Open The Forbidden Gate

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 9 of the January 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (top tier):
Kagayaki (J16) beat Shiden (J2)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Tamashoho (M16)
Shonannoumi (M13) beat Tokihayate (M17)
Onokatsu (M12) beat Nishikifuji (M17)
Nishikigi (M12) beat Kitanowaka (M15) by default/withdrawal
Kinbozan (M14) beat Takerufuji (M11)
Hakuoho (M15) beat Meisei (M10)
Midorifuji (M11) beat Mitakeumi (M7)
Endo (M7) beat Tamawashi (M10)
Ichiyamamoto (M6) beat Oshoma (M9)
Takayasu (M6) beat Takarafuji (M8)
Chiyoshoma (M5) beat Churanoumi (M9)
Shodai (M4) beat Gonoyama (M3)
Oho (M3) beat Atamifuji (M2)
Wakatakakage (K) beat Takanosho (M1)
Kirishima (M1) beat Abi (K)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Tobizaru (M2)
Hiradoumi (M5) beat Hoshoryu (O)
Ura (M4) beat Kotozakura (O)
Onosato (O) beat Daieisho (S)
Leader; Kinbozan (9-0)
WITHDRAWAL: Kitanowaka (M15). Right ankle. Initial reports were it’s broken, if so, tournament over. Will be demoted back to Juryo again if he doesn’t return. He’s yet to have a winning tournament in the top tier.
Yokozuna Watch: It’s probably over for Hoshoryu. His first-ever loss to Hiradoumi leaves him 6-3 and 3 wins off the lead. He can still rally and get to 12-3, but even if that’s good enough for the championship it probably isn’t enough for promotion.
Of note: Chiyoshoma also bounced back from his first loss this tournament to clinch promotion and remains one off the pace at 8-1, with Oho & Takerufuji at 7-2. And Kirishima may have gotten back what he lost before, he has now won 6 in a row since starting 0-3. We’re also on the verge of the first demotions still, Wakamotoharu staved it off today but Atamifuji is showing he’s not ready for Sanyaku anytime soon as he’s fallen to 2-7.

Juryo:
Wakaikari (J13) beat Kiryuko (J12)
Kotoeiho (J13) beat Hatsuyama (J12)
Tohakuryu (J11) beat Daiamami (J11)
Nabatame (J14) beat Oshoumi (J9)
Daiseizan (J9) beat Daishoho (J14)
Fujiseiun (J8) beat Hakuyozan (J10)
Shishi (J4) beat Miroryu (J8)
Shirokuma (J4) beat Shimazuumi (J10)
Tochitaikai (J7) beat Tsurugisho (J3)
Ryuden (J3) beat Tomokaze (J6)
Hidenoumi (J6) beat Asakoryu (J2)
Aonishiki (J5) beat Kayo (J1)
Sadanoumi (J1) beat Shimanoumi (J5)
Leader: Wakaikari, Shishi, Aonishiki (8-1)
Of note: No changes at the top but all 3 co-leaders have clinched promotions, so Wakaikari will remain in Juryo while Shishi & Aonishiki could be in the top tier (back for Shishi) if they keep this up. The Ukranians remain on potential final day collision course. We’ll have a Makushita man up again each day starting tomorrow with Hitoshi, who is 4-1 and clinched promotion with a chance to return to Juryo if he can keep winning (he currently is at Ms4).

Lower tier notes:
The Makushita currently has 3 at 5-0 with Ishizaki, the younger brother of Asakoryu, having a chance at promotion to Juryo if he keeps winning (he is at Ms6). The Sandanme currently has 6 at 5-0 and Enho won today to go to 4-1 so he’ll be promoted back to Makushita in March from Sd4. The Jonidan has 5 currently at 5-0 while the Jonokuchi also has 2 remaining at 5-0.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 8-the Halfway Point-of the January 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (top tier):
Kayo (J1) beat Nishikifuji (M17)
Tokihayate (M17) beat Kotoshoho (M13)
Hakuoho (M15) beat Nishikigi (M12)
Onokatsu (M12) beat Kagayaki (M16)
Tamashoho (M16) beat Midorifuji (M11)
Takerufuji (M11) beat Kitanowaka (M15)
Kinbozan (M14) beat Tamawashi (M10)
Shonannoumi (M13) beat Meisei (M10)
Takayasu (M6) beat Oshoma (M9)
Ichiyamamoto (M6) beat Churanoumi (M9)
Hiradoumi (M5) beat Mitakeumi (M7)
Takarafuji (M8) beat Chiyoshoma (M5)
Ura (M4) beat Endo (M7)
Gonoyama (M3) beat Atamifuji (M2)
Abi (K) beat Tobizaru (M2)
Kirishima (M1) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Daieisho (S) beat Takanosho (M1)
Kooyozakura (O) beat Oho (M3)
Onosato (O) beat Wakatakakage (K)
Shodai (M4) beat Hoshoryu (O)
Leader: Kinbozan (8-0)
Of note: Kitanowaka’s streak of top tier appearances without a winning record appears set to continue as Nikkan Sports reports he suffered a broken ankle today against Takerufuji. If true, he’s done. Chiyoshoma’s perfect start ended today leaving Kinbozan as sole leader and first to clinch promotion this tournament. No demotions yet but they may happen tomorrow and include Wakamotoharu, whose latest stay at Sekiwake may end as he is now 1-7. Midorifuji & Kotoshoho are also in danger of demotion at 1-7 and need some wins to avoid dropping to Juryo (more likely for Kotoshoho right now). Elsewhere, Kotozakura now has consecutive wins as he tries to protect his Ozeki ranking and is up to 3-5 while Onosato is on the right side now at 5-3.
Yokozuna Watch: There’s pretty much no room for error left for Hoshoryu. Now at 6-2, he’ll probably have to win out for any real chance at promotion.

Juryo:
Wakaikari (J13) beat Kotoeiho (J13)
Nabatame (J14) beat Tohakuryu (J11)
Daishoho (J14) beat Shimazuumi (J10)
Kiryuko (J12) beat Daiseizan (J9)
Hatsuyama (J12) beat Fujiseiun (J8)
Mitoryu (J8) beat Hakuyozan (J10)
Tochitaikai (J7) beat Daiamami (J11)
Oshoumi (J9) beat Tomokaze (J6)
Ryuden (J3) beat Hidenoumi (J6)
Aonishiki (J5) beat Tsurugisho (J3)
Shirokuma (J4) beat Shiden (J2)
Asakoryu (J2) beat Shimanoumi (J5)
Shishi (J4) beat Sadanoumi (J1)
Leader: Wakaikari, Aonishiki, Shishi (7-1)
Of note: The Ukranians remain on a championship collision course but Wakaikari remains poised to be spoiler. There are 4 right behind them at 6-2. At the bottom, Daishoho avoided demotion today but Tsurugisho & Shimanoumi did not, clinching demotions at 0-8.

Lower tier notes:
In the Makushita, 7 have clinched promotions and share the lead at 4-0 with at least 2 former division champions among them. In the Sandanme, 10 remain unbeaten at 4-0 at this point. The Jonidan has 12 remaining perfect at 4-0 while the Jonokuchi has 2 tied at 4-0. No match for Enho in the Sandanme today, he’ll go for his promotion tomorrow.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 7-the first Promotion Day-of the January 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (top tier):
Hakuoho (M15) beat Tamashoho (M16)
Kinbozan (M14) beat Tokihayate (M17)
Kagayaki (M16) beat Kotoshoho (M13)
Nishikifuji (M17) beat Shonannoumi (M13)
Onokatsu (M12) beat Kitanowaka (M15)
Tamawashi (M10) beat Nishikigi (M12)
Takerufuji (M11) beat Oshoma (M9)
Churanoumi (M9) beat Midorifuji (M11)
Takarafuji (M8) beat Meisei (M10)
Takayasu (M6) beat Mitakeumi (M7)
Chiyoshoma (M5) beat Roga (M8) by default/withdrawal
Hiradoumi (M5) beat Endo (M7)
Ura (M4) beat Ichiyamamoto (M6)
Tobizaru (M2) beat Shodai (M4)
Kirishima (M1) beat Wakatakakage (K)
Takanosho (M1) beat Abi (K)
Daieisho (S) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Onosato (O) beat Atamifuji (M2)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Oho (M3)
Kotozakura (O) beat Gonoyama (M3)
Leader: Chiyoshoma, Kinbozan (7-0)
WITHDRAWAL: Roga (M8). Right hamstring. Status uncertain. Will be demoted unless he returns tomorrow and wins out because he is now the equivalent of 0-7. Demotion to Juryo is a possibility. Chiyoshoma got the fusen as a result.
Of note: Is this finally the big moment for Oho? Expectations have always been sky-high for him as the grandson of legendary Yokozuna Taiho (fun fact: Who may be Oho’s brother, also a grandson of Taiho, is Japanese pro wrestler Yukio Naya in the DDT promotion), and he’s had his moments but generally has struggled at the upper ranks. He may finally be putting it all together after just missing out on Sanyaku after September despite taking his first loss today against Hoshoryu. Chiyoshoma got a free pass today to continue his best-ever start. Kotozakura also got another needed win as he tries to salvage a winning record with his Yokozuna hopes dashed, improving to 2-5. He can still get to a respectable 10 wins he he wins out. The other surprise leader is Kinbocan following demotion to Juryo due to injuries while Takerufuji is among a group right behind at 6-1.
Yokozuna Watch: Hoshoryu remains in contention after handing Oho his first loss today, sitting in a group of 4 at 6-1. He has Shodai tomorrow, who is currently 2-5.

Juryo:
Kiryuko (J12) beat Daishoho (J14)
Miyagi (Ms4) beat Hatsuyama (J13)
Nabatame (J14) beat Daiamami (J11)
Kotoeiho (J13) beat Hakuyozan (J10)
Wakaikari (J13) beat Shimazuumi (J10)
Tohakuryu (J11) beat Fujiseiun (J8)
Tochitaikai (J7) beat Tomokaze (J6)
Hidenoumi (J6) beat Oshoumi (J9)
Aonishiki (J5) beat Daiseizan (J9)
Mitoryu (J8) beat Shonannoumi (J5)
Asakoryu (J2) beat Ryuden (J3)
Shiden (J2) beat Tsurugisho (J3)
Shishi (J4) beat Kayo (J1)
Sadanoumi (J1) beat Shirokuma (J4)
Leader: Shishi, Aonishiki, Wakaikari (6-1)
Of note: It’s getting interesting with 2 Ukranians sharing the lead. That could make for quite the showdown when/if it happens between Shishi, trying to get back to the top tier after demotion last time out, and fast-rising Aonishiki who is on pact to reach the top tier in what would be only his 9th career tournament as his career so far is off to a blazing 54-10 start and he won the championship in his first 2 tournaments (Jonokuchi & Jonidan). November was by far his worst tournament to date and the only time so far he’s lost more than one match in a tournament, although he finished a still-impressive 10-5 in his Juryo debut. After just hanging on to Juryo after a losing record last time out, Wakaikari has nearly matched his November win total with a 6-1 start to share the lead.

:Lower tier notes:
It’s the first half of Promotion Day in the lower tiers, where the leaders are 4-0 and thus clinch promotions for the next tournament. In the Makushita, 5 are currently tied at 4-0 with 4 more trying to join them tomorrow. In the Sandanme, 6 are tired at 4-0 with 8 more getting their chance tomorrow. In the Jonidan, 5 are tied at 4-0 after the first half while the Jonokuchi has one at 4-0 with another at 3-0. Also of note, Enho won his 3rd straight match today to go to 3-1 in the Sandanme and one win away from promotion, which should get him back to Makushita in March.

Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 50 minutes of LIVE top tier coverage in English FOR FREE tomorrow beginning at 12:10 AM PT/3:10 AM ET.