Mongolia's Hakuho returned to form Friday, overpowering Kotoshogiku to stay one win back of leader Chiyotaikai at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo.
Ozeki Chiyotaikai shoves out Takekaze to stay unbeaten on the sixth day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Ozeki Hakuho, who lost to Miyabiyama on Thursday, got an inside-grip on the belt of Kotoshogiku and calmly hoisted the No. 3 maegashira over the straw ridge to improve to 5-1. Kotoshogiku dropped to 2-4.
With grand champion Asashoryu sitting out the summer meet due to injury, Hakuho, who is making his ozeki debut, is among the favorites to take home the Emperor's Cup.
In other major bouts, ozeki Chiyotaikai used his trademark arm thrusts to send winless No. 4 maegashira Takekaze backpedaling out of the ring.
Chiyotaikai stands at a perfect 6-0 and will face Kisenosato on Saturday.
Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu grabbed Tokitenku by the leg and toppled the fourth-ranked maegashira to pick up his fourth win against a pair of losses.
In the day's final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan, ozeki Tochiazuma saw his hopes for promotion to grand champion take a huge blow when he lost to top maegashira Kakizoe for his fourth loss against two wins.
Tochiazuma went on the attack from the faceoff but stepped out when Kakizoe dodged to his right at the ring's edge. Kakizoe picked up his second win.
Ozeki Kaio, who is off to a sluggish start, notched a win over Aminishiki when he got hold of his opponent's arm and flung the No. 3 maegashira to the dirt surface to give both wrestlers a record of 4-2.
Mongolian komusubi Kyokutenho handed Miyabiyama his first loss of the tournament when he got both arms around the sekiwake and forced him out to improve to 2-5.