Promotion-chasing sekiwake Kotoshogiku raised the nation's hopes of the birth of a homegrown ozeki with a quick-fire win over Homasho on Thursday, the fifth day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo.
Harumafuji's wafer-thin hopes of reaching yokozuna, however, were shattered with a third loss at Ryogoku Kokugikan, this time at the hands of previously winless No. 3 maegashira Takekaze.
Kotoshogiku, who is aiming to fill the void left by Kaio and move up to sumo's second highest rank, brought ozeki slayer Homasho back to earth with a routine frontal push down to stay in a tie for the lead with fellow sekiwake Kisenosato and loneyokozuna Hakuho.