Maezumo Shinjo Introductions are on Nakabi. The new recruits don borrowed kesho mawashi and climb the dohyo together, taking turns to stand for their introduction. Asahifuji is the much-hyped Isegahama recruit on the far left, then Tenshoyama, Seki and Takeda.
＜八日目の様子＞
— 日本相撲協会公式 (@sumokyokai) November 16, 2025
新序出世披露が行われました。
一月場所の番付より掲載されます。
左より
旭富士（伊勢ヶ濱）、天昇山（玉ノ井）、関（境川）、武田（中村）#sumo #相撲 #十一月場所 #九州場所 pic.twitter.com/mvBkYcHWeL
Nikkan Sports is among those calling him “the strongest recruit in history.” He’s basically been living and training at Isegahama-beya for four years while waiting for Terunofuji to retire, so he’s been honing his craft for a good while. But the rubber meets the road in January. I’m calling a Day One henka loss at the hands of Mongolian compatriot, Tenshoyama.
Fujiryoga easily defeated Tohakuryu, driving him backward and out to remain undefeated. Kachi-koshi acquired, Fujiryoga knows he will be sekitori in January and has the whole week to pick up more wins to propel himself higher up the banzuke. A zensho yusho will not allow him to leapfrog everyone and move directly into Makuuchi but it will move him toward the top of Juryo.
Asanoyama defeated Fujiseiun. Six straight wins has put him in a great place at the start of week two as he tries to climb back into the top division. Fujiseiun’s hopes are still alive, too. He just needs a kachi-koshi.
Makuuchi Action
Chiyoshoma (5-3) defeated Oshoumi (1-7). Henka! Oshoumi seemed to react well but Chiyoshoma stayed on the attack relentless with his slapdown attack. Eventually he dragged Oshoumi toward the bales and slapped Oshoumi down. Hatakikomi.
Nishikifuji (6-2) defeated Sadanoumi (2-6). Nishikifuji jumped Sadanoumi in a dark alley and blasted away with tsuppari until Sadanoumi left the ring. Oshidashi.
Hatsuyama (6-2) defeated Ryuden (4-4). Hatsuyama stood Ryuden up with strong tsuppari and then pulled, slapping Ryuden down. Hatakikomi.
Tokihayate (6-2) defeated Asakoryu (5-3). Tokihayate withstood Asakoryu’s attack and dragged him over to the edge of the ring. Both men tried to topple the other but Tokihayate had better balance and position. He got behind Asakoryu, grabbed his belt and shoved him forward, over the tawara. Okuridashi.
Mitakeumi (4-4) defeated Shonannoumi (2-6). Mitakeumi pushed Shonannoumi over the bales rather easily. Oshidashi.
Tomokaze (2-6) defeated Fujinokawa (6-2). Tomokaze gave Fujinokawa a few good slaps before wrapping his hands up behind Fujinokawa’s head for a slapdown. Hatakikomi.
Gonoyama (5-3) defeated Roga (4-4). Gonoyama blasted Roga at the tachiai and drove him straight back and over the edge. Oshidashi.
Midorifuji (3-5) defeated Shishi (2-6). Shishi was ready for Midorifuji’s katasukashi but he wasn’t paying attention when Midorifuji locked on with a left hand over arm grip. Midorifuji used that to drag Shishi down. Uwatedashinage.
Kotoshoho (5-3) defeated Churanoumi (4-4). Churanoumi pulled for a slapdown attempt but Kotoshoho pressed through it and shoved Churanoumi from the dohyo. Oshidashi.
Abi (3-5) defeated Daieisho (5-3). Abi of old here. Abi blasted Daieisho and did not let Daieisho attack. Abi hit Daieisho with a nodowa and forced him back and over the edge. Oshidashi.
Tobizaru (4-4) defeated Atamifuji (5-3). Tobizaru pulled and Atamifuji obliged, advancing toward the bales. At the edge, Tobizaru twisted to his left and used his left arm inside grip to pull Atamifuji down. Sukuinage.
Halftime
Ichiyamamoto (4-4) defeated Onokatsu (3-5). Ichiyamamoto’s “Phase One” attack overpowered Onokatsu, drove him back to the edge. Onokatsu tried to dance along the bales but clumsily touched outside of the ring with his right foot. Ichiyamamoto didn’t notice and “played to the whistle,” so even though Onokatsu let up, Ichiyamamoto continued his attack and drove him out (as he should). Oshidashi.
Kinbozan (3-5) defeated Shodai (3-5). Kinbozan hit Shodai. Shodai pivoted but Kinbozan followed to the left and drove Shodai out. Yorikiri.
Wakamotoharu (4-4) defeated Yoshinofuji (6-2). Yoshinofuji tried to blitz Wakamotoharu but Wakamotoharu resisted at the tawara and used his hidari-yotsu to force Yoshinofuji back. Yoshinofuji pivoted and tried a kubinage but Wakamotoharu stuck with him, drove him back and slammed him over the edge. Crucial to all of this was the fact that Yoshinofuji had attacked on one foot. He cannot put full weight on his right leg and his calf was heavily taped. As a result, his right leg spent most of the bout hovering in the air above the dohyo. We will watch the wires for a kyujo notice…but it probably won’t come. Oshitaoshi.
Wakatakakage (3-5) defeated Oshoma (3-5). Wakatakakage wrapped Oshoma with a bear hug, drove him back and over the bales. Yorikiri.
Sanyaku
Takanosho (2-6) defeated Kirishima (4-4). Takanosho staggered Kirishima with a powerful thrust to the chin. With Kirishima on the back foot, Takanosho kept his attack up and thrust Kirishima out of the ring. Tsukidashi.
Takayasu (5-3) defeated Hakuoho (3-5). Takayasu hit Hakuoho with a flurry of tsuppari, driving him back and out. Tsukidashi.
Aonishiki (7-1) defeated Oho (3-5). Aonishiki demonstrated patience. He was not going to be baited into a pull or make any mistakes. Aonishiki drove Oho to the edge. As they approached the tawara, Oho pivoted but Aonishiki shifted with him so his left foot stayed firmly in the dohyo and not in danger. As Oho went out, Aonishiki grabbed at his right leg. Watashikomi.
Kotozakura (3-5) defeated Hiradoumi (2-6). Hiradoumi drove forward to the bales. As they neared the edge, Kotozakura shifted right along the tawara and brought Hiradoumi’s left shoulder up while shoving his head down. Sukuinage.
Onosato (8-0) defeated Tamawashi (4-4). Tamawashi’s fierce tsuppari attack and brutal nodowa got Onosato moving backwards. This is where Onosato gets a bit reckless with his footing. Today, though, Onosato slapped Tamawashi down as he retreated along the tawara. Hatakikomi.
Hoshoryu (6-2) defeated Ura (3-5). Hoshoryu battered Ura and then pulled him forward. Ura stumbled by and Hoshoryu tried to push him out from behind. Ura, being Ura, did not give up at the edge and tried to escape to his left along the bales. Hoshoryu grabbed Ura’s leg and finished him off by throwing him off the dohyo. Ashitori.
Wrap-up
Today was probably the first day of the tournament where Onosato looked shakier than Hoshoryu, maybe even shakier than Kotozakura. Tamawashi was that close to picking up a Birthday kinboshi. You could tell he could taste it as he sat ringside after the bout with a thousand yard stare, contemplating what might have been.
Regardless, Onosato picked up his kachi-koshi and remains in sole possession of the lead. With Fujinokawa and Yoshinofuji losing today, Aonishiki is the only chaser with one loss. Hoshoryu leads a pack of five with two losses, joined by Yoshinofuji, Fujinokawa, Tokihayate, and Nishikifuji.
The Day Nine torikumi looks like this for our boys in sanyaku: Onosato will fight Oshoma tomorrow while Hoshoryu will take on Yoshinofuji. Takanosho will fight Kotozakura. Aonishiki will face Hiradoumi. Tamawashi will fight Oho and Takayasu will battle Wakatakakage.
Aonishiki probably has the toughest challenge here with Hiradoumi.
Meanwhile, the wife and I will take a class on how to make yuzu-kosho: the Hakuho of condiments. I’ll tell you how it goes. See you tomorrow!