The Sumo Thread - HAKKEYOI!!!

[Dick Pooman]

There's also a YouTube channel called sumo-video (with Japanese characters) that uploads individual matches pretty soon after they've happened. The added bonus too is that the thumbnails don't spoil anything and I can't read Japanese so no spoilers there either.

Sumo Video is the official channel of the Japanese Sumo Association. They're really good at uploading all of the top division bouts pretty soon after the match day is over.

 

[Officer Barbrady]

Sumo Video is the official channel of the Japanese Sumo Association. They're really good at uploading all of the top division bouts pretty soon after the match day is over.

Oh wow, I didn't know that, my bad. I'm actually surprised they haven't shoved those clips behind a paywall somehow.

I'm looking forward to the Onosato vs Hoshoryu bout tomorrow to decide if Onosato gets his unbeaten yusho or not. Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems like it'd be the first clean sweep of a yusho since Hakuho's last tournament in July 2021? Though honestly, part of me hopes there's an upset by Hoshoryu which can kickstart a Yokozuna rivalry between the two.

 

[Dick Pooman]

Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems like it'd be the first clean sweep of a yusho since Hakuho's last tournament in July 2021?

Yep, Hakuho was the last 15-0. Crazy how it feels like forever ago. I'm just glad that the quality of sumo has improved so much during the last few tournaments. After Hakuho retired, it seemed like every time someone got promoted to Ozeki, or close to Yokozuna, they would crash out. I'm excited to have more than one Yokozuna again.

 

[Officer Barbrady]

Hoshoryu has beaten Onosato in the last day of the May 2025 basho to finish with a 12-3 record, whilst Onosato misses out on his perfect record and finishes at 14-1.

Looks like we've got a true Yokozuna rivalry in store.

 

[Lapis Lazuli Blue]

Hoshoryu has beaten Onosato in the last day of the May 2025 basho to finish with a 12-3 record, whilst Onosato misses out on his perfect record and finishes at 14-1.

Looks like we've got a true Yokozuna rivalry in store.

Great Final match with Hosh and Big O was happy for it to go either way. But kinda glad Hosh did beat him as a Yokozuna middle finger.

 

[Tamashoho's Abused Towel]

Onosato winning the tournament but losing on the final day to a rebounding Hoshoryu is KINO. ABSOLUTE KINOOOOOOOOOO! Best possible outcome.

Where is [Nattosumo] now?

I don't want to put it out there, who knows where NHK and Abema goons are lurking, but I'll send you a direct message.


Let's see my lazy predictions from earlier in the thread and how they fared.

-Onosato will follow his pattern of yusho into hangover and end on 10-5 at best
-OR he'll win outright with no playoff

I won't count this because I covered both bases like a coward.

-Hoshoryu completes the basho and at least contends for the yusho

Runner-up without playoff counts, right?

-Takayasu does well but not well enough to contend for the yusho again

Runner-up without playoff counts, right?

-Kotozakura continues his weird mediocre streak

Fucking 8-7, I hope he doesn't take Shodai's place as the kadoban bouncer.

-Ura is Ura

Ura sure was Ura, king of weird techniques. Tsutaezori for the second time this year!

-Hiradoumi got that dog in him but gets crumpled up by joi schedule

Not as crumpled as I expected but most of the big boys did crumple him

-Daieisho will NEVER be ozeki

Ok he might be

-Aonishiki will do well

Dude is Sanyaku material for sure

-My man Tamashoho is not a Makuuchi rikishi, he'll get trashed

Back to juryo with you...

 

[Polska krowa]

As expected, the YDC has met and decided, in the space of 6 minutes, that Onosato should be promoted to Yokozuna (article).

Let's hope that Hoshoryu and Onosato have an extremely fierce rivalry at the top. I'd love to see at least one more enter the fray, too. Hopefully, the current Sanyaku/soon-to-be-promoted Sanyaku will really step up.

 

[Dick Pooman]

I was going to say that it's been a while since we've had a Yokozuna in the Yokozuna-Ozeki slot on the banzuke. Last time was the January 2023 tournament after Shodai lost his Ozeki rank, and the only Ozeki was Takakeisho. Before that, you have to go back to 1991.

 

[Fishmalk Observer]

Talking takakeisho, he's lost a 100 + pounds in a few months since he intai'd. He went from a hamster to an awkward young man. It's truly mesmerizing

 

[Lapis Lazuli Blue]

Was just thinking we are already ozeki light going into this now we are ozeki poor. Hopefully Daieisho can make it up the ranks.

 

[Officer Barbrady]

My boy Wakatakakage getting a 12-3 record warms my heart. With his 9-6 March run that's 21 wins in the last two basho for him.

Worth noting that Kusano, who went on a crazed run of 14-1 in Juryo for March has won back-to-back yusho in Juryo with a 13-2 record this tournament. I think it's safe to say he'll be getting promoted from J1 to the top division for July which should be pretty interesting.

Ura sure was Ura, king of weird techniques. Tsutaezori for the second time this year!

King Ura with one of the best finishes in the competition too (Day 11 v Takayasu):

0:41

 

[Officer Barbrady]

It seems the world of Sumo simply can't go a year without another scandal, as it turns out one of the gyoji in charge of managing a reserve fund for rikishi within the top two divisions has been using that money for gambling and other activities.

Part of the fund has been designated to be used to help children affected by the 2011 Japanese earthquake/tsunami disaster, only for a supposed culprit to be embezzeling tens of millions of yen from it for gambling use instead. Apparently this involves the funds of 70 sekitori who all agreed to set aside money each to help towards the fund.

The article doesn't name the person who is under investigation, but I noticed that someone from another sumo forum did mention that top division referee Kimura Ginjiro who is associated with the Shibatayama stable was absent through the last basho. Pure speculation though.

 

[Lapis Lazuli Blue]

Well that's some pretty impressive degen behavior. Wonder why sumo is so riddled with dishonest behavior? I remember watch Midnight Sumo stream on the last day of the tournament and people in chat going on about Takayasu taking a dive (pretty retard take) but Midnight was going off at chat about how that was all exposed and cleaned up and would never happen again so shut up about it. I was thinking bro..... What sport have you been watching. Its full of scandals!

 

[Dick Pooman]

Some tabloids in Japan are reporting that Hakuho has allegedly tendered his resignation to the JSA. Nothing from any reputable sources, yet.

 

[pinstripe]

Some tabloids in Japan are reporting that Hakuho has allegedly tendered his resignation to the JSA. Nothing from any reputable sources, yet.

if this is true i wonder if this is him pressuring them into hurrying up with getting his stable back. "give me my stable back or you lose the greatest sumo wrestler to have ever lived teaching your wrestlers" sorta deal.

 

[Tamashoho's Abused Towel]

Do you guys think they're stubborn and dumb enough to let him leave?


Also, here's a video of Onosato's first dohyo-iri at Meiji Shrine. Looking very stiff and can't keep as good a poker face as Hoshoryu. He must be very nervous, he'll get better at it before long.

https://youtu.be/tp6QEMDhdOs

 

[Polska krowa]

Do you guys think they're stubborn and dumb enough to let him leave?

Do you think water is wet?

Also, here's a video of Onosato's first dohyo-iri at Meiji Shrine. Looking very stiff and can't keep as good a poker face as Hoshoryu. He must be very nervous, he'll get better at it before long.

Over on r/Sumo, they're getting very upset that Ryuden is acting as dew sweeper.

 

[Sinner's Sandwich]

Well that's some pretty impressive degen behavior. Wonder why sumo is so riddled with dishonest behavior?

Also violent bullying. But at least it seems that it doesn't happen as often anymore as it did in the past.

 

[Cougar Pump]

Hoshoryu's inherent Mongolian game-face is unparalleled tbh. Onosato's nervousness is keeping him sharp, not in itself a problem. Hosh flipping Ono on the last day was honestly one of the best matches I've ever seen tho.
Really looking forward to the July Basho now.
In part I want to know if Takayasu is doing an on/off/on type performance split because I'll cheer him if he goes for another run. Hopeful of this (but then, he is quite old).

 

[Tamashoho's Abused Towel]

Over on r/Sumo, they're getting very upset that Ryuden is acting as dew sweeper.

I expected something like that. The Ryuden hate is so fucking reddit it hurts. Yeah, I get it, he cheated on his wife. That sucks. I don't care, you don't care either, get over it. Every single sumospiffy video is tainted with it too.

Fucking reddit.

Onosato's nervousness is keeping him sharp, not in itself a problem

I didn't mean to imply it is a problem at all, it's just a funny juxtaposition now that we've had these two promoted so close to each other.

I hope it doesn't end up being Hoshoryu living in Onosato's shade but a proper rivalry instead. The last breath of Mongol dominance against the new rise of Japanese pride or something. Would be even more kino than Onosato's only loss being against the now redeemed Hoshoryu.