Yokozuna Akebono bounced komusubi Takatoriki into the ringside seats at Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sunday as most of the top wrestlers posted wins on the opening day of the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
Yokozuna Takanohana backed out top maegashira Tochinonada for an easy win, while sekiwake Miyabiyama kicked off his bid for ozeki with a shaky win over No. 2 maegashira Hamanoshima.
Akebono, seeking to end a three-year winless drought, wasted little time against Takatoriki, the surprise winner of the spring tourney in March as No. 14 maegashira.