Natsu 2025 Day Eleven
As the May tournament rolls on, the possible yusho winners keeps narrowing.
Public League Leaderboard
Scores from Fantasizr
Yusho Arasoi
11 Wins
02 Ozeki East Onosato
9 Wins
01 Yokozuna East Hoshoryu
Notable Maneuvers
Koshikudake. Or “inadvertent collapse.” Technically, this is a “Non-technique.” Hoshoryu was putting pressure on Hakuoho, but both men were dancing around. As the Yokozuna reloaded, Hakuoho completely lost his feet and went sideways and down.
Match of the Day
06 Komusubi East Takayasu versus 16 Maegashira #5 East Ura
Both rikishi came into this one at 2-8, which showed in their desperation. Still made it exciting. Takayasu wanted to keep Ura at arm’s length, which meant Ura was doing his odd slapping technique that seems like its more an effort to go for a mawashi grip. That grip never came, but we did see both men’s struggles this basho. Takayasu couldn’t get power, while Ura wasn’t bendy enough to use his tricks. Finally, Takayasu got in and had Ura in a strange reverse headlock. That should have ended things somehow, but Ura did Ura things. The Pink Prince of Technique busted out a tsutaezori, the “under-arm forward body drop.” That involved spinning his head to be against Takayasu’s side, bending his back, and dropping the Old Bear to the clay. The last one to use this rare kimarite was Ura, against Takayasu, in January.
Recap
To Wakatakakage’s credit, Onosato probably had his most difficult match on Day Eleven. The Komusubi actually latched on for a mawashi grip, which made Onosato move sideways. The ending was familiar, though, as Onosato kept his feet wide, turned the momentum of the match, and sent Wakatakakage hard over the edge with a close shove. Onosato sits at 11 Wins, 0 losses, and moving that little bit nearer to his Yokozuna promotion.
In fact, Onosato’s Day Eleven win was more impactful than previous wins, because he knocked Wakatakakage back to 8-3. Aonishiki’s loss to Kotozakura was after a great effort where one of the best defensive sekitori threw him while going backwards. That’s cold comfort to also being 3 losses behind Onosato with four days remaining. Similarly, Hakuoho fell from the ranks of the 2-loss men by, well, falling against Hoshoryu. He, too, is now requiring a miracle.
Hoshoryu is the only rikishi with any kind of realistic chance at catching Onosato now. He is the only one at 9-2, and Hoshoryu-Onosato has been penciled in for the final day since the end of the last basho. Hoshoryu can hand Onosato one of his potential losses. He would still need to have someone else beat Onosato, which looks increasingly unlikely. The final match will not matter as long as Onosato wins his next three.
There are 7 rikishi on 8-3, which theoretically means they have a mathematical chance. They all need to 1) win out, 2) have Onosato go 1-3 or worse, and 3) have Hoshoryu go 2-2 or worse. It can happen, but the circumstances are so extreme that no one should expect it. Daieisho and Kirishima seemingly have the best shot, since they still need to both face Hoshoryu and Onosato. If Hoshoryu, Daieisho, and Kirishima all beat Onosato, then that more likely sets up a possible playoff rather than an outright yusho.
Onosato also doesn’t look like he will drop three matches, even against some of the best rikishi. He gets another 8-3 wrestler in Hakuoho on Day Twelve. This means at least one Sanyaku rikishi will not face Onosato. Oddly, bet on fellow Ozeki Kotozakura as the man on the outside. Hakuoho has been good, although he’s on a 3 match losing streak. Daieisho and Kirishima absolutely could put dirt on anyone, and Hoshoryu has had Onosato’s number. Onosato also seems to have reached a new level, combining his power and skill with a focus to take whatever anyone can get. If he doesn’t win this basho, something wild has happened.