Hatsu 2025 Day Ten

Two-thirds of the basho behind us, and we have a range of possibilities for the closing sumo.

Public League Leaderboard

Scores from Fantasizr

Yusho Arasoi

9 Wins

36 Maegashira #14 West Kinbozan

8 Wins

14 Maegashira #3 West Oho

18 Maegashira #5 West Chiyoshoma

30 Maegashira #11 West Takerufuji

7 Wins

03 Ozeki #1 West Hoshoryu

04 Ozeki #2 West Onosato

10 Maegashira #1 West Kirishima

Notable Maneuvers

Uwatedashinage. In the early matches, Midorifuji pulled Kagayaki around and down with a nice pulling overarm throw. Then Hoshoryu showed how quick and devastating an uwatedashinage could be by forcefully sending down Daieisho.

Match of the Day

13 Maegashira #3 East Gonoyama versus 04 Ozeki #2 West Onosato

This match was an odd one from before the jump. Gonoyama was itching to go, to the point that he went too soon. Gyoji calls matta, they reset, and the tension was palpable. Then Gonoyama did it again, but went harder and faster. Onosato was on it and jumped out of the way, but not without a small collision as the matta was called for a second time. This may have impacted the official match, which saw Onosato very easily and very forcefully shove aside the Maegashira.

Recap

Kinbozan saw his first loss on Day Ten in a match with Abi right after Chiyoshoma was also knocked back by Kirishima. Neither match was all that interesting as a standalone match. Chiyoshoma tried constant motion against Kirishima, who was more than happy to dance around until Chiyoshoma fell. Kinbozan just could not handle Abi’s first two-arm thrust and immediately went to the side and down. They weren’t much to watch, but both matches had huge implications.

Kinbozan is now 9-1, with a one match lead over Oho, Chiyoshoma, and Takerufuji. Two matches back are two Ozeki in Hoshoryu and Onosato as well as a former Ozeki in Kirishima. The trio at two back are more likely to overtake the deficit than it may seem. Hoshoryu and Onosato can’t both win out, since they have to face each other. Kirishima saw both of them in his first two days. But those three will be the best candidates to show Kinbozan, Chiyoshoma, and Takerufuji are not real contenders.

That process begins on Day Eleven. Kinbozan sees Onosato in the next-to-last match, with Chiyoshoma facing Hoshoryu in the main event. Takerufuji will hold off on his Ozeki matches for another day, but does get Daieisho in a serious test of his mettle. With five more days, the basho will get topsy-turvy fast. Day Ten is not an outlier in the way it compressed the yusho race. Matchups from here on out will force every contender to keep pace.

Slightly less pressure will be on Oho, as he has already faced most of the other main contenders. He has faced the entire Sanyaku slate already, and is standing tall. He has so far avoided Kinbozan, Chiyoshoma, and Takerufuji. Oho is possibly being held as a final opponent for whoever survives facing the Ozeki. Kirishima has also so far avoided seeing that same group except Chiyoshoma, and Oho-Kirishima is still an open possibility.

Kinbozan has the clear advantage of being the sole leader. He also will only win the yusho by beating a much tougher dance card over his final few days. All he needs to do is win out, but winning out means winning the biggest matches he has ever had. He has three rikishi right behind him in case he falls, with another three serious contenders able to overtake everyone if they all start falling.