focus young man, I’m not gonna be surprised when he gets double digits as he storms through week 2. Hope i don’t jinx anything, but he should have Takanosho’s komosubi spot easily. It’s there for the taking.
… by Yoshinofuji. Well, at least now. But U may be right and a 3-4 after having met all sanyaku rikishi is worth more than former Kusano‘s 6-1 with no sanyaku opponents.
It could be that it will be decided in their direct bout. Or there could be place for both as Oho is also 3-4, but has met only one sanyaku. Anyway the two of them are exciting young additions to the upper ranks who will stay there (if healthy).
Yes, i like the former Kusano a lot. Gonna take me at least another basho to wrap my tongue around his new shikona