Sekiwake Kotoshogiku took a major step to filling the void left by Kaio and earning promotion to ozeki after condemning Hakuho to a shock first defeat at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.
Kotoshogiku (9-2) charged into the Mongolian yokozuna and had him on the rails twice before brute strength and sheer determination prevailed in the finale at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
"My mind is totally blank," Kotoshogiku said after the win. "I knew I had to go on the offensive from the start and was so into the bout that I can't even remember it."