Here are the quick results from today’s Day 13-Championship Day in the lower tiers-of the March 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita, Sd-Sandanme, Jd-Jonidan, Jk-Jonokuchi
Makuuchi (top tier):
Kotoshoho (M16) beat Takarafuji (M12)
Tokihayate (M18) beat Meisei (M11)
Midorifuji (M11) beat Asakoryu (M16)
Shonannoumi (M10) beat Shirokuma (M17)
Mitakeumi (M17) beat Nishikigi (M10)
Sadanoumi (M15) beat Endo (M9)
Hakuoho (M9) beat Shishi (M13)
Oshoma (M8) beat Onokatsu (M12)
Ryuden (M14) beat Atamifuji (M8)
Churanoumi (M14) beat Tamawashi (M7)
Tobizaru (M3) beat Shodai (M7)
Hiradoumi (M6) beat Chiyoshoma (M2)
Gonoyama (M2) beat Kinbozan (M5)
Takayasu (M4) beat Wakamotoharu (M1)
Wakatakakage (M1) beat Ura (M5)
Abi (K) beat Takanosho (M3)
Kirishima (K) beat Ichiyamamoto (M4)
Daieisho (S) beat Aonishiki (M15)
Kotozakura (O) beat Takerufuji (M6)
Oho (S) beat Onosato (O)
Leader: Takayasu (12-2)
Of note: It’s time to hold our collective breath again…can Takayasu FINALLY seal the deal this time? If he can beat Churanoumi tomorrow and Onosato loses to Daieisho, at long last Takayasu will be champion. But if not there could either be a playoff on the final day or Onosato can steal his 3rd championship away and make it NINE runner-ups for Takayasu. Elsewhere, an important win for Kotozakura as with 8 he is now out of kadoban status and will again be a full Ozeki in May, so the last 2 days are a chance to build momentum and maybe get back to 10 wins. Those currently at 9-4 still have a chance to force a playoff if both Takayasu & Onosato lose tomorrow, but their ranks will thin considerably tomorrow as most will face off. Takayasu regardless stands a good chance to return to Sanyaku in May, but that depends on what happens above him (we know Oho will be demoted from Sekiwake, Daieisho will stay there and Wakatakakage should be promoted to at least Komusubi so it likely depends on what happens with Wakamotoharu & Abi as well as Kirishima, the latter two will be demoted from Komusubi with another loss). Elsewhere, Shirokuma is likely being demoted back to Juryo with 8 losses now unless he wins his last two. Daieisho has set himself up for another run at Ozeki promotion in May, if he can get to 11 wins again by winning his last two (including Onosato tomorrow) the unofficial win threshold requirement will be within reasonable reach. Right now he would need 12+ wins or a championship. If he wins his last two it could go down to 11.
Juryo:
Hakuyozan (J8) beat Kazekeno (J13)
Tomokaze (J11) beat Otsuji (J14)
Hidenoumi (J6) beat Wakaikari (J9)
Tohakuryu (J9) beat Mitoryu (J6)
Fujiseiun (J5) beat Hatsuyama (J13)
Hitoshi (J12) beat Nabatame (J5)
Wakanosho (J11) beat Oshoumi (J4)
Tsurugisho (J11) beat Shiden (J4)
Tochitaikai (J3) beat Daiseizan (J10)
Roga (J3) beat Shimanoumi (J10)
Kayo (J2) beat Kusano (J14)
Kagayaki (J1) beat Hokutofuji (J8)
Kotoeiho (J7) beat Tamashoho (J1)
Leader: Kusano (12-1)
Of note: The only question left after clinching the championship yesterday was if Kusano could go 15-0. No zensho yusho. Those hopes got literally Kayo’d today, along with perhaps Kusano’s best hopes of making his top tier debut in May. It could still happen with a 14-1 finish though plus that “famous’ Isegahama clout. Additionally there’s the fact that, at most, only 3 other wrestlers can even manage 11 wins this time but what does work against Kusano is that Tamashoho will be promoted to the top tier as he’s 8-5 at J1, so one potential spot is gone there. Kayo will have a chance at promotion as will Roga, but for now the slight edged may go to Roga at 9-4 from J3 while Kayo is 8-5 from J2 but that spoiler win today did clinch promotion so at worst he’ll be J1. Otherwise the big question is who may be demoted to Makushita-Otsuji will after today, slight chance Nabatame still gets demoted due to injury, I can’t call Hokutofuji safe yet (he’s 3-10), Mitoryu might survive with similar because he’s J6 where Hokutofuji is J8, Hatsuyama needs one more win to be safe at J13 (he’s 7-6 so that win would mean promotion).
Makushita:
Oshoryu (Ms28) beat Kawazoe (Ms39). OSHORYU MAKUSHITA YUSHO!!! 4th career championship and first Makushita championship. He will have a very slim chance of being promoted to Juryo for the first time in his career but it will depend on what happens above him. With regards to that, both Ms1 wrestlers are 3-3 so they’re promoted if they win their last match but demoted if they don’t, at Ms2 Daiamami is also 3-3 while Tochimaru will be demoted after a 2-5 finish and 5 straight losses. At Ms3 Mudoho is 4-2 and promoted while Shimazuumi was absent (injury) and at Ms4 Mita is also promoted at 4-2 while Nishinoryu will be demoted at 2-5. The only other lower ranked wrestler with a real chance to take a spot away is Akua, who is 5-1 at Ms5. So I think worst-case for Oshoryu is perhaps Ms3.
Sandanme:
Daishoryu (Sd6) beat Asagyokusei (Sd33)
Asanoyama (Sd21) beat Chiyooga (Sd1). ASANOYAMA SANDANME YUSHO!!! 5th career championship and second Sandanme championship. He will be promoted back to Makushita in May. Also averted what would have been an 8-way playoff had he lost.
Jonidan:
Souga (Jd59) beat Hienriki (Jd67)
Daikisho (Jd4) beat Okinohama (Jd32). DAIKISHO JONIDAN YUSHO!! 2nd career championship, first Jonidan championship and second championship in a row. He hasn’t lost since his return in January from missing 4+ tournaments due to injury and being demoted from Makushita. Will be promoted to Sandanme in May. Hienriki losing meant this match was for the championship and prevented what otherwise would have been a playoff because he was also 6-0 coming in.
Jonokuchi:
Chiyotenfu (Jk7) beat Asasakurai (Jd98). CHIYOTENFU JONOKUCHI YUSHO!!! First career championship for the 9 year veteran.
Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 50 minutes of LIVE top tier coverage on Day 14 tomorrow at 1:10 AM PT/4:10 AM ET. It may start too late to include Takayasu potentially winning the championship but they would definitely show it on tape delay and also on the daily highlights program later that day (which shows every top tier match in its entirety).
