Here are the quick results from today’s Day 9 of the May 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (top tier):
Tamashoho (M17) beat Kayo (M16)
Asakoryu (M17) beat Ryuden (M15)
Kotoshoho (M14) beat NIshikigi (M16)
Sadanoumi (M13) beat Tochitaikai (M18)
Takanosho (M12) beat Shonannoumi (M15)
Atamifuji (M12) beat Roga (M14)
Tokihayate (M13) beat Shishi (M11)
Onokatsu (M8) beat Endo (M11)
Meisei (M10) beat Churanoumi (M7)
Hakuoho (M7) beat Shodai (M10)
Tobizaru (M6) beat Midorifuji (M9)
Oshoma (M6) beat Kinbozan (M6)
Aonishiki (M9) beat Churanoumi (M5)
Gonoyama (M2) beat Hiradoumi (M3)
Wakamotoharu (M1) beat Oho (M1)
Abi (M2) beat Wakatakakage (K)
Kirishima (S) beat Takerufuji (M4)
Tamawashi (M3) beat Daieisho (S)
Kotozakura (O) beat Takayasu (K)
Onosato (O) beat Ura (M5)
Hoshoryu (Y) beat Ichiyamamoto (M4)
Leader: Onosato (9-0)
Yokozuna Watch: Still a long ways to go but it looks like Onosato’s promotion to lose. He’s still got 5 days until he’s expected to face Hoshoryu (final day), at this point I think 13 wins will clinch promotion no matter what as that’s the most the Yokozuna can finish with (Hoshoryu is now 7-2 with 5 straight wins).
Ozeki Watch: It’s probably over for Daieisho. A tough Sekiwake Showdown loss today to Kirishima puts him at 6-3, meaning he can only get to 32 wins. Remember 33 wins over 3 tournaments is not mandatory for promotion to Ozeki but now his only real hope is an Onosato collapse and a 12-3 championship.
Of note: NHK World Japan has been promoting a youth movement during this tournament in promos for their daily highlights program in English. It certainly has been just that with Onosato seemingly headed towards Yokozuna but right behind him are Hakuoho at 8-1 (although I’m a little worried seeing his right bicep taped up like it was today) and Aonishiki at 8-1, clearly having surpassed the demoted Shishi as the big Ukraine hope and perhaps the next Ozeki and even Yokozuna from Europe. He also has yet to have a losing tournament like Onosato and has won 8 straight after a Day 1 loss. Wakatakakage took a tough loss to Abi to fall to 2 back but not out of it at 7-2 with a critical match against Aonishiki tomorrow. And while it probably won’t get him into title contention, Kotozakura has bounced back from a shaky 1-2 start to improve to 6-3 after winning 5 of his last 6 and in position to protect his Ozeki rank again. He gets Kirishima tomorrow. Hoshoryu has yet another kinboxhi match tomorrow against Ura, who is trying to avoid demotion at 2-7. Today he got revenge against Ichiyamamoto, who earned a kinboshi against the Yokozuna in March.
Juryo:
Kazekeno (J11) beat Kotokuzan (Ms4)
Mita (J14) beat Hatsuyama (J10)
Tohakuryu (J10) beat Mudoho (J14)
Tsurugisho (J9) beat Mitoryu (J12)
Daiamami (J13) beat Oshoumi (J9)
Miyanokaze (J13) beat Shiden (J8)
Kotoeiho (J7) beat Nabatame (J12)
Hakuyozan (J4) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Tomokaze (J7) beat Shirokuma (J3)
Takarafuji (J3) beat Daiseizan (J6)
Wakaikari (J5) beat Fujiseiun (J2)
Kagayaki (J4) beat Hidenoumi (J2)
Kusano (J1) beat Hitoshi (J6)
Mitakeumi (J1) beat Nishikifuji (J5)
Leader: Kusano (8-1)
Of note: And now it’s official-Kusano will debut in the top tier in July with promotion clinched today after just missing out this time. He’s the first in Juryo to clinch promotion and maintains his championship lead with now just Tohakuryu at 7-2 and a large group at 6-3. No demotions just yet although 3 are 2-7 and could be demoted tomorrow. Tomorrow has Kusano facing Daiseizan (5-4) while Tohakuryu has a more favorable match on paper against 2-7 and slumping (yet again) Shimanoumi).
Lower tier notes:
The Makushita is down to the final 4 at 5-0, so Day 11’s matches will set up Day 13’s Championship Day match. Among the 4 is Otsuji, who is in good position to return to Juryo following a demotion in his debut effort in March. The Sandanme has 5 at 5-0, meaning the potential for a playoff being needed is there. The Jonidan is interesting-6 are at 5-0 but both Shikoroyama and Sakaigawa Beya each have 2 co-leaders, raising the real possibility of a playoff between stablemates depending on how things play out. In the Jonokuchi, Kazuma is the sole leader at 5-0 as he makes a comeback from missing 4 straight tournaments following having to withdraw in his debut tournament, ruining what was a 4-1 effort at the time, a very tough break because he got the provisional Makushita 60 debut spot.
