Aki 2025 discussions (results)

[Fashiritētā 210]

Aonshiki blocking Hoshoryus throw was a thing of beauty.

[dingo 1,473]

What a day full of exciting sumo! 

Shodai the eternal mystery. Beats Aonishiki on one day and loses to Ryuden on the next. What's going on there I'll never know. I suppose he's taking his time with the next ozeki run? Not a run even, more like a casual jog.

Ura vs Tobizaru is always entertaining and sure enough there was a flurry of hands and stance changes today. Rather simple pulldown in the end for a deserved kachikoshi for Ura.

Sadanoumi outsmarted Kinbozan to keep his hope to remain in makuuchi alive. Great wily veteran sumo.

Churanoumi looks much better this basho than during the last few. Good win over Kusano today for an early kachikoshi. Though he seems an elevator rikishi type so next basho I won't bet on him.

I didn't expect Daieisho to make it to 8 wins this basho but he's been proving me wrong these days. At 6-6 and looking much better he has a good chance.

Hakuoho got a first hand experience of the Tamawashi special. Even though he doesn't seem to have much of a neck, Tamawashi's nodowa was still very effective. That win against Onosato seems so far away now.

I know I don't need to repeat it here in this forum, but I can't help it -- Aonishiki is amazing! The way he latches on to his opponent and just doesn't let go speaks volumes of his tenacity and strength. Hoshoryu did his best but was outplayed with an outstanding counter to the yokozuna's throw attempt. The future is really bright for the young Ukrainian. For Hoshoryu it's not going to get easier as he's up against Kotozakura tomorrow. I know a kachikoshi ozeki who's not in running for the yusho is usually not the most motivated opponent, but I have feeling those two have their own story going. 

[Hankegami 598]

Good Day 12, everyone!

Shishi already got his KK after his unremarkable last two showings still in the lower Maegashira ranks (4-11 at M11w; 7-8 M17w). He even has 3 days to go to further pump up his final result. I am quite fond of every westerner in sumo, so I am most glad of his achievement. Hope he's set to stay in Makuuchi for some while now. Also, despite his loss against Shishi, as @RabidJohn has pointed out, Mitakeumi still has some stamina in the tank. I hope it comes handful, since he's now 5-7 and he can still, well... I doubt a KK, but a soft MK is still in the cards for him.

And... Shodai reverted to his old lower Maegashira self already, by losing to Ryuden of all people. I mean, I get losing against someone, but please not crash out one of the best belt gamers in the field just to lose against some average guy. Thanks in advance, Shottie. By the way, he's up against Kirishima for tomorrow - so the Committee was expecting for him to win today. Wonderful. Now, knowing Shodai as we all do, I expect him to handle Kirby his MK.

Honor mention to Gonoyama for his first win this basho! Happy for him, both because a 0-15 is always a awful sight, but also because he's mathematically safe from demotion to Juryo. Open some sparkly wine at the heya tonight, kid!

Finally, the Y/O. Unfortunate loss for Kotozakura. He had Takanosho more than once, but he failed to end the job. However, this shows he's still in an ok shape and can be dangerous in the last three days (tomorrow Hoshoryu). Onosato... well, he's the usual. Off went Kirby. And, of course, Hoshoryu Aonishiki, my boy! Still got the Nephew's number! Great, great bout!

That said, let's talk about the current arasoi. Hoshoryu got caught up, and he's getting an uneasy final sketch. Tomorrow he will get Kotozakura ( 14-9 ), a problematic opponent whether in a good shape. Their record has a streak-ish pattern, and they almost take turns to be the other's daddy. Hoshoryu is getting the part as of late, but the last time he went against a good KZK (2024.11) he famously lost. His Day 14 bout will be probably decided by the winner of Takanosho vs. Aonishiki tomorrow. If Takanosho wins, he will get paired up against the Yokozuna (Onosato most likely being slated against KZK). Otherwise, WTK is on the menu as per tradition. I'm a bit crossed that the Committee is endangering Aonishiki's (9-3) result instead of pairing Takanosho against Onosato, but I guess they didn't expect KZK to lose. Can't be helped.

5 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

It's starting to look like he won't need to force a sekiwake slot for Kyushu, but it's well within his ability to put up the numbers anyway. His match today with Hoshoryu was just great. While it ended in a nominal upset, it wasn't at all disappointing, and no shade on the yokozuna for losing that one.

What is it about Onosato that makes Kirishima lose the plot? I know he's not that bad, but his experience seems to desert him. 8-0 h2h now...

Looks like that. Both Wakatakakage (6-6) and Kirishima (5-7) are in a precarious position now. The latter, in particular, is just one loss away from demotion, being S1w with no room for a pseudo-demotion within the rank. On the other hand, Kirby has already done his san'yaku duty and can still save himself by winning over against Maegashira joi. Bad news: he plays gatekeeper against Shodai tomorrow. Terribly dangerous.

About his performance today, I don't think it was bad actually. Onosato (191 kg) is just unplayable below 150 kg of mass. He tossed out Aonishiki (138 kg in May), Wakamotoharu (147 kg), and Kirishima himself (147 kg), and plowed the dohyo with Hiradoumi (137 kg). His only loss up to this moment has been against the bulkier Hakuoho (159 kg), and daddy Hoshoryu is also above that tipping point (150 kg). Other wrestlers who gave him some degree of scare include Tamawashi (181 kg), Oho (178 kg) and Takayasu (176 kg). Also, Hoshoryu has definitively the better footwork. Kirishima was actually doing well, standing on his ground and parrying Onosato's shoves while looking for an opening... that is, until that last shove that jeeted him on the ropes. In short, Kirby must take on some 5 kg more if he wants to get a chance against Onosato at any time - although he has more pressing issues at the moment than breaking his duck against the Yokozuna.

Edited Thursday at 16:02 by Hankegami

[Gospodin 267]

2 hours ago, Fashiritētā said:

Aonshiki blocking Hoshoryus throw was a thing of beauty.

Having been sat on his butt - I can imagine Hoshoryu felt a little embarassed. 

[Benihana 1,970]

Aonishiki won 5 of 6 sanyaku bouts. Last basho it was 5 of 7, Natsu was 0/3 and Haru 1/2. That's a combined 11/17. After 4 basho in makuuchi in total. Not many do that. Onosato had 0/3, 4/6, 5/6 and 4/6 = 13/21. Asashoryu 9/22, Hakuho 14/23...but not straight from their debut.

A japanese/mongolian/ukrainian triumvirate maybe? Please?

[Chiyozakura 163]

1 hour ago, Benihana said:

Aonishiki won 5 of 6 sanyaku bouts. Last basho it was 5 of 7, Natsu was 0/3 and Haru 1/2. That's a combined 11/17. After 4 basho in makuuchi in total. Not many do that. Onosato had 0/3, 4/6, 5/6 and 4/6 = 13/21. Asashoryu 9/22, Hakuho 14/23...but not straight from their debut.

A japanese/mongolian/ukrainian triumvirate maybe? Please?

In general I do not give too much about these kind of numbers as they always depend on the competition. If Aonishiki had come up in the mid 90's with Akebono, Takanohana, Wakanohana, Musashimaru and Takanonami on top of their games, even easily holding someone like Kaio back who after the top5 declined became one of the best Ozeki in history, he probably would have had some more losses. Right now he faces two new Yokozuna who are not established in their ranks, yet, and a struggling Ozeki in Kotozakura. And that is it of top level rikishi. That makes it easier. Still the way he is fighting shows he already is on Ozeki level and, barring injury, should make it in Kyushu. And unlike other recent Ozeki he definitely has the potential to take that next step towards Yokozuna-hood. He is simpy that good.

[Dairenzu 10]

Don't know if its been mentioned, but the thing I am most invested in outside the yusho race is Sadanoumi holding on to his makuuchi spot. He is at 59 M basho and definitely seems like a guy who would like to be a shisho. If he does go down he would have a great chance at getting back up, but at his age you never know. Yesterday was a huge huge win and one more should wrap it up.

[dingo 1,473]

2 hours ago, Dairenzu said:

Don't know if its been mentioned, but the thing I am most invested in outside the yusho race is Sadanoumi holding on to his makuuchi spot. He is at 59 M basho and definitely seems like a guy who would like to be a shisho. If he does go down he would have a great chance at getting back up, but at his age you never know. Yesterday was a huge huge win and one more should wrap it up.

I'm definitely keeping an eye on Sadanoumi and am also rooting for him to stay in makuuchi. I didn't realise it's his 59th basho though. Thanks for pointing that out. I agree that he looks he could be a good shisho Aminishiki style but you never know before he actually does it. I hope he does go on to become one. 

[Reonito 1,772]

7 hours ago, Hankegami said:

On the other hand, Kirby has already done his san'yaku duty and can still save himself by winning over against Maegashira joi. Bad news: he plays gatekeeper against Shodai tomorrow. Terribly dangerous.

After endangering Aonishiki's chances of forcing open an extra sekiwake slot, Shodai can repay him by opening up a regular one.

[Reonito 1,772]

1 hour ago, dingo said:

I'm definitely keeping an eye on Sadanoumi and am also rooting for him to stay in makuuchi. I didn't realise it's his 59th basho though. Thanks for pointing that out. I agree that he looks he could be a good shisho Aminishiki style but you never know before he actually does it. I hope he does go on to become one. 

He holds the record for most makuuchi basho without making sanyaku!

[Reonito 1,772]

I hope they wait for tomorrow's results before making the Saturday torikumi.

[Bunbukuchagama 961]

13 minutes ago, Reonito said:

I hope they wait for tomorrow's results before making the Saturday torikumi.

They probably will. Without changing anything based on said results. 

[Raishu 218]

Has Tanigawa (shimpan) shaved his head?

I was wondering who the bald oyakata at the beginning of Juryo is and I assumed it must be him. Didn't he start the basho with full hair and a short-haired haircut?

[Maguroyama 27]

Aonishiki is unreal! Six straight double-digit kachi-koshi from shinjuryo! Has that ever happened before?

[Jakusotsu 6,383]

32 minutes ago, Maguroyama said:

Aonishiki is unreal! Six straight double-digit kachi-koshi from shinjuryo! Has that ever happened before?

Nope.

[Bunbukuchagama 961]

33 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

Nope.

And if he manages to get one more win, he will join Taiho as the only rikishi in the modern era to get 11+ wins 4 times in a row starting at any Maegashira rank - except Taiho's run started at M6. 

[Kintamayama 47,170]

Well, it’s happening again tomorrow. Stay at home and lock your doors. Abi- Ichiyamamoto , the bout that never was nor ever will be.

[RabidJohn 2,049]

26 minutes ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

And if he manages to get one more win, he will join Taiho as the only rikishi in the modern era to get 11+ wins 4 times in a row starting at any Maegashira rank - except Taiho's run started at M6. 

Aonishiki is extraordinary. I hope the folks back home are getting to see this, because it must be wonderful for morale to see such a outstanding showcase of Ukrainian fighting spirit.
Hiradoumi tomorrow. Never met. Aonishiki should beat him, but Hiradoumi is a proven upsetter.

Hoshoryu looked like a choker today. That was rubbish. Kotozakura has demonstrated his rapid punishment of maki-kae several times this basho. Good win for him.

Wakatakakage had a really good try at toppling the juggernaut, but he failed. Onosato's yusho to lose now.

[Jakusotsu 6,383]

21 hours ago, dingo said:

For Hoshoryu it's not going to get easier as he's up against Kotozakura tomorrow. I know a kachikoshi ozeki who's not in running for the yusho is usually not the most motivated opponent, but I have feeling those two have their own story going. 

spot on

[dingo 1,473]

Kotozakura really had Hoshoryu's number today. As RabidJohn said, Kotozakura punished the makikae attempt quickly, but Hoshoryu was on the defensive right from the tachiai. As for Kotozakura, I suppose he wants to make a point of pride that despite a run of bad results this year he's still equal to his ozeki rival from last year. 

Wakatakakage managed to upset Onosato's balance for half a second but that was as much as he could do against the yokozuna's massive frame. Onosato has now the perfect chance to snatch the yusho right from under Hoshoryu's nose. 

Also, Sadanoumi fell to a makekoshi today. Now it's all about damage limitation for him. I'm not a banzuke wizard but I guess one more win would let him stay in makuuchi? 

Oh and looks like Nishikifuji will continue the Aomori maegashira tradition for now. 

[Yubinhaad 11,954]

6 hours ago, Raishu said:

Has Tanigawa (shimpan) shaved his head?

I was wondering who the bald oyakata at the beginning of Juryo is and I assumed it must be him. Didn't he start the basho with full hair and a short-haired haircut?

Yes. He told Nikkan he had no particular reason for doing so, it was just a feeling of wanting to try it so he bought some clippers and did it himself after returning home on Day 12. The following day, the other shimpan were caught by surprise by the overnight change of appearance. Tanigawa isn't worried: "It'll grow back soon. I'm just doing what I want to do. I think I'll grow my hair long next time."

Still in good shape.

Previously:

[Kishinoyama 623]

5 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Well, it’s happening again tomorrow. Stay at home and lock your doors. Abi- Ichiyamamoto , the bout that never was nor ever will be.

I hope they get into a mawashi battle and it ends in a draw.

I can’t get the emojis to work on my phone….

[Yamanashi 4,060]

3 minutes ago, Kishinoyama said:

I hope they get into a mawashi battle and it ends in a draw.

I can’t get the emojis to work on my phone….

I can't get it on my computer, either.  Is the forum metastasizing?

[WAKATAKE 2,759]

Hoshoryu winning tomorrow would knock the 10-3 people out

[Raishu 218]

2 hours ago, Yubinhaad said:

Yes. He told Nikkan he had no particular reason for doing so, it was just a feeling of wanting to try it so he bought some clippers and did it himself after returning home on Day 12. The following day, the other shimpan were caught by surprise by the overnight change of appearance. Tanigawa isn't worried: "It'll grow back soon. I'm just doing what I want to do. I think I'll grow my hair long next time."

Still in good shape.

Previously:

Nice.

Thanks for sharing!