GRAND SUMO: Day 9 of the May 2025 Tournament - GRAND SUMO Highlights

Thank you for joining us on Grand Sumo Highlights. This is day nine of the May tournament. Ono Sato is perfect so far in his quest for Yokozuna promotion. He is undefeated and the sole leader. He'll be up against Uda today. Another packed house at the Kokugikan. Here's the full leaderboard. Ono Sato at the top. Three men in second place and five more at six and two. Fans filing in as we head into the second week of this tournament. We begin with Kayo and Tama Shouho. A contrast in physiques. Kayo round and stout. Tama Shouho tall and thin. Kind of a slow tachiai. Tama Shouho gets going with his pushing attack. Kayo has no answer. The result is a yorikiri for Tama Shouho. He improves to four and five. Rookie Kayo has that same record. Here's Ryuden and Asa Koryu. Muscle man Asa Koryu seeking his first kachikoshi in the top division. Ryuden never spectacular but normally steady. Asa Koryu comes in straight on against Ryuden and has that left hand inside. And he uses that to power Ryuden over the edge. A shitate nage underarm throw by Asa Koryu. That's a big win for him because he is at seven and two. And he's just one more win for a kachikoshi. Moving right along to Koto Shouho and Nishikigi. Koto Shouho has two wins since returning from a right thigh injury. Nishikigi with three straight losses coming into today's bout. Koto Shouho rams big Nishikigi and then retreats in order to drop Nishikigi by tsuki otoshi thrust down. So a third win this tournament for Koto Shouho. And it's four straight losses for Nishikigi. Here's Tochi Taikai and Sadano Umi. A newcomer versus a veteran. Tochi Taikai started off great three and one but has since dropped four in a row. 38 year old Sadano Umi with the vigor of a 28 year old. Off they go. Sadano Umi gets an inside position and has Tochi Taikai on the run. It's close at the edge and the gumbai goes to Tochi Taikai. But we're going to have a review by the judges. They'll take a look at where the guys landed and when they landed. Oh that left heel of Tochi Taikai looks suspect. Or was it the hands of Sadano Umi? Here's the call. Although the gyoji gave the gumbai to Tochi Taikai there was a monui that his heel touched outside the dohyo first. Upon our review we confirmed it was likely so. Therefore we have reversed the decision. Officially the winner is Sadano Umi. So Sadano Umi improves to six and three with that oshidashi push out. Here's Shonano Umi and Takano Sho. Shonano Umi has to worry about juryo motion. He's three and five at magashira 15. Takano Sho is pushing runs hot and cold. Takano Sho with a pretty good start moving back. Large Shonano Umi. Now they come to a standstill. Shonano Umi has a huge body but he has trouble moving forward. Now he moves forward. Shonano Umi now they separate. Takano Sho getting started with his pushing attack once again. But now they lock up once again. Neither man with a mawashi grip. It's an upper body battle. So who makes the first move? The gyoji urging them on to do something. This match going over a minute. Now it's Takano Sho who gets going and he pushes out Shonano Umi. They call it a yori kiri force out. In any event it's a win for Takano Sho. He's up to five and four. Shonano Umi at three and six. That was a long match. Here are Atami Fujii and Rouga. They're meeting for the first time in Makunouchi. Although they have fought in Juryo and Makushita in the past. Solid first week for Rouga. Six and two. They crash into each other. Rouga immediately getting a left hand outside grip. But Atami Fujii is moving Rouga back. Rouga struggling at the edge. Atami Fujii uses his larger size to take Rouga over the towada. Both men now at six and three. A solid yori kiri win for Atami Fujii. On the dohyo now it's Tokihayate and Shishi. Tokihayate on the small side but does have throwing skills. Shishi tweaked his left thigh on day one and that has clearly hampered him. Fast from the tachiai is Tokihayate but he's getting moved back by Shishi. Shishi moving forward but a bit out of control is Shishi. Now Tokihayate has him pinned at the edge. Tokihayate is the aggressor and he drops Shishi. A hatakikomi slapdown by Tokihayate. That thigh injury is really giving Shishi trouble. Here are Onokatsu and Endo. Endo five and three. A skilled technician. Onokatsu's left ankle is bothering him. Still he's at four and four. They come in low and hard at the tachiai and Onokatsu doesn't waste any time. Pulling forward Endo. It's a hiki otoshi hand pull down win for Onokatsu. Both men now at five and four. Meisei and Chudano Umi on the dohyo now. Meisei has been looking stronger lately. He's at five and three. Chudano Umi with only one victory. Looking nothing like the guy who went 11 and four in March. Meisei the aggressor at the tachiai and he shoves out Chudano Umi. A one-sided match there as Meisei picks up his sixth win. Oshidashi push out. Chudano Umi with a makekoshi. Here's our first bout of the day. Between Hakuoho and Shodai. The former ozeki a lackluster three and five. Hakuoho suffered his first defeat yesterday. Strong tachiai by Hakuoho and he takes the veteran straight back. Densha michi they call it in Japanese. Hakuoho with a strong comeback from that loss yesterday. He picks up his eighth win with that yorikiri. That's a kachikoshi majority of wins this tournament. Achieving kachikoshi on day nine. What do you think about that? Well, I am happy with the fact it is my fastest kachikoshi in the top division. Your attack today was very strong. My opponent Shodai is known for a strong morozashi, so I tried to press both hands hard from below. You have been in very good shape. What is the driving force? I've done a lot of training following my stable master's advice to keep pushing hard throughout each bout. Up next it's Midorifuji and Tobizaru. When they're on they're both dynamic fighters. Unfortunately that is not the case this tournament. Midorifuji is winless. Tobizaru four and four. Off they go. It's an upper body battle. Neither man with a mawashi grip. Tobizaru pushing on the face of Midorifuji. Midorifuji has his favorite right hand inside. Can he work his favorite katasukashi? We haven't seen any magic from Midorifuji in this tournament. But Tobizaru has a strong grip and he uses that left hand outside to flatten Midorifuji. That keeps Midorifuji winless. And it's an uwatenage overarm throw victory for Tobizaru. He's up to five and four. Tobizaru looking good. On the dohyo now Oh Shoma and Kim Bozan. Two rikishi who are looking solid this tournament. Oh Shoma has never lost to Kim Bozan. He's three and oh. But Kim Bozan rolls into this match with five straight wins. Strong start by Kim Bozan. But he gets caught a bit upright as Oh Shoma is able to slip to the side. And he shoves out Kim Bozan. So a surprise ending to that match. Kim Bozan got off to a great start. But Oh Shoma with a strong finish. Oh Shoma winning by okuridashi rear push out. Here's Aonishiki and Chiyo Shoma meeting for the first time ever. Hard to believe this is Aonishiki's second tournament in the top division. He's got the polish of a veteran. Chiyo Shoma currently two and six. They get off to a sharp tachiai. Aonishiki going with the pushing attack. And he has an inside position. And he impresses once again. Aonishiki with the oshidashi push out. That's good for his eighth victory and a kachikoshi. He's also on the leaderboard. The young Ukrainian looking strong once again. He's so good at keeping his head down. And getting an inside position on his opponent. Here's another angle. Just 21 years old. This is just your second top division basho and already a kachikoshi on day nine. I think I'm in full control of my body. Especially today I was able to keep my head down and push forward constantly. What are the things you have learned from the last tournament? To keep calm and show my style of sumo. You're going to face off with Wakataka Kage tomorrow. Any strategy that comes to mind? I will just go straight on. That's all. Congratulations. Thank you. Up now Hirado Umi and Gonoyama. For both rikushi the desire and energy is there. But they just can't get a break against san-yaku opponents. Fast hard tachiai and Gonoyama. Throws down Hirado Umi with a tsuki otoshi thrust down. That was over in a flash. Gonoyama picks up just his second win. Hirado Umi three and six. Here's Wakamoto Haru and Oho. Both rikushi are disappointing three and five. Oho upset and Ozeki Sekiwake and Yokuzuna the first three days. But then fell apart. Wakamoto Haru has won three of his last four matches. Rather tentative tachiai. Oho at the moment controlling the momentum. But Wakamoto Haru rallies. They lock up at the center of the dohyo. Oho tried to move forward but Wakamoto Haru flashes his strong upper body and powers out Oho. Uwate nage over arm throw victory for Wakamoto Haru. He's at four and five. It looked like Oho was controlling the flow of this match. But right when Wakamoto Haru looked to be in trouble. He shows his immense strength and takes back Oho. Here's Abe and Wakataka Kage. This is a streaky yet very even rivalry. Wakataka Kage has won the last two meetings. Off they go and Abe able to generate enough power and speed with his long arms to send Wakataka Kage crashing to the clay. That's a hiki otoshi hand pull down victory for Abe. He's up to five and four. And that drops Wakataka Kage out of a tie for second place. Wakataka Kage suffers his second loss. Sharp tachiai by Abe. Wakataka Kage cannot get near Abe's mawashi. Here's Takeda Fujii and Kirishima. Takeda Fujii has been getting beat up by the top rankers for the past five days. Sekiwake Kirishima looking much stronger than he did in March. Strong tachiai by Takeda Fujii. Kirishima circling around and he goes for the kubinage and it works. A desperation move by Kirishima and he's able to execute that kubinage. Rarely does that work. A dynamic move by Kirishima but looks like we'll have a mono-i. Although the gyoji gave the goodbye to Kirishima there was a mono-i that both landed on the dohyo at the same time. Upon review Takeru Fujii did fall down first so we confirm the winner is Kirishima. So Kirishima wins by kubinage headlock throw and he's up to six and three. Six straight losses for Takeru Fujii. Here's Daesho and Tamawashi. Mirror records Daesho six and two, Tamawashi two and six. Daesho still holding on to hopes of ozeki promotion. 40-year-old Tamawashi on a four match losing skid. Off they go, Tamawashi with a lot of energy. Daesho on the run and Tamawashi hands Daesho a huge loss. That's his third defeat this tournament so there's no way he's going to get 13 wins this basho and reach the 33 win plateau over three consecutive tournaments. So that's a big blow to Daesho's ozeki promotion hopes. 40-year-old Tamawashi with a strong tachiai and he follows it up smoothly. Continuing to put pressure on Daesho and Daesho his momentum is taking him backwards. It's a tsukidashi win for Tamawashi. Here's Takayasu and Kotozakura. Kotozakura has a losing record four to five versus Takayasu but Takayasu really struggling this tournament two and six. Coming in low and hard is Takayasu and Kotozakura calmly steps to the side and wins by uwate dashi nage pulling over arm throw. So that was over quickly. Kotozakura improves to six and three. Takayasu two and seven. Takayasu lunging forward and Kotozakura takes advantage. Stepping to his right and using that right hand outside grip. Our second bout of the day. Yokozuna hopeful Onosato has had a perfect first week and he's the sole leader. He's never lost to Ura as well four and oh. Ura is always eager but he has a poor record. Onosato staying calm. He knows he still has a lot of work to do even though he's the sole leader. Fast start by Ura trying to get an inside position but Onosato fends off Ura and maintains his perfect record against the popular rikishi. Onosato five and oh against Ura and nine and oh in this May tournament. He's still the sole leader. Fast tachiai by Ura trying to surprise Onosato but Onosato stays calm and gets to the rear of Ura. Here's another look. Onosato maintains his composure and wins by okuridashi rear push out. Staying perfect. Our final match pits Yokozuna Houshou Ryu against Maegashira for Ichiyamamoto. Houshou Ryu remembers losing to Ichiyamamoto in the last tournament in his Yokozuna debut and he wants to avenge that loss. Fast start by Ichiyamamoto but a nice reaction by the Yokozuna. Ichiyamamoto was able to extend his long arms at the tachiai but Houshou Ryu calmly absorbs that hit gets to the side and wins by hatakikomi slap down. Houshou Ryu slapping away the arms of Ichiyamamoto for the victory. So he does avenge his loss to Ichiyamamoto in the March tournament. As a result here's the updated leaderboard. After nine days Onosato still the sole leader. Now it's the youngest of young guns. Hakuoho and Aonishiki tied for second place and then you have three men a step behind that. So it promises to be a fantastic second week of this May tournament. Will Onosato continue his undefeated streak or will it be some other rikishi?