Grand Sumo 2025 January Tournament Day9

Hoshoryu Loses—Yokozuna Hopes Fade

Hoshoryu, now in a position where he cannot afford another loss in his quest for Yokozuna promotion, faced Hiradoumi in a crucial match. Up until now, Hoshoryu had never lost to Hiradoumi. However, in this pivotal moment, he suffered a painful defeat.

Perhaps due to nerves, Hoshoryu’s footwork was off. His feet didn’t split front-to-back properly but instead became parallel, leaving him vulnerable. As a result, with just a slap to his hands, he lost his balance and fell forward.

Kinbōzan Maintains Perfect Record with Sheer Determination

Kinbōzan, who has been in excellent form this tournament, faced off against another strong contender, Takerufuji. The two were teammates during their university days, and according to Kinbōzan, they had an intense rivalry characterized by "bachi-bachi" (a Japanese onomatopoeia for sparks flying or fierce practice sessions). However, this marked their first-ever meeting in professional sumo.

Before the match, many fans likely anticipated the following scenarios: if Kinbōzan were to win, it would be through relentless thrusting attacks, similar to how Tamawashi defeated Takerufuji, forcing him to retreat straight back under pressure. On the other hand, if Takerufuji were to win, it would involve him maneuvering past the thrusts and closing the distance to secure his preferred grip.

As the bout began, Kinbōzan, true to expectations, launched a thrusting attack. However, Takerufuji sidestepped, so Kinbōzan chose to Yotsu-zumo. This style of sumo favored Takerufuji, who skillfully scooped with his right hand and secured a moro-zashi (double inside grip) by sliding his left hand into position. At this moment, I thought, "As expected, Takerufuji is a master technician. This is his victory." Kinbōzan himself admitted after the match that he thought, "It’s over," at that point.

But what followed was a stunning reversal at the edge of the ring. Kinbōzan executed a determined kotenage (Arm lock throw), snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. This win wasn’t just about technique or strength—it was the embodiment of sheer determination.

Written by 小柳公寿

Comments

Grand Sumo 2025 January Tournament Day4

It was an excellent bout and very enjoyable to watch. TAKANOSHO - HOSHORYU Hoshoryu had a strong tachi-ai (initial charge) and maintained good flow throughout the match. However, Takanosho showed remarkable determination, refusing to back down even when in a disadvantageous position. The pivoting movement he made when he was cornered against the tawara (bales on the edge of the dohyo) on the far side was particularly impressive. This turned the tide of the match in Takanosho’s favor. In the end, though, Hoshoryu secured the victory with his incredible athleticism and the exceptional strength of his lower body, snatching the win in dramatic fashion. TAKAYASU - URA Wow, that was surprising! A tsutaezori (Under arm forward body drop)—and not just any tsutaezori, but one executed so beautifully! Watching the match, it was clear that Ura was aiming for a sori-waza (Backwards body drop). Still, I thought, “There’s no way this will work against Takayasu.” But this was truly a...

A Heartwarming Story About Hoshoryu

As many of you know, Hoshoryu won the January tournament and was promoted as the 74th Yokozuna. During his victory interview, he shared that after experiencing the heartbreak of losing on the final day of the November tournament, he made a promise to "a certain person." He vowed to channel that frustration into the January tournament and win the championship no matter what. That "certain person" is Ruri Kubota, whom Hoshoryu refers to as his "mother in Japan." And the boy who sat beside Hoshoryu in the open car during the victory parade was none other than Ruri’s son, Teruchika, whom Hoshoryu calls his "younger brother in Japan." Teruchika has Down syndrome. Hoshoryu first met Teruchika and his mother in 2019, when he was still in the Juryo division. Their connection began when Hoshoryu was invited to coach Teruchika through Kashiwa Sumo Club, where the club’s representative happened to be Hoshoryu’s former high school mentor. Hoshoryu was deep...

Grand Sumo 2025 January Tournament Day15 (Final)

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Hooked on Sumo: Insights & Analysis 　(by 小柳公寿)

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