Here are the quick results from today’s Day 12 of the May 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Makuuchi (top tier):
Kotoshoho (M14) beat Tamashoho (M17)
Nishikigi (M16) beat Tokihayate (M13)
Asakoryu (M17) beat Atamifuji (M12)
Kayo (M16) beat Takanosho (M12)
Endo (M11) beat Shonannoumi (M15)
Ryuden (M15) beat Shishi (M10)
Sadanoumi (M13) beat Meisei (M10)
Midorifuji (M9) beat Tochitaikai (M18)
Onokatsu (M8) beat Roga (M14)
Churanoumi (M7) beat Shodai (M10)
Kinbozan (M8) beat Tobizaru (M6)
Tamawashi (M3) beat Abi (M2)
Chiyoshoma (M5) beat Gonoyama (M2)
Wakamotoharu (M1) beat Ura (M5)
Hiradoumi (M3) beat Oho (M1)
Takayasu (K) beat Takerufuji (M4)
Wakatakakage (K) beat Oshoma (M6)
Daieisho (S) beat Aonishiki (M9)
Onosato (O) beat Hakuoho (M7)
Kotozakura (O) beat Ichiyamamoto (M4)
Kirishima (S) beat Hoshoryu (Y)
Leader: Onosato (12-0)
Yokozuna Watch: It’s all but official now. With Hoshoryu losing and Onosato winning, Onosato now just needs to win just one of his last 3 matches for his second straight championship so it could end tomorrow. Worst-case now is a playoff so the basic performance criteria has been met. Ideally he’ll get that one win or more to make a stronger case but at this point I think he’s clinched promotion. If Onosato beats Kotozakura tomorrow, he is the champion.
Ozeki Watch: Onosato being promoted may hand Daieisho’s already-slim promotion chances another lifeline because that would leave only one Ozeki (Kotozakura protected his rank today with his 8th win), so if he can win his last 3 to get to 12-3 there is a chance, and he’s among 5 with still the faintest chance of forcing a playoff with Onosato. That being said, Daieisho must beat Hoshoryu tomorrow.
Of note: Tamashoho will probably be demoted to Juryo in July unless he can win out to finish 7-8, and we can wonder what could have been for Kotoshoho had he not been injured before the tournament began-he missed the first 5 days but is 6-1 since entering on Day 6. Nishikigi also stopped a losing streak that saw him fall to 5-6 after a 5-0 start. Shonannoumi is now becoming a demotion candidate too as 3-9 Shishi is not safe either at M11 if he winds up 2-13. from M15 could mean going down to Juryo. I can see Asakoryu being a Special Prize candidate now if he gets one more win (Fighting Spirit) and Sadanoumi may have clinched the the Technique Prize with those 2 wins by the fisherman’s throw. It’s also nice to see Kayo doing much better, after a bad 0-4 start to his top tier debut he has gone 6-2 since and won 4 straight to start that run. Finally, the Iron Man streak for Tamawashi reached 1700 today (career matches) and with a win although it won’t spare him from demotion.
Juryo:
Daiamami (J13) beat Dewanoryu (Ms2)
Mitoryu (J13) beat Miyanokaze (J13)
Mita (J14) beat Kazekeno (J11)
Nabatame (J12) beat Hatsuyama (J10)
Tsurugisho (J9) beat Mudoho (J14)
Tohakuryu (J10) beat Nishikifuji (J5)
Wakaikari (J5) beat Oshoumi (J9)
Hakuyozan (J4) beat Shiden (J8)
Shimanoumi (J8) beat Takarafuji (J3)
Kagayaki (J4) beat Shirokuma (J3)
Hidenoumi (J2) beat Tomokaze (J7)
Fujiseiun (J2) beat Hitoshi (J6)
Mitakeumi (J1) beat Daiseizan (J6)
Kusano (J1) beat Kotoeiho (J7)
Leader: Kusano (10-2)
Of note: Because there are 2 left at 9-3 and they face each other tomorrow (Wakaikari & Tohakuryu), Kusano can’t clinch the championship until at least Day 14 now. Kusano already faced (and beat) Wakaikari so the likely last obstacle to a second straight Juryo title is Tohakuryu but that depends on tomorrow. Mitakeumi is now just one win from a top tier return in July while Takarafuji won’t be back, today’s loss means demotion again and more questions on if he’s going to retire and perhaps become the next Isegahama instead (he does have elder stock and it may be the Isegahama stock for taking over Isegahama Beya instead of it possibly going to now-retired Yokozuna Terunofuji, who is reportedly starting his own stable in 2026; there is less than zero chance of it going to Miyagino-the former Hakuho-more likely he gets his stable back eventually and they can break away from Isegahama). At the bottom, Mita has clinched promotion in his Juryo debut and will move up in July while Mudoho and Miyanokaze both must win out to avoid demotion back to Makushita. Wakanosho will be demoted as well due to early withdrawal. Those bottom spots will also depend on Malushita promotions, the only sure thing right now is Otsuji will return to Juryo in July (6-0 at Ms3, going for championship tomorrow), Kitanowaka gets back with a win in his last match but otherwise it also depends on Ishizaki & Kotokuzan who are both 4-2 at Ms4. They will both be promoted but a 5th win can maybe get them to Juryo. And while it won’t get him back to Juryo Asanoyama can finish 6-1 and set himself up for a September return (he is at Ms14).
UPDATE: Mita has WITHDRAWN from Juryo ahead of Day 13. Broken metacarpal bone. Tournament over. Fortunately he had just clinched promotion today but this will cost him his slim chances he still had of taking the championship from Kusano.
