GRAND SUMO: Day 4 of the May 2025 Tournament - GRAND SUMO Highlights

Welcome back to the maid tournament. This is day four. Yokozuna Ho Shoryu lost for the first time yesterday. He does not want to give up Kimboshi on back-to-back days. He is facing Maegashira 2, Abi. We enter today's action with seven men, undefeated all at 3 and 0. Another sunny warm day in Tokyo. As fans fill in the Kokugikan. We begin with Kaio and Asa Koryu. Newcomer Kaio versus returnee Asa Koryu. Asa Koryu, the bodybuilder of Grand Sumo. Kaio has yet to win as a Makuuchi Rikishi. They ram into each other. Asa Koryu, even though he's smaller, has the leverage advantage and he takes out Kaio. Kaio still winless while Asa Koryu improves to 3 and 1 with that Yorikiri. He's in search of his first Kachikoshi in the top division. Up next, it's Juryo 2 men Fujii Seiyun against veteran Nishikigi. Nishikigi has already matched the number of wins he had in the entire March tournament with three. Fujii Seiyun, 27 years old, at a career high in rank. Off they go. Fujii Seiyun pushing back. Nishikigi, but Nishikigi, thanks to his very heavy lower body, able to hold his ground at the edge and win by a rare technique, Amiuchi, which translates into English as the fisherman's throw. And when you get a look at this throw by Nishikigi at the edge, it kind of looks like a fisherman's throw with a net. A rare Kimarite. Next up are Ryuden and Tama Shouhou. They are fighting for the very first time in any division. Tama Shouhou has yet to prove he has staying power in Makunouchi while Ryuden is in search of his first Kachikoshi this year in the top division. Coming in low is Tama Shouhou, but Ryuden seems to be outmuscling Tama Shouhou. Now Ryuden has a really strong grip. Tama Shouhou trying to break that grip. Tama Shouhou continues to squirm around, but Ryuden presses on to Tama Shouhou and wins by Yorikiri force out. It took a while, but Ryuden evens his record at 2 and 2 with that force out victory Tama Shouhou 1 and 3. Ryuden at Maegashira 15 this tournament. On the dohyo now, it's rookie Tochi Taikai against Shonan no Umi. It's their first meeting in Makunouchi, but they're not strangers. They have fought six times in Makushita between 2020 and 2022. Off they go. Tochi Taikai moving back Shonan no Umi, but Shonan no Umi grabs the arms of Tochi Taikai. Shonan no Umi pressing forward, but he has a bit too much forward lean and Tochi Taikai is able to escape with his third victory. Shonan no Umi has a hard time moving forward, and today he has a hard time maintaining his balance. Tochi Taikai doing very well for a newcomer 3 and 1. With that tsuki otoshi. For once, Shonan no Umi shows some de-ashi, and he has Tochi Taikai backpedaling, but Tochi Taikai is able to escape at the edge. Here are Toki Hayate and Sadano Umi. They have mirror records. Toki Hayate at 2 and 1. Sadano Umi 1 and 2. Sadano Umi turned 38 years old on day one. Toki Hayate freshed off his first kachikoshi in the top division. Off they go. Sadano Umi with a strong grip. You can't tell that Sadano Umi is 38 years old with that kind of energy displayed. He wins by yorikiri. Both men are now 2 and 2. These two, Rikishi Rouga and Takano Sho have the same record, 2 and 1. This is Takano Sho's 500th makunouchi match. Rouga has recovered from a right hamstring injury. Hard hit at the tachi-ai, and Rouga is able to absorb Takano Sho's initial hit. Seems a bit dazed, but he does pick up the win. Rouga with a hatakikomi slapdown. He's up to 3 and 1. On the dohyo now, it's undefeated Endo versus winless Shishi. A lot of fans of Endo in the crowd. In addition to his perfect record, Endo is also fighting in his 1,000th career match. Shishi, meantime, struggling at maegashira 11. Hitting and shifting is Endo, but Shishi fends him off. Endo jumps to the side again. Now Endo gets an inside position and goes with the tsuppari, the thrusting. Shishi trying desperately to get a grip. Now he gets a grip of Endo's mawashi, and he picks up the win. But wait! The shimpan raises his hand. Did something happen midway through that match? Let's look at Shishi's right foot. Oh no, he stepped out! So it's a win for Endo. The gyoji gave the goodbye to Shishi. However, we had a monoi to talk about Shishi stepping out during the bout. Therefore, we overturned the gyoji's call, and the winner is Endo. So frustration for Shishi. He stepped out and suffers his fourth straight loss. Endo continues to be undefeated. Here are Atami Fujii and Shodai. Both are at 2 and 1. It's a contrast in personalities. Shodai laid back. Atami Fujii, excitable. They have the same record though. Soft tachiai. As Atami Fujii moves forward, and he makes quick work out of Shodai. Not much energy from Shodai today. As he falls to 2 and 2. Atami Fujii having no trouble winning by yorikiri force out, and he improves to 3 and 1. Here's Aonishiki and Meisei. The two rikishi with the same 2 and 1 mark. Meisei accompanies stablemate Houshou Ryu during his yokozuna dohyo iri. Aonishiki continues to impress in just his second top division tourney. Both men coming in very low. It's a thrusting battle at the moment. Meisei steps to the side, but Aonishiki returns the favor. Both men showing excellent agility, and it's Aonishiki with a clever uwate dashi nage pulling over arm throw right at the edge. Right when he looked like he would suffer his first loss, Aonishiki has that slick move. This was a fast-paced bout. As Meisei steps to his left. It's a thrusting battle here, and then Meisei looks like he has the advantage, but he can't finish off Aonishiki. Here's Midori Fujii and Kim Bozan. A contrast in physiques. Kim Bozan with those long arms and powerful thrusts. Midori Fujii compact. Hitting and shifting is Midori Fujii, but Kim Bozan keeps him right in front of him. Midori Fujii for the fourth straight day. Cannot execute any of his dynamic technique. Instead, he is overpowered by his opponent. A tsuki dashi thrust out win for Kim Bozan. He's up to 2 and 2. Midori Fujii winless 0 and 4. Midori Fujii was trying his best to get a secure mawashi grip, but Kim Bozan kept Midori Fujii at arm's length and eventually thrusts out Midori Fujii. Our first bout of the day is between Haku Oho and Ono Katsu. Haku Oho 3 and 0. Good to see him without any taping. Ono Katsu doing pretty well at 2 and 1. They ram into each other. Haku Oho with a strong morozashi double arm inside position. And the young man has another impressive victory. 4 and 0. A yorikiri for Haku Oho. He has a fierce tachiai and he follows it up smoothly. With a double arm inside grip. Here's Chudano Umi and Tobizaru. Mirror records. Chudano Umi 1 and 2. Tobizaru 2 and 1. It's speed and agility from Tobizaru versus size and weight from Chudano Umi. Another soft tachiai. The guys not really ramming into each other. It's a tsuppari battle at the moment. They're bouncing off each other. And Tobizaru catches Chudano Umi with a bit too much extension. And he slaps down Chudano Umi. That's a hatakikomi. And Tobizaru is 3 and 1. A fast moving match in this tsuppari battle. And it's Tobizaru with a bit better balance than Chudano Umi. Up now Ura and Ohshoma. Ohshoma currently 1 and 2. Ura despite his winless record, his popularity is just fine. Trying to get a low position is Ura. Ohshoma fending it off. Ohshoma going for the slap down. Ura stays on his feet. Now they come to a standstill at the center. And then Ohshoma sends Ura into a somersault. And Ura loses for the fourth straight time. Ohshoma winning by hatakikomi slap down. He evens his record at 2 and 2. You can see what Ura was trying to do. Trying to duck in there and get an inside position on Ohshoma. But Ohshoma wouldn't let him get near his mawashi. Instead it's Ohshoma who keeps Ura at arm's length. And then eventually goes with the slap down. On the dohyo now it's Chiyo Shoma and Ichiyamamoto. Two struggling fighters. Chiyo Shoma winless while Ichiyamamoto is 1 and 2. Ichiyamoto stretches out his arms to start this match. And he's pushing back Chiyo Shoma. Chiyo Shoma trying to stabilize with some sort of mawashi grip. Went for a kekaeshi was Chiyo Shoma. That didn't work but it seemed to get Ichiyamoto a bit off balance. Now Ichiyamoto has regained his composure. It's an arm battle at the moment. Neither man with a mawashi grip. Kind of just leading on each other's shoulders are the two rikishi. So who's going to make the first move? Both men breathing hard. So at this point it becomes a stamina battle. Ichiyamoto moves forward. Chiyo Shoma responds. Ichiyamoto moves forward again. And this time Chiyo Shoma does not have the answer. He loses his footing and almost does the splits. The result is a frontal crush out win for Ichiyamamoto. That's a yoritaoshi in Japanese. Ichiyamamoto 2 and 2. Chiyo Shoma 0 and 4. Next up are Tamawashi and Gonoyama. Tamawashi now in sixth place all time for most career matches. Gonoyama has a strong upper body but a rather shaky lower body. Should be a pushing battle. Off they go. A fast-paced match. Tamawashi moves forward but Gonoyama responds. Gonoyama can't finish off Tamawashi. Now they lock up. Both men stopping their pushing attack. Neither man known as a grappler. Gonoyama trying to get started with his thrusting attack. But with a bit too much forward lean, Tamawashi is able to slap down Gonoyama. So Tamawashi, the 40-year-old, evens his record at 2 and 2. This match had a little of everything. Some thrusting to start and then they lock up. Neither man known as Yotsuzumo Rikishi. But once they get restarted, Gonoyama tries to re-establish his pushing attack. But Tamawashi shows good balance and then drops Gonoyama. Here are Takeru Fujii and Wakataka Kage. I'm looking forward to this bout between the two former Yusho winners. This should be very interesting because they have never fought before. Takeru Fujii undefeated. Wakataka Kage 2 and 1. Fast start. Takeru Fujii with the left hand outside grip. But Wakataka Kage shows his impressive skill set and says, welcome to Sanyaku Sumo, Takeru Fujii. Wakataka Kage simply outclassing Takeru Fujii. Yorikiri for Wakataka Kage. Wakataka Kage more focused in his attack. Able to establish an inside position even though he's lighter than Takeru Fujii. And he uses that for the victory. Here are Daeisho and Takayasu. Two evenly matched upper rankers. Takayasu back in Sanyaku for the first time since January 2023. One of the subplots of this basho is Daeisho's quest for Ozeki promotion. Hitting and shifting a bit. Coming in at an angle is Daeisho and Takayasu. Has no answer. Daeisho seemed to surprise Takayasu with that strong tachiai. And Takayasu was stuck on his heels throughout that brief match. An oshidashi win for Sekiwake Daeisho. To keep his scorecard perfect, he's now 4 and 0. Excellent rhythm to the thrusting of Daeisho. This is his ideal way of fighting. And he's perfect so far. Here are Hirado Umi and Kirishima. Both are 2 and 1. Kirishima's back appears to be in better shape. He's moving well. Hirado Umi on the small side. But his strength is the real deal. Both men coming in very low. And Kirishima. Wow. He just destroys Hirado Umi with that pushing attack. An oshidashi for the Sekiwake. And he's up to 3 and 1. It wasn't that big a hit of the tachiai. But the follow-up was amazing by Kirishima. He takes Hirado Umi straight back. Our second bout of the day. Two undefeated ikushi Onosato and Oho. They're four months apart in age. Oho is older. Sumo's prodigy Onosato versus Sumo's royalty. The grandson of Taiho, Oho. Overall, Onosato has a winning record versus Oho. But Oho has won the last two meetings. Something's got to give here. Slamming into each other. Onosato immediately moves back. Oho and Oho cannot come up with a reply. I'm a bit surprised how one-sided that match was. As Onosato has very little trouble pushing out Oho. And he ends his losing streak to Oho. The Oozeki continues his undefeated streak with his dominating performance against Oho. I thought Oho would show some offense. But there was none to be seen. On to our next match between Wakamoto Haru and Oozeki Kotozakura. Two men off to less than ideal starts. Kotozakura, one and two. Wakamoto Haru, winless. Fast start by Kotozakura. But Wakamoto Haru is moving back to the Oozeki. Wakamoto Haru looks to have a pretty strong right hand outside grip. But Kotozakura so much bigger and heavier. Kotozakura shows his Oozeki pride. Once he was able to dig in and hold his ground, he used his double-arm inside grip along with his superior size to move back Wakamoto Haru. The result is a yorikiri win for Kotozakura, a frontal force out. Initially, Wakamoto Haru with a strong attack using the Oozeki to block Kotozakura's right arm. But then Kotozakura raises the center of gravity of Wakamoto Haru. Our next match is the final match on day four. Yokozuna Houshou-ryu against Maegashira 2 Abi. Abi is kind of Houshou-ryu's nemesis. That's because Abi has beaten Houshou-ryu three straight times. Big start by Abi. He goes with the pushing to start and the pulling to finish. It's a kimboshi for Abi, his fourth career gold star that only goes to a Maegashira who defeats a Yokozuna. An amazing hiki otoshi hand pull down by Abi. We're used to seeing Abi in the sanyaku, but this tournament he's fallen down to Maegashira and he takes advantage of that by defeating Houshou-ryu for the fourth straight time. So along with that fourth straight win against Houshou-ryu, he gets a kimboshi. Abi stretching out his long arms at the tachi-ai and then pulls Houshou-ryu forward. My body has been moving well since the first day, so I was able to dodge my opponent's attack today. What about the initial charge? The Yokozuna seemed hesitant at the tachi-ai. That allowed me to keep a distance from him and execute my move in the end. I will try to keep focusing on each match. So we end day four with an upset. Abi picks up his fourth career kimboshi and Yokozuna Houshou-ryu gives up a kimboshi for the second straight day. Thanks for watching Grand Sumo Highlights.