Kotooshu overpowered Tochiazuma on Wednesday to stay undefeated and in the lead, while grand champion Asashoryu was handed his second loss at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.
Yokozuna Asashoryu is thrown to the ground by No. 5 maegashira Aminishiki on Wednesday at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Facing his stiffest challenge of the 15-day tourney, sekiwake Kotooshu wrapped up ozeki Tochiazuma at the faceoff and muscled the ozeki wrestler out to improve to a perfect 11-0. Tochiazuma dropped to 8-3.
In the day's final bout, No. 5 maegashira Aminishiki burst out of the blocks and shoved Mongolian Asashoryu back before toppling the yokozuna to the delight of the crowd at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Asashoryu, who dropped to 9-2, is gunning for his sixth straight Emperor's Cup and 14th overall but will need to come from behind. Aminishiki improved to 6-5.
In an earlier bout, Tamanoshima threw Kisenosato down at the edge to hand the 16th-ranked maegashira just his second loss of the tournament. Tamanoshima, a No. 8 maegashira, improved to 7-4.
Chiyotaikai wrapped up the winning record he needs to maintain his ozeki status when he used his trademark arm thrusts to send Mongolian Kyokushuzan flying out of the ring. Chiyotaikai improved to 8-3. No. 4 maegashira Kyokushuzan dropped to 4-7.