Tag: wrestling

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.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 11 of the May 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makiuchi (top tier):
Asakoryu (M17) beat Roga (M14)
Kotoshoho (M15) beat Ryuden (M15)
Kayo (M16) beat Sadanoumi (M13)
Takanosho (M12) beat Tochitaikai (M18)
Endo (M11) beat Tamashoho (M17)
Midorifuji (M9) beat Shonannoumi (M15)
Kinbozan (M8) beat Atamifuji (M12)
Onokatsu (M8) beat Nishikigi (M16)
Tokihayate (M13) beat Churanoumi (M7)
Tobizaru (M6) beat Shishi (M11)
Oshoma (M6) beat Meisei (M10)
Chiyoshoma (M5) beat Shodai (M10)
Abi (M2) beat Gonoyama (M2)
Oho (M1) beat Tamawashi (M3)
Wakamotoharu (M1) beat Hiradoumi (M3)
Ura (M5) beat Takayasu (K)
Kirishima (S) beat Ichiyamamoto (M4)
Daieisho (S) beat Takerufuji (M4)
Kotozakura (O) beat Aonishiki (M9)
Onosato (O) beat Wakatakakage (K)
Hoshoryu (Y) beat Hakuoho (M7)
Leader: Onosato (11-0)
Yokozuna Watch: At this point it’s safe to say the magic number for Onosato is 2. 13 wins would secure no worse than a runner-up finish and wins equivalent to the championship as that’s the most Hoshoryu can finish with (the Yokozuna is now alone in 2nd at 9-2 with 7 straight wins) so that would mean no worse than a playoff and, win or lose, that should mean promotion. Onosato faces Hakuoho tomorrow (who lost to Hoshoryu today). Hoshoryu has Kirishima (8-3).
Ozeki Watch: Daieisho has again protected his Sekiwake rank as he now is at 8 wins. Mathematically he is not out of championship contention yet so he still has a chance at promotion.
Of note: Tochitaikai will be demoted to make room for Kusano in July as 8 losses will end his top tier run for now while Asakoryu has clinched his first top-tier promotion in his 3rd try. Also RARE KIMARITE ALERT!!! Ura Ura! He did it AGAIN to Takayasu, beating him for the second time this year with a rare tsutaezori, under arm forward body drop. Don’t try to put Ura in a headlock because this is what happens! Also note that Hoshoryu beating Hakuoho was due to koshikudake, inadvertent collapse-considered a non-winning technique-as Hakuoho’s knee buckled and touched down on its own without any effort from Hoshoryu. Just one of those unfortunate “it happens” things and not an injury.

Juryo:
Kitanowaka (Ms1) beat Mita (J14)
Mitoryu (J12) beat Nabatame (J12)
Tohakuryu (J10) beat Kazekeno (J11)
Oshoumi (J9) beat Mudoho (J14)
Daiamami (J13) beat Shiden (J8)
Kotoeiho (J7) beat Miyanokaze (J13)
Hatsuyama (J10) beat Nishikifuji (J5)
Tsurugisho (J9) beat Hakuyozan (J4)
Shirokuma (J3) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Kagayaki (J4) beat Takarafuji (J3)
Daiseizan (J6) beat Fujiseiun (J2)
Wakaikari (J5) beat Hidenoumi (J2)
Tomokaze (J7) beat Kusano (J1)
Mitakeumi (J1) beat Hitoshi (J6)
Leader: Kusano (9-2)
Of note: No consecutive 14-1s for Kusano as his 9-match winning streak ended today. Good news for the 5 others who won and clinched promotions because their 8-4 records now have them only one win behind. Elsewhere, Nishikifuji will continue his recent fall as demotion was clinched putting him farther away from the top tier, and while not demoted yet Takarafuji all but won’t return to the top tier in July as the best he can do is 8-7, which at J3 is a toss-up for moving up. With his win today to get to 3-3, Kitanowaka will return to Juryo in July if he wins his final Makushita match, but fellow Ms1 Akua (who Hoshoryu has chosen for closing ceremony duty this tournament as it normally is a Malushita man from the current Yokozuna’s stable-Tatsunami in this case) will not as he took demotion today.

Lower tier notes: The Makushita Championship is set for Friday and will be Otsuji vs. Fukuzaki. This guarantees Otsuji will return to Juryo in July from Ms3. Fukuzaki is at Ms39 so no promotion to Juryo even if he wins. Enho is 2-3 and needs to win both his remaining matches or he will be deleted. Asanoyama is 4-1 and has clinched promotion so he will have a chance at a Juryo return in September. The Sandanme Championship match will be Hatooka vs. Kotohaguro. The Jonidan has 3 left at 6-0 and may need a playoff, and 2 of the 3 are Shikoroyama Beya wrestlers so that will impact final matches (Tenrosei-Hoshoryu’s younger cousin-and Mineyaiba, they will not face each other unless it’s in a playoff). In the Jonokuchi, Kazuma is the only 6-0 and should only need to win his final match for the championship, but that will depend in part on tomorrow’s results.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 10 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):
Kotoshoho (M14) beat Tochitaikai (M18)
Tokihayate (M15) beat Shonannounmi (M17)
Sadanoumi (M13) beat Tamashoho (M17)
Atamifuji (M12) beat Ryuden (M15)
Takanosho (M12) beat Asakoryu (M17)
Shishi (M11) beat Nishikigi (M16)
Onokatsu (M8) beat Kayo (M16)
Roga (M14) beat Kinbozan (M6)
Churanoumi (M7) beat Endo (M11)
Oshoma (M6) beat Shodai (M10)
Meisei (M10) beat Tobizaru (M6)
Midorifuji (M9) beat Chiyoshoma (M5)
Takerufuji (M4) beat Tamawashi (M3)
Abi (M2) beat Wakamotoharu (M1)
Gonoyama (M2) beat Oho (M1)
Hiradoumi (M3) beat Takayasu (K)
Wakatakakage (K) beat Aonishiki (M9)
Daieisho (S) beat Hakuoho (M7)
Onosato (O) beat IChiyamamoto (M4)
Kirishima (S) beat Kotozakura (O)
Hoshoryu (Y) beat Ura (M5)
Leader: Onosato (10-0)
Yokozuna Watch: It’s still Onosato’s to lose as the toughest part of the tournament approaches. He can’t clinch tomorrow but he can all but do so over the next 2 days.
Of note: Onosato’s lead is now 2 over a group of 4 that includes Hoshoryu, who has clinched his first winning record as a Yokozuna with 6 straight wins. That group will shrink tomorrow as Onosato faces Wakatakakage and Hoshoryu faces Hakuoho, who gets his first kinboshi chance now that Terunofuji is retired. The other one in the group, Aonishiki, takes on Kotozakura.

Juryo:
Kyokukaiyu (Ms5) beat Mudoho (J14)
Daiamami (J13) beat Mitoryu (J12)
Hatsuyama (J10) beat Miyanokaze (J13)
Ohsoumi (J9) beat Nabatame (J12)
Tsurugisho (J9) beat Kazekeno (J11)
Shimanoumi (J8) beat Tohakuryu (J10)
Mita (J14) beat Shiden (J8)
Tomokaze (J7) beat Hakuyozan (J4)
Kotoeiho (J7) beat Takarafuji (J3)
Shirokuma (J3) beat Hitoshi (J6)
Hidenoumi (J2) beat Nishikifuji (J5)
Fujiseiun (J2) beat Kagayaki (J4)
Wakaikari (J5) beat Mitakeumi (J1)
Kusano (J1) beat Daiseizan (J6)
Leader: Kusano (9-1)
Of note: Once again it’s Kusano’s to lose as he now has a 2 win lead over 6, including Wakaikari with still a chance to reach the top tier if he finishes strong, and Mita who is a win away from promotion in his Juryo debut. Not heading back to the top tier now are Kagayaki & Nishikifuji, and maybe not Takarafuji who may be nearing the end due to rumors that he may have the Isegahama elder stock and thus he and not Terunofuji could take over the stable after this tournament when the current Isegahama must retire.

UPDATE: Interesting lower tier side note-Hochi Sports notes today that Tenrosei, currently ranked at Jonidan 61 and at 5-0 going into Day 11, is another nephew of former Yokozuna Asashoryu and thus a younger cousin of Hoshoryu. Tenrosei, 18, currently is based at Shikoroyama Beya (Hoshoryu is at Tatsunami) and is in his second career tournament with a 5-2 finish in his debut in March.

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.