Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho pounced on Aminishiki to start off in the winner's column at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday — the first meet after the retirement of former yokozuna Asashoryu.
Hakuho threw the komusubi off-balance with a series of well-placed shoves before sending him packing from the rear in the day's final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.
Sekiwake Baruto, meanwhile, also made an encouraging start out of the blocks in his quest for promotion to ozeki with a bulldozing of second-ranked Russian Aran.
The Estonian sekiwake, who is nursing an injury to his left thumb, needs at least 13 wins to be considered for sumo's second-highest rank.