Aki 2025 discussions (results)

[Katooshu 3,483]

Funny how fast the tide turns in sumo. For most basho the mood was Hoshoryu mania and all about how dominant he was looking on path to a potential zensho. Two bouts later and Onosato can clinch the yusho with time to spare....and who knows, two days from now it could be back to Hoshoryu mania with two wins over Onosato, including a dramatic playoff finish. 

Taking things bout by bout works for rikishi, but if you don't take a basho long outlook you will be teetering all over the place as a sumo fan. To be fair, it can be fun 

Edited September 26 by Katooshu

[Reonito 1,773]

8 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.

The ghosts of Abi and Ichiyamamoto 

[Reonito 1,773]

5 hours ago, dingo said:

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? 

One more win would do it for sure, and he could survive even at 5-10.

[Benihana 1,971]

4 hours 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….

 

4 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

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

Yeah, massive problems:

https://www.sumoforum.net/forums/topic/45218-bug/

[Gospodin 267]

On 25/09/2025 at 19:44, Chiyozakura said:

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. 

I am careful comparing recent people with those from other eras. The 90s are long gone, and everything has evolved a lot. In my opinion there is no way to assess how a rikishi would have done back then, and vice versa. The only thing I know for sure is that competition always gets better over time, in all sports.

[Kotomiyama 177]

Aonishiki is simply outstanding. His numbers speak by themselves and he is very fun to watch. I got the feeling today that he might be the first European Yokozuna.

[Chiyozakura 163]

29 minutes ago, Gospodin said:

I am careful comparing recent people with those from other eras. The 90s are long gone, and everything has evolved a lot. In my opinion there is no way to assess how a rikishi would have done back then, and vice versa. The only thing I know for sure is that competition always gets better over time, in all sports.

While I basically I agree everybody is a product of their times. While Aonishiki might have an advantage over the top guys of former eras because of better training knowledge, better technology, nutrition and so on, he would not have had that had he competed in their days. So in relation to their time these comparisons make sense. It is always easier to win when competition is low than when it is high.

[dingo 1,477]

19 minutes ago, Kotomiyama said:

Aonishiki is simply outstanding. His numbers speak by themselves and he is very fun to watch. I got the feeling today that he might be the first European Yokozuna.

Ozeki seems a sure thing. Yokozuna... there's two pretty strong ones already so getting two yusho in a row anytime soon might be difficult. While it seems Aonishiki can beat Hoshoryu at the moment, I'm sure over time he'll figure out something to counter the Ukrainian. And I'm speculating here but I don't think the Kyokai will be open to promotion with anything less for that same reason -- two strong young yokozuna already occupy the ranks. Of course in the long term anything can happen, injuries, loss of form, karaoke remote controls, but that might be years away. So while Aonishiki seems like he might have the potential, it won't be that easy to realise it anytime soon. 

[Reonito 1,773]

I don't think they'll insist on YY, though it'll take a solid case. Of the five most recent promotions, only Onosato had YY, and neither Kakuryu nor Kisenosato benefited from a lack of yokozuna.

[Hankegami 598]

I was once again on blacklist today (for absolutely no reason, I didn't post zilch recently), so my post comes belated.

EDIT: Probably because of the http / https stuff. Wild.

.............

Well, well, well... Day 13 here we are.

From bottom to the top, Shishi (9-4) is the best Shishi I have seen perhaps ever. He even advanced today to move Churanoumi (actaully a good wrestler) out by yorikiri. He has a chance to hit 10 now, which he never managed to do in Makuuchi.

Mitakeumi... won against Oshoma? And here I thought it was the end of my favorite lard tank. Yesterday, that is. Mitakeumi was in command pretty much the whole match, and walked Oshoma over with grace and hinkaku and all. I'm very glad he has yet an outside chance to KK, and anyway a path toward a soft MK.

I am also glad that Hakuoho still got some gas. He dispatched Onokatsu far faster than Atamifuji did with 1-12 Gonoyama (not really a compliment, Atamin), and Oho with lower Makuuchi aficionado Ryuden. Impressive.

Today I noticed that, once again, Hiradoumi has fell under my radar. The guy convincingly dispatched Tamawashi despite his awful 2-7 record against him.

Of course, Aonishiki has been amazing as always today. Takanosho was no pushover, and was close to winning several times during their match. However, the kid stood his ground until he got a chance to pay back Takanosho with his own money. Most outstanding. He's now just one win away from the magic 11 wins for a S2 slot, and even has a chance to round up his final score to 12 to fatten up his upcoming Ozeki bid. Please don't mind me, I'm waving this Ukraine flag for political purposes here - not being a fan in the slightest. Takanosho himself did very well, by the way. 10 wins under his belt and two still available for him also.

Whelp, Takayasu still fighting on. He showed his vintage self against poor Wakamotoharu today, despite his MK. Trying to soften the fall the best he can. Papa Bear still not thinking about retirement, clearly.

And - Kirishima is not done yet. Shodai tried hard to turn tables on their bout, but Kirby insisted and managed to pull him out. His KK hopes live for yet another day.

Now, the quest for the yusho. Hoshoryu is somehow chocking. He managed to avoid giving out kinboshi this tournament, but in return he's now losing against his most problematic opponents. On the bright side, Kotozakura is definitively on an ok - not wonderful, but ok - shape. Onosato, as expected, dispatched 136 kg Wakatakakage like nothing. 12-1 and the tournament is for him to lose now.

The Day 14 torikumi just came out also. As expected, we get Onosato vs. Kotozakura and Wakatakakage vs. Hoshoryu tomorrow. The fist two have a 6-4 H2H, with Onosato winning the last four. These also coincide with KZK's slump after his Kyushu 2024 Yusho. Billed 189 cm and 179 kg, Kotozakura does not conform to the typical wrestler to be ran over by Ogresato. If he's really in a good shape, he can put up quite the fight just for his honor - like he did today against Hoshoryu. The other two have a  7-8  record in favor of WTK, but Hoshoryu won their last four F2F although they coincide with WTK working up his current Ozeki bid - i.e. against the best WTK. This makes Hoshoryu's perspectives (for tomorrow) better than Onosato - on paper. However, WTK is now 6-7 with today, with no room for more losses. He won't go down easily (henka incoming?).

Following the arasoi, the only guys with an actual chance to yusho remain 12-1 Onosato and 11-2 Hoshoryu. However, in case of a total collapse of them both (unlikely but not impossible, especially if KZK wins tomorrow and Hosh wakes up on senshuraku), the 10-3 duo of Aonishiki and Takanosho gets back into consideration for a playoff - as long as they keep winning. Long, long shot. Tomorrow we get Hiradoumi vs. Aonishiki (never met), and Takanosho vs Kirishima (15-5 - seriously). Both matches promise to be most interesting. The first bout is a total enigma, while Takanosho is the clear favorite for the second. However, Kirby is one loss away from MK and demotion, so he will certainly fight back hard. Of course, an Onosato win tomorrow will either put the yusho run down to the Yokozuna final bout, or outright for an early win (if Onosato wins and Hoshoryu manages to lose again).

Edited September 27 by Hankegami

[Jakusotsu 6,389]

Oversleeper Tanji gets his KK after all.

[Jakusotsu 6,389]

No yusho for Aonishiki or Takanosho due to Kotozakura's withdrawal. It's an all-yokozuna affair now.

[Akinomaki 41,748]

The torikumi are already announced on twitter, now late on the site. The 2 makekoshi sekiwake in the other 2 kore sanyaku bouts, with Wakatakakage against Takanosho, who aims for a possible jun-yusho. Aonishiki, in the bout before the soroibumi, can get that as well, if Hoshoryu loses, which I presume - Terunofuji on NHK thinks he has good winning chances.

Edited September 27 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 41,748]

Aonishiki definitely will get the next sansho, he deserves the ginosho again, but also the shukunsho, if Hakuoho loses tomorrow and Hoshoryu wins.

Takanosho fix for the kantosho and Hakuoho the shukunsho on a win plus Onosato yusho.

To have 3 sure sansho, maybe Ura gets the ginosho, definitely a sansho with a win.

[RabidJohn 2,054]

Fujinokawa is a proper little terrier. He's been most entertaining.

I see Kusano still hasn't cleared the wall... I thought he'd get higher than M6w before that happened. Still an opportunity against also 7-7 Shonannoumi tomorrow. Never met.

Hiradoumi is very versatile; you know he's going to be quick out of the tachi-ai, but you never quite know what he's going to do with the momentum. But Aonishiki is extraordinarily adaptable.

So, Ajigawa's star pupil has forced his way to... Oh, someone's going to leapfrog their way up to sekiwake with him! Oho? I really did not see that coming.

Kind of irksome that Onosato got a freebie today. I don't begrudge Kotozakura going kyujo, but I'm glad Hoshoryu won to prevent Onosato getting the yusho on a fusen-sho.

I expect rumblings about henka, but I loved the not-bovvered face Hoshoryu gave the crowd.

This has turned into a fairly classic basho. The joi/lower sanyaku is a meat grinder, and only the yokozuna are in contention for the yusho on senshuraku.

Edited September 27 by RabidJohn

[ViscountessNivlac 35]

33 minutes ago, RabidJohn said:

I expect rumblings about henka, but I loved the not-bovvered face Hoshoryu gave the crowd.

It's not like Onosato chose not to have to fight but I think it's fair enough in light of that. Hosh still has to beat Onosato twice.

[Asashosakari 20,223]

6 hours ago, Jakusotsu said:

Oversleeper Tanji gets his KK after all.

Good sleep is so important.

[themistyseas 242]

2 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

if Hoshoryu loses, which I presume - Terunofuji on NHK thinks he has good winning chances.

Worth pointing out that Hoshoryu has beaten Onosato a fairly shocking 6 out of 7 times. Hoshoryu hasn't really been at his best in this basho apart from a couple of bouts, but Onosato hasn't either. I like the odds at least of a playoff, which to be honest is what the fans deserve to make up time: two bouts between Yokozuna that actually mean something.

It looks like we haven't even had one meaningful bout between two Yokozuna in 5 1/2 years (Hakuho vs Kakuryu at Haru 2020).

[Kishinoyama 623]

I'm glad that the final bout tomorrow will decide the yusho or send it to a playoff, but Hoshoryu with the HNH aka HENKA today disappoints me. I felt the same way when Harumafuji used to do it.

Hopefully Aonishiki will come out victorious tomorrow and get 12 wins for the first time in Makuuchi.  

[Gospodin 267]

That looked like Takayasu waited for the gyoji to get out of the way before he applied the finishing touch.

[Octofuji 425]

3 hours ago, Kishinoyama said:

I'm glad that the final bout tomorrow will decide the yusho or send it to a playoff, but Hoshoryu with the HNH aka HENKA today disappoints me. I felt the same way when Harumafuji used to do it.

Yes, to do a blatant henka against a lighter wrestler who's having a bad basho and whom he had beaten four times in a row is pretty cheap, worthy of zabutons.

[dingo 1,477]

Daieisho put in a lot of effort to defeat Shishi, but he made that final charge way too obvious for a sidestep and slapdown. Still, great timing by Shishi to get it exactly right.

Wow, Sadanoumi got his much needed 6th win by a margin of a small toeprint in the clay! Lucky win as he was clearly losing before that last-ditch throw attempt. If not for Churanoumi's toe, I'm not sure the shimpan would've given him the win.

Whoever predicted Kotoshoho would have double digit losses was absolutely right. For a moment at the beginning of the basho he looked like he might have an ok basho but it's all been downhill from there. Unfortunately looks like last basho was yet another flash in the pan yusho.

Hoshoryu... well, it's obvious he was desperate to force a yokozuna yusho clash for the senshuraku so from that point of view it's clear why he went for a henka. He probably got the idea as soon as he fell behind Onosato. I'm not really sure how I feel about that though. On the one hand it's nice to have a yusho deciding bout or even two between the yokozuna tomorrow. On the other hand the way we got there seems quite cheap and anticlimatic, with the henka but also Kotozakura withdrawing. And considering Wakatakakage got his makekoshi that way... hope tomorrow makes up for all of that *properly*!

[Akinomaki 41,748]

6 hours ago, themistyseas said:

Worth pointing out that Hoshoryu has beaten Onosato a fairly shocking 6 out of 7 times. Hoshoryu hasn't really been at his best in this basho apart from a couple of bouts, but Onosato hasn't either. I like the odds at least of a playoff, which to be honest is what the fans deserve to make up time: two bouts between Yokozuna that actually mean something.

It looks like we haven't even had one meaningful bout between two Yokozuna in 5 1/2 years (Hakuho vs Kakuryu at Haru 2020).

I think Hoshoryu got injured in the bout with Aonishiki, after that his sumo wasn't competitive any more, today the evasion win - that won't work with Onosato, I expect Hoshoryu to lose straight in the first bout.

Still no kensho with the torikumi sheet for day 15, but the order of countries in the awards: Czechia, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Italy, China, Thailand, UAE, France, Hungary, Mexico - Mongolia at no.2 is the highest I remember, usually they are behind the UAE, who dropped quite behind. And the NHK cup isn't awarded/listed, like in Corona times, usually  after the interview.

[Bunbukuchagama 964]

11 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

I think Hoshoryu got injured in the bout with Aonishiki, after that his sumo wasn't competitive any more, today the evasion win

Now, explain his Day 3 henka.

[Katooshu 3,483]

I do wonder if he aggravated something. He was holding his elbow after losing to Aonishiki, then uncharacteristically blown away by Kotozakura, then a not exactly confidence-laden win over WTK with a move to reduce engagement. Despite the one-sided head to head so far, I suspect Onosato will manage a win tonight, whether it takes 1 or 2 tries. If Onosato still can't beat him, then the big guy needs to do some serious thinking about why pretty much every high ranker in the division does better against Hoshoryu than him.

Edited September 27 by Katooshu