Kisenosato stayed firmly on course for promotion to ozeki with a confident win over komusubi Toyonoshima on Tuesday, the third day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
Toyonoshima came into the bout buoyed by a pair of wins over ozeki Baruto and Kotooshu, but Kisenosato never looked in serious danger at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
Kisenosato weathered Toyonoshima's attempt to spin him around and blasted out the komusubi with a barrage of meaty neck thrusts to stay among the early pacesetters at the 15-day basho.