Sumo: Onosato stays perfect as Hakuoho, Aonishiki keep up pressure

Mainichi
May 19, 2025

Ozeki Onosato left, beats Ura during the ninth day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena on May 19, 2025. (Kyodo photo

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Ozeki Onosato eased to his ninth straight win at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday as rank-and-file Hakuoho and Aonishiki secured winning records to keep a close check on the yokozuna promotion hopeful.

The Spring meet champion in March, Onosato (9-0) produced strong shoves before his attempted slap-down sent No. 5 maegashira Ura (2-7) to the edge of the raised ring at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena.

The stocky trickster desperately stayed inside but the ozeki, who can reach the top rank by winning another Emperor's Cup this month or post a record deemed as good, made one last push to send his opponent flying out.

No. 7 maegashira Hakuoho (8-1) drove straight into the chest of No. 10 maegashira Shodai (3-6) and forced out the former ozeki in a matter of seconds to bounce back from his first defeat a day earlier.

The 21-year-old fought for the title until the final day on his top-tier makuuchi debut in July 2023, but had a left shoulder surgery soon after and only returned to the division this January.

Ukrainian No. 9 maegashira Aonishiki (8-1) traded shoves with Chiyoshoma (2-7) but never backed off before pushing out the No. 5 maegashira, clinching back-to-back winning records having gone 11-4 on his makuuchi debut in March in Osaka.

Yokozuna Hoshoryu (7-2) dealt with early pushes to his throat by No. 4 maegashira Ichiyamamoto (4-5) and timed his slap-down perfectly for his fifth straight win.

Komusubi Wakatakakage (7-2) took a step back from the title race after he could not respond to a powerful pull down from No. 2 maegashira Abi (5-4) moments after the opening clash.

No. 17 maegashira Asakoryu won to join Hoshoryu and Wakatakakage at 7-2.

Ozeki Kotozakura (6-3) moved to his right and floored komusubi Takayasu (2-7) with a pulling overarm throw, while sekiwake Daieisho (6-3) suffered a damaging defeat in his highly challenging ozeki promotion bid after he was overpowered and thrust out by 40-year-old No. 3 megashira Tamawashi (3-6).

After going 11-4 and 9-6 in the past two meets, Daieisho needed to avoid any further defeat this month to reach the usual required promotion standard of 33 wins over three straight meets wrestling as sekiwake or komusubi.