Hatsu 2025 Day Seven

See where the January tournament stands after a week of sumo.

Public League Leaderboard

Scores from Fantasizr

Yusho Arasoi

7 Wins

18 Maegashira #5 West Chiyoshoma

36 Maegashira #14 West Kinbozan

6 Wins

03 Ozeki #1 West Hoshoryu

14 Maegashira #3 West Oho

27 Maegashira #10 East Tamawashi

30 Maegashira #11 West Takerufuji

Notable Maneuvers

Fusen. Roga’s re-withdrawal was more impactful than it seems at first glance. First, since he presumably won’t be returning to win a match, Roga is almost guaranteed to go down to Juryo. That opens up more slots for promotees. More critically, Chiyoshoma gets another win and has now won seven straight to start this basho.

Match of the Day

14 Maegashira #3 West Oho versus 03 Ozeki #1 West Hoshoryu

This was the on-paper highlight before the day began, and the crowd seemed appropriately up for it. They launched into a mighty clash from the tachiai. Hoshoryu first gained an advantage, with Oho going backwards in a pushing content. Then Oho reversed the momentum. While moving back, Hoshoryu grabbed Oho’s right arm and moved sideways. This put him behind Oho, so Hoshoryu grabbed the mawashi from behind and went into a dohyo-long tackle to defeat Oho and bring his old rival down to 6-1.

Recap

Your two leaders after a week of sumo are Maegashira #5 West Chiyoshoma and Maegashira #14 West Kinbozan. Neither the names nor the ranks are the obvious candidates for being the two undefeated rikishi. Chiyoshoma has had a mini-resurgence by recalibrating the tricks and surprises to be just rare enough to surprise. Kinbozan has simplified his sumo to keep his immense frame in front of opponents and wait for a mistake. That has all been working well so far.

The first week of a sumo tournament is largely based on a set schedule, determined by place on the Banzuke. The 7 or 8 men ranked nearest to a rikishi will generally be the first 7 or 8 opponents they see. It’s not quite that simple, because stablemates don’t fight and the top and bottom of the Banzuke can’t exactly go up AND down the rankings to find opponents. But keep in mind Chiyoshoma and Kinbozan have not yet been placed against opponents based on current performance.

That will change soon enough, but they may get to hold off seeing Hoshoryu or Oho or some Sanyaku gatekeeper that should beat the upstart back. What is clear is that Hoshoryu will make everyone else in the 7-0 or 6-1 group keep up their winning ways. Hoshoryu faced a long-term rival on Day Seven, who was previously undefeated, and manhandled him. Hoshoryu is currently in second place, beside Oho, Tamawashi, and Takerufuji, but he should be looked at as a favorite both as an Ozeki and the rikishi performing the best by the eye test.

Hoshoryu is by no means a lock. Takerufuji is a former yusho winner himself, and he seems back on the fast track to Sanyaku. Tamawashi is also a former yusho winner, although as a 40 year old competing he is doing something highly unusual for a rikishi. Oho found a new level of sumo in week one of Hatsu. They, too, are all just one loss behind the leaders. Chiyoshoma and Kinbozan are doing well enough they could pull the shock yusho, although both still seem like long shots.

None of which is to discount 5-2 Sekiwake Daieisho or 4-3 Ozeki Onosato. Both have lifted the Emperor’s Cup before and could win out from here. That’s unlikely, but maybe more feasible than Chiyoshoma or Kinbozan ending at 12-3 or 13-2. Lots of possibilities are in the air after a week of action, and the next eight days could hold a plethora of outcomes.