Aki 2025 discussions (results)

[hakutorizakura 688]

This is Hosh's best start in his career, right? Finally a proper yokozuna basho (or at least the first half of it).

Takayasu almost got his opponent out/down using his butt again, oshirinage 

[Xiongmao 23]

8 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

The more I watch Aonishiki, the more he reminds me of Tochiazuma (today's guest on abema).

There are definitely similarities in style.

[Heather82Cs 10]

On 19/09/2025 at 22:44, Bunbukuchagama said:

Alas, this might remain his greatest accomplishment in ozumo.

The fact that the guy is funny? I mean he's in Makushita and he's 22, that doesn't sound laughable to me even if he's close to a MK right now.

[Octofuji 424]

On 18/09/2025 at 00:11, Benihana said:

Takarafuji is 1-3 from J12e. Looks like we might lose him very soon. He needs 1 more basho to complete the 100 (incl. maezumo). He's one of the few who didn't sit out a single day in their career and he's now at 1387 consecutive bouts. I hope he'll find the strenght to cling to juryo for one more basho, but i fear it's over.

He showed a lot of spirit and stamina today, 25 year old Nishinoryu could hardly get up after the bout.

At 4-4 two more wins might be enough if he gets some banzuke luck.

[dingo 1,473]

Half of the basho gone but lots of excitement still ahead.

There's life in Nishikigi yet! He finally got his first win, just after I lamented his lack of energy yesterday. It was quite surprising too, as I wouldn't have counted on Nishikigi beating Sadanoumi based on their both first 7 days. But Nishikigi used Sadanoumi's makikae attempt very cleverly against him and didn't leave much time or space for Sadanoumi to make a correction. Very solid win.

I guess Oshoma smelled Daieisho's weakness (or he just watched Kintamayama's videos, I don't know) and went straight for a pushing contest. I don't think he would've dared to do that if Daieisho was healthy. Anyway, his decision paid off as Daieisho in his current state is too easy prey for almost any upper maegashira.

Midorifuji put up a valiant fight against Onokatsu but still had to succumb to bigger body weight and strength. Too often when I see Midorifuji fight I almost wish he was 10cm taller and 30kg heavier. His effort is admirable but it's almost always an uphill fight for him.

Interesting decision in the Kinbozan-Ichiyamamoto fight. I would've thought they'd go for a torinaoshi as it was really close. I guess it was one of those days when the shimpan actually remembered to invoke all the dead body and kabaite rules all at once. Good for the shimpan I guess, not so good for Ichiyamamoto who on another day could've been let off.

Wakamotoharu got his momentum going from the tachiai thanks to a henka and never stopped. Kirishima has unfortunately switched places with Hitoshi, getting 4 losses in a row whereas the makuuchi rookie has gained 4 wins. Did Hitoshi sneak a voodoo doll under Kirishima's pillow to steal his mojo or what?

Kotozakura perhaps thought if a sideways move worked for Wakamotoharu, why not for me? However he didn't follow up with enough forwards movement and gave enough time to Takayasu to get other ideas. One of which was a wonderful hip-assisted throw to down the ozeki. It's great to see Takayasu hasn't given up yet this basho and has a few ex-ozeki tips to share with the current one.

The bulldozer was full steam today as Onosato simply rolled over Hiradoumi, no questions asked. Second overwhelming win in a row. Yesterday against Gonoyama was expected but today against Hiradoumi was quite impressive.

Speaking of Gonoyama, he almost gave a nice surprise for Hoshoryu and a gift to Onosato. Another basho maybe he would've succeeded but this basho Gonoyama seems too depleted and Hoshoryu too determined to give up such a simple loss. But still, the signs that Hoshoryu is not invulnerable have been there. Let's see if he can last the distance.

[Akinomaki 41,718]

8 hours ago, hakutorizakura said:

This is Hosh's best start in his career, right? Finally a proper yokozuna basho (or at least the first half of it

Yes, first time straight pay rise/(mochi-)kyukin for him - the proper idiom for 8-0

[Tigerboy1966 1,625]

There could be some second-week scheduling fun in sandanme where four of the nine 4-0 wrestlers are from Kise stable.

[Gurowake 4,145]

On 19/09/2025 at 17:53, Gospodin said:

Abi is already quite deep into his sunset. His arms are shot. He will not be much more successful further down in the next basho. Typical oshi-fate, or whatever you want to call it.

Maybe he should take some time off, drop down to Jonokuchi, and try to complete the full set of divisional Yusho, as that's the only one he's missing.

[kedevash 44]

Onosatons power is incredible...Even with a good maemitsu grip Hiradouli can't do nothing when Onosato decide to just move forward.

Hoshoryu is undefeated but he always seems to be on the edge on his bouts. His acrobat's skills give him the win but until when?

Aonishiki continues to impress me. Where is the limit for him? 

 

[just_some_guy 308]

10 hours ago, hakutorizakura said:

Takayasu almost got his opponent out/down using his butt again, oshirinage 

I believe the kimarite would be "tushipushi."

[Akinomaki 41,718]

1 hour ago, kedevash said:

Aonishiki continues to impress me. Where is the limit for him? 

Kotokaze in his Hochi column wrote, seems the wall for him doesn't exist, on Abema the usual phrase for a top prospect is used, he's getting stronger each morning he rises

[Morty 1,518]

4 hours ago, dingo said:

Midorifuji put up a valiant fight against Onokatsu but still had to succumb to bigger body weight and strength. Too often when I see Midorifuji fight I almost wish he was 10cm taller and 30kg heavier. His effort is admirable but it's almost always an uphill fight for him.

 

 

I've said this a couple of times before. I reckon he'd be Ozeki level with that extra height and weight. The commentator yesterday (Hiro Morita?) talked in that particular bout about the lack of weight classes in sumo and how Midorifuji was just beaten because Onokatsu was the larger man. 

[dingo 1,473]

4 hours ago, Morty said:

I've said this a couple of times before. I reckon he'd be Ozeki level with that extra height and weight. The commentator yesterday (Hiro Morita?) talked in that particular bout about the lack of weight classes in sumo and how Midorifuji was just beaten because Onokatsu was the larger man. 

For me lack of weight classes is one of the attractions of sumo, even though at the same time it condemns the smaller rikishi at best to an occasional sanyaku appearance. And it takes a huge toll on their bodies, like it has done on Enho. I suppose Chiyonofuji and Harumafuji are more or less the lowest margin of body size to make ozeki and yokozuna, though I might be missing someone from further down sumo history. Still, at the same time it's spectacular seeing a smaller rikishi winning like Fujinokawa did with his kakenage yesterday. 

[Jakusotsu 6,382]

Losing by yorikiri against Tomokaze of all people? Quite pathetic, Mitakeumi...

edit: hmmm, they called it oshidashi - for stats sake, I guess

Edited September 22 by Jakusotsu

[Leoben 168]

Hoshoryu keeps winning, but he won't be happy with how he's doing it. Instead of thrusting to earn the position he kept reaching for the belt and failing. Lucky he didn't lose today, again.

Edited September 22 by Leoben

[RabidJohn 2,048]

5 hours ago, dingo said:

For me lack of weight classes is one of the attractions of sumo, even though at the same time it condemns the smaller rikishi at best to an occasional sanyaku appearance. And it takes a huge toll on their bodies, like it has done on Enho. I suppose Chiyonofuji and Harumafuji are more or less the lowest margin of body size to make ozeki and yokozuna, though I might be missing someone from further down sumo history. Still, at the same time it's spectacular seeing a smaller rikishi winning like Fujinokawa did with his kakenage yesterday. 

I agree with nearly all of that, but Chiyonofuji and Harumafuji were not the kind of small being discussed. They were comparatively lightweight, for sure, but they both had height and reach going for them in a way that short rikishi like Midorifuji and Asakoryu don't. 

Takakeisho did far better than someone his height reasonably should have, but his way also took a huge toll on his dinky frame.

---

Both yokozuna channeling Houdini today, and in completely different ways. Hoshoryu's recovery from dodgy footwork was pretty good, even though he shouldn't have slipped in the first place, but Onosato's ability to turn on bulldozer mode from such a disadvantaged position actually made me laugh: he is just so ridiculously powerful.

[Yamanashi 4,058]

1) Classic Flying Monkey: Tobizaru gets pushed into the crowd and looks for the camera.

2) Q.  You know what they call it when Hoshoryu has to fight back to get a win?  A.  A win.

[Benihana 1,970]

12 hours ago, dingo said:

I suppose Chiyonofuji and Harumafuji are more or less the lowest margin of body size to make ozeki and yokozuna, though I might be missing someone from further down sumo history. 

Hoshoryu: Am i a joke to you?

What separates Yokozunae from the peasentry, is to win such bouts where lesser men would fail.

The way Onosato moved Wakamotoharu...from that unfavourable position...as if Wakamotoharu weighed nothing...the magic numbers are 45/15. Anyone know where i can bet on that?

Shodai chose violence. I wish he would choose that more often.

Edited September 22 by Benihana

[Octofuji 424]

3 minutes ago, Benihana said:

Hoshoryu: Am i a joke to you?

Hoshoryu weighs about the same as Hakuho. Granted he looks smaller.

[Benihana 1,970]

2 minutes ago, Octofuji said:

Hoshoryu weighs about the same as Hakuho. Granted he looks smaller.

WTF? I must have missed the last weigh-ins. In my head he still was on par with Harumafuji. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Asashosakari 20,207]

I forgot to mention it yesterday, but Hoshoryu - Gonoyama was the first 7-0 vs 0-7 matchup in almost 20 years.

Edit: For completeness, there were four matches in between that could have been 7-0 vs 0-7 as they were originally scheduled at 6-0 vs 0-6, but either the zensho guy lost on Day 7 or the zenpai guy won, ahead of their meeting:

2006.11 O1e Chiyotaikai (6-1) vs K1w Kokkai (0-7) actually the same basho as the most recent 7-0 vs 0-7
2007.05 O3w Chiyotaikai (6-1) vs M3w Kakizoe (0-7)
2010.03 S1e Baruto (7-0) vs M2e Kyokutenho (1-6)
2013.05 O1w Kakuryu (7-0) vs K1w Okinoumi (1-6)

Edited Monday at 18:38 by Asashosakari

[dingo 1,473]

Everyone is already talking about the cool yokozuna bouts so just a few quick thoughts about a few others. 

Oshoma looked like he was about to ruin Fujinokawa's arm. Given a choice between losing 1 bout or losing 1 arm I suppose the decision was easy for Fujinokawa.

I would never have expected Midorifuji to beat Takanosho this basho, yet guess what happened... Takanosho was totally unprepared for small rikishi sumo whereas Midorifuji came with a simple plan and executed it well.

Kotozakura looks decent. Maybe even decent enough for a double digit kachikoshi. The more difficult bouts are still in front of him though so he'd better get those magic 8 wins as soon as possible.

[Jakusotsu 6,382]

30 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

I forgot to mention it yesterday, but Hoshoryu - Gonoyama was the first 7-0 vs 0-7 matchup in almost 20 years.

Yeah, we noticed that in the German chatroom, and then realized that Tochinishiki was the only one ever to go from 0-7 to 8-7.

[lackmaker 454]

4 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

You know what they call it when Hoshoryu has to fight back to get a win?  A.  A win.

Recently he would have been losing one or two of those bouts. So signs of improvement maybe?

[Jakusotsu 6,382]

20 minutes ago, lackmaker said:

Recently he would have been losing one or two of those bouts. So signs of improvement maybe?

Statistical outliers perhaps? You can't deny he got quite lucky in some of those wins.