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Grand Sumo 2025 January Tournament Day7

 The Most Anticipated Bout of the Day: Ōhō vs. Hōshōryū

The highlight of today’s matches was undoubtedly the clash between Ōhō, undefeated with six straight wins, and Hōshōryū, trailing with just one loss. The result was a decisive victory for Hōshōryū.

Hōshōryū outclassed Ōhō in every aspect—spirit, sharpness at the tachiai, and speed. From the tachiai, Hōshōryū applied pressure with his thrusts, pulled Ōhō's arm to turn him sideways, and immediately maneuvered behind him to deliver a clean okuri-taoshi (rear push down). This seamless sequence epitomized the principle of "sen-te hisshō" (the first move guarantees victory). Every movement was precise and purposeful, highlighting Hōshōryū's well-rounded form and dominance in the ring.


Takerufuji vs. Ōshōma

In a bout where Ōshōma attempted a kote-nage (armlock throw), Takerufuji quickly turned to face his opponent and closed the distance. To neutralize the kote-nage, he used a series of technical maneuvers, such as twisting his arm (kaina) back, bending his elbow, and  inserting his left arm deeply under Ōshōma’s armpit. In addition, Takerufuji used his left knee to block Ōshōma’s attempts to circle around, completely cutting off his escape routes.

The fluidity of these movements was truly impressive. While his explosiveness and speed are often noted, this match demonstrated that Takerufuji is not just an athlete but also a highly skilled technician.


Atamifuji vs. Ōnosato

Atamifuji appeared to gain an advantage early on by securing a left uwate (overarm grip), but the tide quickly turned when Ōnosato used his left hand to push up Atamifuji’s elbow, causing him to lose balance significantly.

Initially, it seemed that Ōnosato’s raw power had simply overwhelmed Atamifuji. However, on replay, the sequence revealed more subtlety: Ōnosato first disrupted Atamifuji’s stance with a shake from the right side, then followed up with a strong ottsuke (arm block) from the left. It’s likely that Atamifuji, anticipating a shitate-nage (underarm throw) from the right, was caught off-guard by the sharp ottsuke from the left, which left him unable to recover his balance.



Kinbōzan’s 7-Win Streak

Kinbōzan extended his winning streak to seven matches. For a long time, he had been unable to perform his trademark tsuki-oshi (thrusting and pushing) sumo due to a lingering neck injury. However, starting from the previous tournament, his original style of sumo has made a full comeback. His current form is nothing short of spectacular.

Tomorrow, he faces Tamawashi. A fierce tsuki-oshi battle is expected, making this an exciting matchup to watch.


Kotozakura Breaks Losing Streak

Kotozakura stepped onto the dohyo wearing a new black mawashi in an effort to reset his mindset. While his sumo content remained largely the same as during his losing streak, this time, he managed to secure a win. Earning a victory, even by a slim margin, is a significant achievement.

The most important takeaway from this match is the confidence that comes from breaking the streak. Indeed, a single win can pave the way for better results in the matches to come.




Written by 小柳公寿

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