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Grand Sumo 2025 January Tournament Day15 (Final)

Hoshoryu secured the championship in a Tomoesen

※ Tomoesen means three-way playoff

The road to Hoshoryu’s championship began with Kinbozan’s loss to Oho. While Kinbozan was defeated, it appeared that he was still able to execute his usual style of sumo. He didn’t seem to falter under pressure or fail to demonstrate his strength.

Oho skillfully timed a slap down on Kinbozan’s thrusting hand and quickly followed up with a rapid attack. His thrusts extended well, successfully raising Kinbozan’s upper body.

Until now, Oho’s sumo hasn’t typically been associated with speed, but this match showcased a rare sense of quickness and urgency in his movements.


When Kinbozan lost, I was confident that Hoshoryu would claim the championship. It was unthinkable that Hoshoryu would lose to Kotozakura in this tournament. All that remained was the tomoesen (three-way playoff) against an opponent he had already defeated decisively in the regular match. With the championship and Yokozuna promotion within his grasp, I imagine Hoshoryu’s motivation skyrocketed.

First, Hoshoryu defeated Kotozakura in their match to advance to the championship playoff. However, the win was closer than I expected. His shitate-nage (underarm throw) felt overly forceful, and if Kotozakura had been in his usual condition, the outcome might have been different.

The tomoesen began with the match between Kinbozan and Hoshoryu. In their regular match, Hoshoryu had used a taguri (arm pull) at the tachi-ai (initial charge) to disrupt Kinbozan’s momentum. This time, however, he went for a hari-zashi (slap and arm insertion) at the tachi-ai. It was an incredibly sharp charge that closed the distance immediately, preventing Kinbozan from launching a thrusting attack. Once Hoshoryu secured a shitate (underhand grip) and brought the bout into a yotsu-zumo (belt-grappling sumo), the match was decided.

In the final match for the championship against Oho, Hoshoryu once again demonstrated a fast and precise tachi-ai. He quickly caught Oho, allowing no room for a tsuki-oshi (thrusting attack). As soon as Hoshoryu tightened his grip on a hidari uwate (left overhand grip), the outcome was clear, and he secured the victory.


This tournament, Hoshoryu suffered three early losses (all to maegashira opponents), and it seemed that both the yusho (championship) and his Yokozuna promotion hopes were out of reach. However, he never gave up.

Hoshoryu shared that his stable master advised him to “enjoy the competition,” which helped him reset his mindset.

In the past, Hoshoryu often relied on desperate throws or leg techniques, resulting in many uncertain victories. However, since the previous tournament, his tachi-ai (initial charge) has become noticeably stronger, and his forward-moving sumo has shown greater stability.

This time, he displayed remarkable focus and composure, particularly in the most critical moments, demonstrating his ability to win under pressure.

While there are some negative opinions among sumo fans about his Yokozuna promotion, it is almost certain based on past precedent. The official announcement is expected after the special board meeting of the Japan Sumo Association on the 29th.


Shishi Wins the Juryo Championship

Shishi claimed the Juryo championship. Going into his match against Tomokaze, I felt that as long as Shishi avoided a hataki-komi (slap down), he was unlikely to lose. The bout itself unfolded exactly as expected.

That said, competing in such a high-pressure situation with the championship on the line, Shishi deserves praise for sticking to his usual style of sumo and securing the victory.


Nabatame and Aonishiki Deliver a Thrilling Bout

Although neither managed to capture the championship, the match between Nabatame and Aonishiki was highly entertaining and showcased excellent sumo.

Nabatame’s tsuki-oshi (thrusting attack) was powerful and relentless. Meanwhile, Aonishiki responded from below, displaying remarkable lower-body stability and core strength. Even when slapped down or sidestepped, he refused to lose his balance or fall to the dohyo, a testament to his impressive fundamentals.



Written by 小柳公寿

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