GRAND SUMO: Day 2 of the May 2025 Tournament – GRAND SUMO Highlights
[Music] [Music] Konichua and thanks for joining us on Grand Sumo Highlights. It’s day two of the May tournament. Yoko Shyu got off to an auspicious start on opening day. He’s determined to compete all 15 days and capture his third championship. So far so good, but the 25year-old Yokozuna must stay sharp over the next 14 days if he wants to lift the Empress Cup. We’re set for another thrilling day of Ozumo from the Kokikan, the home of Sumo in Tokyo. We start things off with Toai meeting Tamo. Toai the rookie 1 and0 Tamaso the returnee to the top division 0 and1 top division rookie Toji Tai finally makes it to the big stage 7 and 1/2 years after his professional debut. Tamaso his second stint in the top division looking for his first Kachikoshi. He goes forward quickly but he gets taken out by Toi Tai after a very awkward Tatai initial charge. Toake wins. He’s now 2 and 0. Slap down victory. We thought there was a mono, but the goji lets it go. So the match is on. Tai slaps him down or out of the ring. Watch the poor footwork by Tamaso. He steps out. It is Asaaku meeting Kusano. First ever meeting is from Jerio Jerio number one. Asakoru making his third appearance in the Makuuchi division and aiming to secure his first winning record at Sumo’s highest level. Jirro Rick Shikano is making his first appearance in Makunuchi. He won the Jerio title 14 and one loss in March. Strong start by Kano. They lock up in Migotuano lifts up Asakoru and out goes Asaakoru. What a powerful sumo by Kano. So the jury mano gets his first win of this May tournament. Turidashi fronttoal lift out. Watch the performance by Kusano Kusano. As you may recall, he clinched the Jurio championship on day 12 in March. He’s a very strong performer. remember his name. One of the highlight matches here on day two, it’s Nishi Kikigi versus Kyo. Kaio, another top division rookie. He’s aiming to score his first win. Kao has become the sixth man from Japan’s southernmost prefecture, Okinawa, to break into the top division. Nishi is looking to redeem himself after a disappointing 3 and2 showing in March. Nishiki advances and Kaio goes out and down. A strong performance by Nishiki. Kaio has no answer. So Kaio is yet to get a win as a Makunoi Rico and two Nishi Kigi wins some backto-back days. Yiki victory for Nishiki. Kao. He’ll try to get his first win tomorrow on day three. Kao tries an army move right here, circling away, but Nishi Kigi right on top of it. Nishiki stays with Kaio. Kyo loses his ground and he gets beat. It is Loga facing off against Shaan Umi. Logga won yesterday. He’s another returnee to the top division. Kaidumakua, he fights very well when he gains a right hand inside, left hand outside position. Shaomi fights best the other way around. Left hand inside, right hand outside. Shaanomi stops the charge. They lock up in Hidaru. This is Shaan Noi’s favorable fighting position. Goes Maki Kay gets a double inside for a moment, but he loses a grip. Shaomi showing good solid defense. He’s trying to neutralize Loga with the arm lock. He’s doing a good job defensively, but can he do anything offensively? Shaomi. Shaumi now gets the left hand in, but Roga flexing his muscles to force Shaani back and out. Roga wins. Yikitti. Shaomi 0 and two. Roga two for two. Two wins and no losses. It’s Southerni locking horns with Duden. Southern Romi lost yesterday. Duden the winner. Duden may be a low-key competitor, but he carries a strong fighting spirit within. Sadomi turned 38 yesterday on opening day, but he shows no signs of slowing down. Trying to get himself a late birthday present. himself. Left hand in, right hand out. Sadomi attacks. Duden backpedals. Udin remains in the ring. Duden fights back, but Sadomi rallies and Sadanomi gets the W. So, Sadanomi wasn’t able to celebrate his 38th birthday yesterday with a win, but today he gets the W. saw a belated birthday present with a victory today for Sadani. Both men won and won after two days. Fronttoal crush out Yori win for [Applause] Sanomi. It’s Tokihayate meeting Atami Fuji first meeting ever. Toki Hayate has been elevated to his highest rank after earning his first top division kachi koshi in March. Atami Fuji has been struggling in recent tournaments and is hoping to turn things around. A quick initial charge by Tokiate who gains a nice inside position on both hands. Tokiate advances but what a reversal move by Atami Fuji. He’s able to lock up Toki Hayate’s double inside Boroashi and he was able to steer Toki Hayate to the edge and out goes Toki Hayate Kim Dashi victory on baring for win for Tami Fuji. Quick initial challenge by Toki Hayate. Toki Hayate looking good early but from here Tami Fuji was able to outmuscle Toki Hayate. Now Tokihayate cannot do anything with the double inside Moro Zashi. In the meantime, Matami Fuji defeats Tokihat with a strong performance. Moving on, we have Shishi meeting Takanosho. Another first time meeting here. First ever meeting. Both men losing yesterday. Shishi is aiming to earn his first special prize after watching his countryman Anishki do the same in March. Takosho a hard pusher. Takosho with a strong initial charge. Takosho steps on the gas and he smokes Shishi. Takanosho is competing in his 90th career tournament and is hoping to return to the syaku ranks and this style of sumo will certainly do that for Takanosha. [Music] [Applause] A sharp initial charge by Takanoso. Great follow through and great finish by Takanoso. Good rhythm, good flow in his match. Shishi in the meantime has no answer. Let’s move on to Endo versus Me. Endo a clear-cut winner yesterday. Me won as well. Endo is looking to snap a three tournament Makoshi streak. Macy is eager to return to the Syaku ranks. Strong initial charge by me, but good grip created by Endo and has little trouble taking May out of the ring. Endo dispatches Meay in a very strong style. Endo goes to 2 and 0. Yuri Kitty victory for Endo. Moving on, we have Midori Fuji meeting Shai. Both were losers on day one. Midori Fuji weighs in at 114 kg, making him the lightest Wikishi in the top division. Shai is desperate to earn his first kachoshi in four tournaments. Oh, very aggressive style of sumo by Midori Fuji. Midori Fuji is taken to Shdai. Shai slaps Midori Fuji down. Shoddai was able to weather out Midori Fuji’s initial contact and the tremendous follow through but Shai remained calm and collected bringing Midori Fuji down to the clay by Hataki Komi slap down. It’s Kimbo meeting Onoatu. Both winning on day one. Kimbo fell short of expectations with a 6 and9 record in March. He’s aiming for redemption this time. The best is yet to come from Onatu as he is still in search of his fully developed fighting style. Good inshore charge by Ono. On a left hand, shallow grip, right hand in already. Migotu is what Onoasu likes to fight with. Onu looking good. He keeps up the pressure on Kimzan and Kimozan back and out he goes. Onatu wins. Onu goes to 2 and0. Kimban 1 and one. Onu is competing at his highest rank at Mashira 8. in the last tournament. He went 10 and five and and is looking good in this tournament early. So he has kept that momentum from the March tournament and today against big Kim Bosan he didn’t hesitate to go in for the kill at the last moment. Good sumo by Onokatu from start to finish. It is Juranomi meeting Alishki. Juranomi made his presence felt in Osaka, scoring 11 wins and claiming the fighting spirit prize. Onishki made a splash in his top division debut in March, finishing with an 11 and4 record and also earning the fighting spirit prize. Good initial charge by Alishki. Chiranomi fights back. Alishia advances. Alishki applies all sorts of pressure on Chiranomi. tries to circle away but cuts him down. Onishki from Ukraine is the victor. Strong performance by Anishki. Shanomi 0 and2. Anishki scores his first win in this tournament. [Applause] Onishki is small but he stays low and his lower body is very stable and strong and that’s why he’s able to apply all sorts of pressure on Chinanomi. Chinomi is a fierce competitor but Aishki prevails again. Aishki always stays low. Look at his hips and he’s in a great attacking position attacking from a much lower angle than Chanomi is doing. in Chanui back in Aishki keeps up the pressure throughout the match. Let’s move on to Hakuo who’s meeting OA both won on the opening day yesterday. Hakuo is quietly surging through the rankings with many expecting him to become one of Sumo’s leading figures in the near future. Oshama has earned Kachikoshi in each of the past two tournaments. Could a big breakout moment be on the horizon? Good initial charge by Hakuo. Hakuo wants to catch Ooma. Left hand in, right hand out. That’s the go-to weapon by Hakuo. And Haku Oho dispatches O in a very strong style. Haku Oho advances to two wins and no losses. That’s his first loss for O. A great flow in Haku Oho’s match and a nice technique sequence and he outmaneuvers Oshoma goes for a little bit of a kotenagi action but it doesn’t work. Hakoho squares up. Hakoho remains calm and collected gets a left hand in right hand out. In the meantime, he goes forward and this is a picture perfect sumo by Haku Ohal. It’s Chio Shoma meeting Toby Zaru. Jo and Tobaru losing on day one. Jo is competing in his 40th top division tournament. Tobis turned 33 in April but still looks youthful and energetic. Pounding away is Chio. Tobisto gains a shallow grip. He stays tight. He goes inside. He swings Chio to the edge. He stays tight. He goes after Chio with no hesitation and defeats Chio. Toby Zaru is the victor. What a sumo by Toby Zaru. He didn’t allow Chio to do any kind of offensive work as Toby Zaru claims the win in a very convincing fashion. Watch what Toby does. Toby takes few licks. He gets a shallow grip. He doesn’t let go. He attacks immediately. He stays tight against the big Chio. Chio cannot do anything from here. Deep inside of Chio is Toby Zado. Tobisiza attacks by screenag and then finishes him off by staying tight going forward and in the end it’s a yikiri win. It’s ura meetingu Fuji two very popular Rickishi on the dojo. It’ll be interesting to see how Taker Fuji competes against a string of tough opponents on a daily basis. Now he’s ranked at Masha 4, his highest rank. Ura is one of the most exciting Ricoi to watch, if not the most. Oh, Uda goes for the leg pick. It doesn’t work. Tuji completely shuts Uda’s offense down. Well, Uda’s game plan was get a Ashi leg pick on Taker Fuji, but Taker Fuji read it and Taker Fuji reacted. And what a response by Taku Fuji keeping Uda in check. Just a walk in the park for Taku Fuji. Uda tried a leg pick. It didn’t work. Taku Fuji went after him with a nice pushing attack again. Uda nearly got the hold of Taku Fuji’s right leg, but he wasn’t able to do so. Taku Fuji all over Ura. We move on to Hiadi meeting Ichyamoto. Hiomi aims to maintain his momentum after securing his first Kachikosh in four tournaments in March. Ichi Yamamoto is improving with each Basho as his offensive repertoire continues to expand. Oh, what a quick finish by Hiroi. Hi was able to grab Ichyamamoto’s right hand and he simply pulls Ichyamamoto down to the clay. An easy win for Hirodomi and that’s his first win here in the May tournament. Hiomi knows Ichamoto likes to extend his arms for his thrusting attack and Hidomi takes advantage of Ichamoto’s double arm extension. A clever move by Hadumi. It’s Waka Taka Kag meeting Tamawashi. The dean of Makuchi Tamawashi is still as tough as old boots. At 40 years old, he sure is durable and full of energy. Waka Takagi is a calm, cool customer. He has returned to Kusubi. Strong initial charge by Tamawashi. Tamawashi unable to finish off Waka Takag though. Waka Takles away, stays in the ring and brings Tamawashi [Applause] down. A tremendous initial charge and a follow through by Tamawashi, but Waka Taka Kag shows his superb footwork and a nice technique in the end to outmaneuver Tamawashi. Look at the sharp initial charge by the 40-year-old veteran. Tamawashi was going in for the kill, but Waka Taka Kag with a nice move to the side and Tamawashi’s looks like a right foot goes out very fast right about here. Waka Takag wins. Moving on, we have Gonoyama meeting Dier show. [Applause] Goryama’s immediate goal is to make Syaku. It’s right within his reach. Disho is gunning for Oziki promotion, but his margin for error is razor thin. Disho pounding away. Disho keeping Goroyama in check. Goryama wants to fight back. Disho giving a lot of business. Goroyama taking a lot of punishment. Goryama goes forward and that’s when Data threats him down. What a sumo by Dao. He maintained a tremendous pressure on Gonoyama with his thrusting attack and when Gouyama tried to go forward, Daisho steps to the side and hits the thrust down. What a clever sumo by the Siki as he goes to 2 and 0. Here’s what I mean. Disho keeping Gonoyama in check. Gonoyama unable to go forward. And this is when Gonoyama tries to go forward. Disho shifts away and hits the thrust down. Nice move by the Seikiwake. Dao looking at Gonoyama’s moves from start to finish. It is Kirishima meeting Oho. Both men 1 and 0. Oho experienced a bittersweet Seiwaki debut in March. The 25year-old is determined to showcase his true capabilities this time. Kirishima is back at Seek still fighting hard with his sights set on a return to Ozuki. Strong initial charge and great follow through by Oho. Oh crushes Kishima. What a tremendous performance by Oho. So Oh defeated Oziki Koto Zakura yesterday and today he dismantles Seiwake Kirishima. What a performance by Oho in the first two days of this main tournament. Oho, his arms are fully extended and that’s why Kirishima is unable to return the favor. Oho simply overwhelms Kirishima. The highlight match number two. This is a good one. Takayasu versus Onosto. As you may recall, this is the rematch of the March championship playoff. Takayaso leads the way to 0 in regulation. But in the playoff, Ono prevailed. So here is Onos first real chance to become Yokozuna. He aims to seal the deal by capturing back-to-back titles. Takayasu has come so close to winning a top division title numerous times. The 35year-old isn’t ready to give up on his dream just yet. Strong charge by Takayasu. Onosato abdan says Onosato slaps Takayasu down. This is not the type of sumo Onos wants to do on a daily basis, but I would say today is an exception. Onos saw the opening. Onos knew that he was able to succeed with the snap down, so he executed and it worked beautifully for Onos. Takayasu is 0 and2. In the meantime, Onosato improves to 2 and 0. Onosato is aiming to make history once again in this tournament. The Oziki is competing in just his 13th tournament since turning pro. And if he earns promotion to Yokozuna, he’ll become the fastest ever to reach Sumo’s highest rank. Onato a solid victory I would say even though he was going backwards he was watching Takayasu all the way. It’s Kotto Zakura the other ozi who’s at 0 and one and he goes up against Abi Koto Zakura has fallen short of expectations lately. He needs to regroup and compete like a true Oziki. Abby is a dangerous competitor who can beat anyone on any given day. Sharp initial charge by Abby. Abi can’t push Koto Zakura back though. Koto Zakura holds his ground and brings Abi down. Koto Zakura scores his first win. Kotto Zakura showed a lot of poise in this match against Abby. He did not panic. I mean Koto Zakura wasn’t able to get a good belt grip on Abby. But Koto Zakura remained calm and Cotto Zakura was waiting for the right time or the right opportunity and in the end it came. Abi’s upper body is was extended too far forward and that’s when Koto Zakura pulls Abby down. Kotto Zakura showing good poise in this match as he gets his first victory. Here is the final match on day two. It’s Wakamoto Magos one challenging Yoko. After withdrawing from the March tournament due to injury, Hou is determined to come out on top and prove he is the king of the ring. Wakamoto is another ozi hopeful. To make it happen, he needs to compete at a higher level. Strong initial charge quickly inside both arms. Moto Zashi and Hu defeats Wakamoto with no problem whatsoever. Hoyu the Yokouna goes to 2 and 0. Ho showing a very good sportsmanship in the end allowing Wakamoto to return to his side. Anyway, the Yokozuna with another impressive performance. He goes to 2 and [Applause] 0. That’s Yoroshi. Frontal crush out. The 74th Yokozuna is looking good after two days. Quickly inside both arms, Moto Zashi, no hesitation. He goes forward and Wakamoto tries a little bit of but it doesn’t work. Again, Morozashi stepping on the gas and he is able to deliver another victory. That’ll do it for day two of the main tournament. And the story of the day, there were no major upsets on day two as all the Yokozuna and Oziki came away with wins. That said, with 13 days of tough competition still to go in this May tournament, don’t be surprised if some big twists and turns are in store. And don’t forget, day three wraps up with a big showdown between two undefeated Wikishi Hoyu versus Oho. Don’t miss the showdown.
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Day 2 upper division bouts from the May 2025 GRAND SUMO Tournament.