MATCH OF THE DAY: Tamawashi is always a joy to watch, and it’s clear that crowd loves their Iron Man. I think he got the loudest cheers we’ve heard this whole basho for his close match with Oshoma today. They went back and forth and it looked like Oshoma was going to win, but Tamawashi pivoted on the tawara and pushed and pushed and pushed until Oshoma gave in and stepped out. Beautiful sumo, Tom O’Washi!

KIMARITE OF THE DAY: The Maegashira didn’t really have fun kimarite today, so I will turn it over to Ozeki Aonishiki. He shared a pretty good match with Wakatakakage, who really did his best and battled the Ozeki for about 10 seconds without any snuggling. I will say that he did a good job. However, he also got annihilated by Aonishiki, who won with a beautiful kirikaeshi twisting backwards knee trip. I hate how good he is at this!

PINK MAWASHI DAY NINE: Oh, Ura. It was for the greater good. He almost kind of held his own, but Kirishima was clearly in the driver’s seat. Ura grabbed his arm and tried to do some sort of elaborate maneuver that was probably just an excuse to hold his hand. Ura basically threw himself out, and the win went to Kirishima by sakatottari. To his credit, Kirishima didn’t outright laugh at Ura, but he did seem a little… amused.

OVERALL SUMMARY: Oshoumi bulldozed Asakoryu (but held him from falling off the dohyo. Good boy.) Shishi did not extend the same courtesy to Ryuden, who seemed a bit injured. Hatsuyama, finally, got a pretty lame first victory over Tomokaze. Kotoshoho, in typical Kotoshoho fashion, tapped into his July 2025 form to beat Abi. Fujinokawa pulled a henka on poor unsuspecting Roga. This kid is just… gutsy. I love this.

Now, all jokes aside, I’m making a formal plea to Onosato. Please just pull out. Don’t listen to Hakkaku or Kisenosato; you know you’re injured. Stop throwing away kinboshi and take care of whatever is wrong with your back. You are a Yokozuna; you won’t risk your rank, so don’t risk your career. For Hosh, I don’t think it’s as much of an injury concern–he seemed a little wry after his match, but Onosato was straight-up grimacing. If you’re in that much pain in a bout like that, Onosato, you shouldn’t be doing this anymore. Also, if you’re going to give a fusen to anyone, can it be Atamifuji, please?

Quite possibly the three sweetest rikishi ever, Takanosho, Ura, and Ichiyamamoto, got their make-koshi today. Hatsuyama is glad to have company, I’m sure. What an upsetting group of rikishi. Tochitaikai from Juryo has messed up his right knee and will probably be going home tomorrow, so hopefully Onosato will join him in the infirmary. The Kirishima yusho is so on, man.

He will fight Kotozakura tomorrow. Ura will fight Daieisho, which might be pretty brutal. Poor Takanosho will face Aonishiki, Oho will take on Hoshoryu, and Atamifuji will battle Onosato–the latter two bouts being contingent, of course, on the Yokozuna showing up, which I quite frankly hope Onosato doesn’t. I think Hoshoryu can fight through this, but Onosato has made it clear that he’s in tremendous pain and not fighting well.

And most importantly of all, a message to Oho: PUT A FREAKING BAND-AID ON YOUR FACE, YOU IDIOT! Just kidding, I love you, Oho. But you’re freaking me out.

Rest up, Onosato. Let’s cross our fingers for two healthy Yokozuna…