Natsu 2025 discussion (results)

[dingo 1,474]

I do think Aonishiki is very good, especially considering his relative inexperience. Is he the real deal? Depends on what's the definition. Yokozuna? I don't see him there. Ozeki? Perhaps but I'd have to see him more against joi and sanyaku opposition. Sanyaku? To me it seems more likely than not that he'd establish himself as one of the regulars. 

[Akinomaki 41,726]

2 minutes ago, dingo said:

I do think Aonishiki is very good, especially considering his relative inexperience. Is he the real deal? Depends on what's the definition. Yokozuna? I don't see him there. Ozeki? Perhaps but I'd have to see him more against joi and sanyaku opposition. Sanyaku? To me it seems more likely than not that he'd establish himself as one of the regulars. 

Look at his age and the short time he is in ozumo: considering his ability and the success he has already, yokozuna should only be a matter of time

[dingo 1,474]

3 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

Look at his age and the short time he is in ozumo: considering his ability and the success he has already, yokozuna should only be a matter of time

I agree that his success in such a short time in sumo is one of the main arguments why he can be very successful. I just tend to be cautious because there are so many elements that need to go right for someone to reach yokozuna. Perhaps in a year I'll change my mind. 

[shantan123 23]

19 minutes ago, dingo said:

I agree that his success in such a short time in sumo is one of the main arguments why he can be very successful. I just tend to be cautious because there are so many elements that need to go right for someone to reach yokozuna. Perhaps in a year I'll change my mind. 

I agree its still far too early to tell where his ceiling is. At times he looks so inexperienced. We will know more next year I think

[Kaninoyama 1,879]

Isegahama Oyakata is doing commentary duties on the NHK broadcast for a final time before retirement. 

[Akinomaki 41,726]

1 hour ago, Kaninoyama said:

Isegahama Oyakata is doing commentary duties on the NHK broadcast for a final time before retirement. 

In the end a hint about him continuing in Isegahama-beya: he'll go on instructing, so it looks like he found a kabu for Terunofuji - else he'll be coach like Harumafuji

Edited May 17 by Akinomaki

[Kishinoyama 623]

Aonishiki has impressed me so far. He gets very low but still has great balance. When he gets to the joi and faces the top guys multiple times, we will get an idea of his future ceiling. It will be interesting to see if he can adapt when he loses to other rikishi. 

[Hankegami 598]

I try to post it again. I was going to post the result of my (hand-searched) query "how many kinboshi did Yokozuna hand out after their 12 first bouts against Maegashira?" with Hoshoryu in mind, but my reply was forbidden for some weird reason. Anyway, I wanted to assess whether Hoshoryu's 5 kinboshi (with yesterday) were or not a bad look. Well, they are - but others did the same in the past. Mostly "disappointing", injury-plagued Yokozuna, but also a few surprising names such as Tochinishiki. The implications are that Hoshoryu can still reverse his course.

Spoiler

0 kinboshi after 12 M-bouts (10 Yokozuna, 20%): Tachiyama, Tochigiyama, Futabayama, Terukuni (1st kinboshi with 13th M-bout), Kitanofuji, Wajima, Hokutoumi, Takanohana II, Wakanohana III, Hakuho

1 kinboshi after 12 M-bouts (15 Yokozuna, 29%): Miyagiyama, Nishinoumi III (14th actual M-bout, two "draws"), Akinoumi, Azumafuji (2nd kinboshi with 13th M-bout), Chiyonoyama, Wakanohana I, Sadanoyama, Tamanoumi, Wakanohana II, Takanosato, Chiyonofuji, Asahifuji, Harumafuji, Kisenosato, Terunofuji

2 kinboshi after 12 M-bouts (17 Yokozuna, 33%): Onishiki (Uichiro), Tamanishiki, Minanogawa (up to 4 kinboshi by 14th M-bout), Haguroyama, Kagamisato, Yoshibayama, Asashio III, Kashiwado, Taiho, Kotozakura, Kitanoumi, Mienoumi (3rd kinboshi with 13th M-bout), Futahaguro, Akebono, Musashimaru, Asashoryu, Kakuryu

3 kinboshi after 12 M-bouts (3 Yokozuna, 6%): Otori, Nishinoumi II (just 11 career M-bouts), Tsunenohana (16th actual M-bout, four "draws")

4 kinboshi after 12 M-bouts (1 Yokozuna, 2%):  Tochinoumi

5 kinboshi after 12 M-bouts (5 Yokozuna, 10%): Musashiyama, Maedayama, Tochinishiki, Onokuni, Hoshoryu

That said, I add my comments after the just finished Day 7 of Natsu 2025.

From the earliest, low-ranked bouts (as usual), I begin with saying that roundball Kayo definitively turned a leaf on his basho. The guy began with a terrible 0-4, but he's 3-4 now. On the other side of the mirror, Nishikigi has started accumulating losses after his 5-0 start. I wonder whether also Kayo is set to become a striker like Nishikigi - borrowing Kintamayama's analysis from one of his most recent videos (don't remember if from yesterday or the other day, sorry). Also, Tamashoho keeps showing your typical elevator rikishi behaviour. He's faring really bad in Makuuchi, although he's good enough to be promoted with regularity. Shonannoumi gives his thanks.

Going on talking about the new blood now growing up in mid-Makuuchi, I was satisfied with most of them. Atamifuji won a very funny bout, as returning Kotoshoho really didn't want to get out. I believed more than once that he was going to pull it off at the end. Terribly persistent. Aonishiki keeps gifting his fans a lot of dreams. He's definitively talented and mature enough to hit the joi. And man, Hakuoho remains undefeated today also. He's the only guy capable to keep up with Onosato's pace - although I doubt he can stop him outright.

Now, before talking about the big guys... Ura!!! Since when he's used to work on the belt?!? Magnificent shitatedashinage against Tobizaru!! I am speechless.

Now, the joi. Tamawashi looks unfortunately out of gas. He's actually having a bad basho (2-5) but his fighting spirit masked it somehow. At least to me. Takayasu is also in a poor shape, and yet he pulled out a breathtaking uwatenage against Oho today. Yeah, Oho. Went on reverse Kayo, from 3-0 to 3-4. Strikes are fashionable this season. Going on, I am most glad that my boy Kirishima is on a good basho. More the same for Wakatakakage, who is now cruising 6-1 and perhaps we are sleeping a bit too much on him at the moment. And perhaps we were counting too much on Daieisho, whose hype is gradually fading.

And - the big three. Kotozakura is meh. He handed out Gonoyama his shonichi with ease. He can't stand aggressive attacks apparently. Onosato will be happy, much as he was happy to trash Takerufuji to his side. The Truck is still a powerhouse, but he keeps failing to deliver as much as he promises. Finally, Hoshoryu lives another day as he dispatched Hiradoumi.

As others have already noticed after Day 6, that's Onosato basho to lose. Most of the san'yaku is faring well, but they don't look up to the challenge mostly. The O/Y aside from Onosato are not making waves but can survive. More then that, I am most curious whether Wakatakakage, Hakuoho, and Aonishiki can bother Onosato at all. Neither of them has faced him yet, but their current position as leading dark horses might allow them to pull something funny when time comes. 

Edited May 17 by Hankegami

[RabidJohn 2,050]

2 hours ago, shantan123 said:

I agree its still far too early to tell where his ceiling is. At times he looks so inexperienced. We will know more next year I think

Yeah, he looks inexperienced because he lacks experience - still less than 2yrs in ozumo. I haven't forgotten that Onosato was still making some rookie errors at the end of last year. 

I always think a young rikishi's 1st basho in the joi is a very good indicator of potential, and Aonishiki should be up there in July

[Akinomaki 41,726]

On 15/05/2025 at 16:25, Akinomaki said:

On 12/01/2025 at 07:17, Akinomaki said:

Arashi Shoma (17, 190cm, 79kg), grandson of Mienoumi, was joint 2nd in the 2024 model audition for https://www.mensnonno.jp/information/503096/

As a child he did sumo and swimming

In primary school he was at wampaku tournaments each year and prepared for that at Musashigawa-beya. Mienoumi as oyakata was one to fling a bamboo sword during the spartan keiko at the heya, Musashimaru called him scary but Shoma thinks of him as a gentle person. Till middle school a Dragonball fan he would liked to have become a Saiya-jin - a fighter. Till then he thought to go into ozumo, but his Russian mother was against any type of fighting sport and Mienoumi also told him that with his long legs, he wasn't suited for sumo.

Arashi Shoma will be guest commentator on the Abema makuuchi broadcast on day 7

Shoma thinks that grandad Mienoumi is watching Abema (and not NHK) - but maybe only today, with his grandson there

Abema will post pics of him on the broadcast - this time I put them in the pic post tomorrow

[Suwihuto 144]

It looked like Takerafuji absolutely launched into Onosato today, and the Yozeki barely flinched, and threw him down with ease. He's looking ominously dominant, and some of these other pretenders of the last year or so now know where they need to aim for.

[dingo 1,474]

So much about Asakoryu's yusho chances huh As I thought, a snowball has a better chance in hell. 

Roga simply had more stamina than Ryuden and outlasted him in their extended bout.

Even at maegashira 10, Shodai is still hapless and fodder for almost everyone. A real mystery, considering he still sometimes gets fired up for important bouts. I wonder if the perspective of dropping to juryo will motivate him?

Likewise Midorifuji has to start looking over his shoulder as juryo is not that far if he continues his winless streak from his current M9 rank. I'm sure he's doing everything he can but the opposition is just too big, heavy and strong.

Uncharacteristically long bout for Ura but he seems to have good stamina and outmaneuvered Tobizaru in the end. Great bout between two of them.

Hakuoho the fridge resisted Ichiyamamoto's pushes until he got a good enough grip and that was it. Hakuoho is having a wonderful basho, I wonder how far can he take it?

Tamawashi keeps fighting valiantly but the joi is simply too high level for him. But even if he's heading for makekoshi this basho, he looks like he'll bounce back again next basho.

Way too easy win for Gonoyama against Kotozakura. Kotozakura had a really bad tachiai and never recovered. He should've expected a low and quick tachiai as that is Gonoyama's game but somehow he let him to exactly that.

Onosato nonchalantly takes care of Takerufuji as if it was easy Saturday afternoon exercise and not one of the best pushing attacks in ozumo. That was scarily good. 

[Benihana 1,971]

5 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

Yeah, he looks inexperienced because he lacks experience - still less than 2yrs in ozumo.

He did sumo from age 7 on, he did judo and freestyle wrestling. He's Ukrainian national champion (2021, age 17) in the 100kg class, the open class and with the team. He's European Champion in the 92kg class and 3rd at the World Junior Sumo Championship (both 2019, age 15). Sounds like quite a lot of experience. Damn, that 21yo pulled an uchimuso two days ago...

[Tigerboy1966 1,625]

Aonishiki is fast, aggressive, agile and skilful. His tachi-ai isn't great and he gets a bit low when he locks up which will make him vulnerable to slap downs etc, but those are technical issues that can be resolved by coaching. And he has a crafty old b*stard in his corner. Sanyaku by the end of 2025, ozeki by the end of 2026.

[warusawa 23]

You got to love Aonishiki's whole approach to ozumo. Demeanor, dedication, even learning Japanese so quickly. He is the real deal. Hakkaku understands this and complimented him recently. 

[Akinomaki 41,726]

3 hours ago, Suwihuto said:

It looked like Takerafuji absolutely launched into Onosato today, and the Yozeki barely flinched, and threw him down with ease. He's looking ominously dominant, and some of these other pretenders of the last year or so now know where they need to aim for.

They all know the script this basho

[Kotogouryuu 143]

5 hours ago, dingo said:

Onosato nonchalantly takes care of Takerufuji as if it was easy Saturday afternoon exercise and not one of the best pushing attacks in ozumo. That was scarily good. 

That was a thunderous slam, but not even the rhine that Takerufuji is could shake Onosato. The top guys are going to have to dig into their bag of tricks, because trying to match power with Onosato is not a good tactic.

[kedevash 44]

I'm surprised no one saw that Oho dislocated a finger on his left hand. He came out wincing. I hope it doesn't affect his basho. If it's put back in place right away and the ligaments aren't affected, it might...

[Sumo Spiffy 661]

I'm more concerned about Onokatsu limping.

[Gospodin 267]

19 hours ago, dingo said:

I do think Aonishiki is very good, especially considering his relative inexperience. Is he the real deal? Depends on what's the definition. Yokozuna? I don't see him there. Ozeki? Perhaps but I'd have to see him more against joi and sanyaku opposition. Sanyaku? To me it seems more likely than not that he'd establish himself as one of the regulars. 

Five years in Makuuchi without severe injuries.

[Jakusotsu 6,384]

Did my ears deceive me or has the announcer just called Toseiryu for both sides?

Edited May 18 by Jakusotsu

[Kaninoyama 1,879]

The question of the basho is quickly becoming: Who can stop Aonishiki? 

[hakutorizakura 688]

Lmao that henka dropped the gyoji 

[Kaninoyama 1,879]

7 minutes ago, hakutorizakura said:

Lmao that henka dropped the gyoji 

Unfortunately it didn't drop the Yokozuna. Disappointing effort by Takerufuji. 

[Hankegami 598]

Good nakabi, everyone! Sunday being Sunday, I got time so I am going to babble a lot.

The striker team goes on for another day down in low Makuuchi. Nishikigi managed to lose against Tamashoho (I mean, I like the guy, but... seriously?!) for his 3rd straight loss, while Kayo retreated and retreated until he could turn tables against Tokihayate and get his 4th straight win. Speaking about Tokihayate, he quite burnt himself after his promising first few days. A bit upper in the ranks, Asakoryu now sits 6-2 and is on a good position to catch his first Makuuchi KK finally. He's definitively doing better than in his previous showings (see here). Before this basho, he was 3-5 for the nakabi of Kyushu 2024 (his first in Makuuchi, at M17e), then 5-3 last basho. If he doesn't fold down like last time, he can hit 8 at last.

The young mid-Makuuchi promises had a bad day today, with the sole exception of Aonishiki who puffed and puffed and out he jeeted Tobizaru at the end. 7-1 and looking good all round. Atamifuji went on losing against an out-of-shape Shonannoumi despite controlling most of the match. Atamin is a lovely pudding boy but should be more cynical. His equally lovely pal Midorifuji is in even deeper trouble, first MK of the tournament and no win yet. The overall bad day of the Isegahama-Miyagino troupe is completed by Hakuoho losing against veteran Meisei. Great bout from Meisei, but a lot of people rooted for Hakuoho to mirror Onosato for a bit more time.

Let's speed up to the san'yaku. WakaBros fans will be happy today. WMH got a win against a fading Gonoyama - the boy is really doing bad. I guess he's injured, but I feel bad for him nonetheless. His little bro WTK also dispatched Oho and keeps cruising 7-1. Too bad he has yet to face Onosato despite his Komusubi rank (he already got Hosk and KZK, oddly enough). Well, we'll get a showdown sooner or later. Further on, the Sekiwake bout was convincingly won by Daieisho, who once more showed he would be a fine Ozeki were him to lose less casual bouts here and there.

Talking about the Y/O, we got a refreshing full sweep today. Ogresato Onosato just bulldozed out Hiradoumi, just another day at work for him. Kotozakura had to actually work to push 40-years-old Tamawashi out - he looks far less convincing than his 5-3 score suggests. Well, 3 more wins and he KKs. Finally, Hoshoryu won what definitively was the funniest bout of the day. Takerufuji tried to henka him but just managed to crush the gyoji down before being kokenage'd by the Yokozuna. Considering how much dangerous the Truck can be, I am glad Hosh passed this test as a Yok. Also, Takarafuji looks headed for a joi beating experience this time. He's a total powerhouse, but he must capitalize more on his skills now that everyone knows him up there.

Edited May 18 by Hankegami