Autumn Basho: Onosato Conquers Hoshoryu in a Playoff

For the first time since the 2009 Autumn Basho, a championship playoff was held between two yokozuna on Sunday, September 28.

Ishikawa Prefecture native Onosato outmuscled Mongolian grand champion Hoshoryu in the winner-take-all playoff at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokukigan.

As a result, Onosato captured his first Emperor's Cup as a yokozuna and collected his third tournament title of 2025.

For Onosato, the hard-earned triumph wasn't immediately determined, though. Sumo judges gathered to confirm that the off-balance Onosato's foot remained in the ring while he dispatched Hoshoryu over the edge of the straw bales. 

"My stablemaster advised me to stay calm and composed," Onosato said in a post-victory interview with NHK. "While the main tournament wasn't exactly calm, I focused on staying composed for the championship match and managed to win decisively."

Onosato was promoted to sumo's highest rank in late May. He then went 11-4 in the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in his debut as yokozuna, after winning back-to-back titles in March and May.

Onosato Held a One-Win Lead Heading into Day 15

Entering the final day of the Autumn Basho, Onosato had a 13-1 record, giving him a one-win advantage over Hoshoryu.

Therefore, a victory in the final regulation bout of the tourney would've clinched the title for Onosato.

Hoshoryu had another goal, though. And the Mongolian accomplished it, beating his yokozuna rival with a sense of urgency and a forceful display of determination and strength in the final regulation bout to force a playoff. That gave Hoshoryu seven wins in his past nine matches against Onosato.

In their rematch, with the title up for grabs and a captive audience, Onosato deployed a superb frontal crush-out to earn the victory.

"It was the first playoff between yokozuna in 16 years, and I believe it lifted the mood around the tournament to have the two of us leading the title race," Onosato said, according to Kyodo News.

In September 2009, Asashoryu defeated Hakuho in a playoff at the same venue.

Onosato 'Really Happy' to Secure the Autumn Basho Title

After faltering against Hoshoryu in their first match on Sunday, Onosato expressed satisfaction after earning the fifth makuuchi division title of his career.

"I had a tough time at the last tournament and I didn't want to experience that again, so I really devoted myself," Onosato said, according to The Japan News.

He added, "I'm really happy I could win at this tournament."

The Autumn Basho emerged as a two-man title chase in the final days of the 15-day event. Heading into Day 13, for example, Hoshoryu and Onosato were tied for the lead with 11-1 records.

Autumn Basho Notes

Rank-and-file wrestler Kotoshoho, who won his first Emperor's Cup at the Nagoya Basho, finished a disappointing 3-12 in Tokyo.

Seventh-ranked maegashira Takanosho finished with a 12-3 record and claimed the Fighting Spirit Prize.

Ukrainian komusubi Aonishiki went 11-4 in the Autumn Basho. He received the Technique Prize.

Second-ranked maegashira Hakuoho, had an 8-7 record, including a Day 4 triumph over Onosato. That helped him secure the Outstanding Performance Award.

Other double-digit winners included a quartet of maegashira: second-ranked Oho, eighth-ranked Ura, 11th-ranked Shodai and No 18 Shishi, all of whom had 10-5 records.

Several of the higher-profile wrestlers had poor results in the meet. The two sekiwake, Kirishima and Wakatakakage, both went 6-9. Komusubi Takayasu finished with a 7-8 record. And top-ranked maegashira Tamawashi and Abi went 6-9 and 3-12, respectively.

A Look Ahead

The Kyushu Basho, the final grand sumo tournament of 2025, starts on November 9 in Fukuoka.

RELATED:

• ODDS and EVENS | Sumo Wrestler Kotoshoho Aiming for Sustained Success
• Kotoshoho Wins Nagoya Basho to Claim His 1st Emperor's Cup
• ODDS and EVENS | Sumo Begins a New Era with 2 Yokozuna
• Sumo Star Onosato Becomes the 75th Yokozuna

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.