Nagoya 2025 Day Five
With one-third of the basho in the books, we've got a new-looking tournament for the rest of July.
Public League Leaderboard
Scores from Fantasizr
Yusho Arasoi
5 Wins
24 Maegashira #8 West Ichiyamamoto
40 Maegashira #16 West Mitakeumi
4 Wins
02 Yokozuna West Onosato
05 Sekiwake #1 West Kirishima
08 Komusubi West Takayasu
09 Maegashira #1 East Aonishiki
16 Maegashira #4 West Tamawashi
20 Maegashira #6 West Gonoyama
25 Maegashira #9 East Ura
35 Maegashira #14 East Kusano
Notable Maneuvers
Fusen. Both Shishi and Oho get the free win. Hidenoumi and, more consequentially, Hoshoryu have pulled out of the basho with injuries.
Match of the Day
09 Maegashira #1 East Aonishiki versus 05 Sekiwake #1 West Kirishima
Kirishima is a former Ozeki and two-time yusho winner who came into this match undefeated this basho. Rising star Aonishiki’s reputation has come so far Kirishima sought to keep the Ukrainian at bay. Initially, he was successful, as Aonishiki couldn’t find a grip. That didn’t mean he couldn’t still bend down and inside. Kirishima’s thrusting soon gave way to a grappling battle, which shoved Kirishima back. He expertly recovered, but then in the middle Aonishiki went for an inner thigh propping twist down that put Kirishima’s knee down. That would be his second uchimuso of the basho and a fourth impressive win.
Recap
Your undefeated duo leading the yusho race after five days are Ichiyamamoto and Mitakeumi. To say this was not expected a week ago is an understatement. Ichiyamamoto is a Maegashira #8, and Mitakeumi is a Maegashira #16. They also weren’t exactly setting the sumo world on fire. In May, Ichiyamamoto went 5-10, and his best career record is an 11-4 almost two years ago. Mitakeumi is a three-time yusho winner and former Ozeki, but he’s looked like he’s on his way out for awhile and spent the last basho in Juryo going 8-7. Yet here they are.
Their rank and recent performance are not the only reason to doubt Ichiyamamoto and Mitakeumi’s yusho chances. There’s also a very strong group at 4-1. Onosato has been impressive except for one slip up against Oho. Kirishima was looking on his best sumo until Aonishiki dropped him on Day Five. Aonishiki only lost to Onosato. Tamawashi and Takayasu are long-serving veterans with impressive careers. Gonoyama and Ura are showing what they can do at slightly lower-than-usual ranks. Kusano is making a strong debut after dominating Juryo. They all could keep this up and knock back the current leaders when the time comes.
The basho’s shape is shifting most after Day Five because of Hoshoryu’s absence. (Less so with Hidenoumi’s kyujo announcement, although that means we probably just saw his last Makuuchi matches.) Onosato is no longer barreling towards a Yokozuna versus Yokozuna matchup. The rest of Sanyaku except Takayasu, who faced Hoshoryu on Day One, also has one less guaranteed dance partner.
Scheduling gets just a little more open, meaning upstarts are more likely to face the strong performing Sanyaku men this basho. Kirishima and Takayasu will be looking to stay in the yusho race while also acting as a gatekeeper for surprising lower and mid-Maegashira. Onosato should get the continued set order of matches that is given to a Yokozuna. That will push him deeper into upper Makuuchi for a few more days, before getting a closing kick of Sanyaku matches.
Takayasu and Aonishiki are also at 4-1 while theoretically having the hardest stretch of schedule behind them. Both have already faced Hoshoryu, Kotozakura, and Wakatakakage. Aonishiki has, in fact, not yet faced a Maegashira. That trend continues on Day Six when he squares off with Takayasu. Another surprising win by the young Ukrainian sets him up to mostly control his own destiny. With strong performers sprinkled across the Banzuke, a missing Yokozuna, and some impressive Sanyaku wrestlers, we’ll have key matches each day.