Taking the weighty expectations as the sole remaining yokozuna squarely on his shoulders, Mongolian Hakuho stayed undefeated to remain in a tie for the lead at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday.

The lone competing grand champion following the retirement of Kisenosato and injury withdrawal of Kakuryu, Hakuho continued his quest for an unprecedented 42nd top-division title by beating No. 3 maegashira Shodai (2-4) on Day 6 of the 15-day tournament.

"I can't let up," said Hakuho, who finished the day in a two-way tie with No. 6 maegashira Onosho.

After a number of close calls at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Hakuho said he made some adjustments and stayed calm in what was arguably his easiest win of the tournament so far against Shodai, who had won only one of their seven previous meetings.

The No. 3 secured a two-handed "morozashi" grip on the yokozuna's belt after they collided, but Hakuho was unfazed.

"I spar against him in practice all the time," he said.

Hakuho shook his opponent's left hand off his belt and in the blink of an eye before Shodai could regroup, the match was over. Hakuho had both hands on the maegashira's belt, stayed low and forced his opponent easily over the straw.

Excluding his forfeit loss when he withdrew from July's tournament on the fourth day, Hakuho has won 24 straight bouts.

Mongolian Kakuryu earlier in the day pulled out of the tournament because of right ankle pain. He dropped to 2-4 after forfeiting his scheduled bout against No. 2 Hokutofuji (4-2).

Ozeki Takayasu (3-3) bounced back from his Day 5 loss with a routine frontal force-out win over No. 2 Nishikigi (4-2), who fell to a second straight defeat after an impressive 4-0 start against higher-ranked wrestlers.

Takayasu got the upper hand at the jump by taking Nishikigi's belt with a left outside grip. The maegashira tried to counter with an arm-lock throw but had no room to maneuver, allowing Takayasu to easily shove him out.

After starting the tournament with four straight losses, ozeki Goeido (2-4) achieved back-to-back wins by dispatching No. 3 Shohozan (2-4).

The rank-and-file grappler withstood Goeido's powerful opening drive and almost countered with an arm throw, but the ozeki regathered his position near the straw and drove Shohozan out backward.

Sekiwake Takakeisho, winner of the previous grand tournament in November, dropped to 4-2 with a loss to No. 1 Tochiozan (2-4).

Following the opening collision, Tochiozan obtained a strong one-arm belt grip, staying tight as Takakeisho tried to shake free. As the sekiwake set up for a throw, Tochiozan kept him off balance and pushed him out from behind.

Komusubi Mitakeumi (5-1) took his first loss at the hands of Myogiryu, apparently suffering a left leg injury in the process.

Myogiryu (2-4) opened with a hard charge, quickly forcing Mitakeumi out backward. When he hopped down from the raised ring, Mitakeumi crumpled to the floor, and he was wheelchaired out.

The sekiwake was examined at a Tokyo hospital and left on crutches.

"I'm OK," the sekiwake said wearing an unconvincing expression "I'll be able to go tomorrow. It's something like muscle fatigue."

Mongolian sekiwake Tamawashi improved to 4-2 with a rapid-fire frontal push-out victory over the biggest man in the division, No. 1 maegashira Ichinojo (4-2).

Tamawashi blitzed his compatriot at the jump, aggressively pushing and shoving the 226-kilogram giant backward. Unable to hold his ground, Ichinojo stepped out under a barrage of blows.

(Onosho, left, pushes out Okinoumi)

Onosho stayed perfect by pushing out No. 4 Okinoumi (3-3). He has yet to face an opponent from above the rank-and-file and is scheduled to meet Brazilian No. 8 Kaisei on Day 7.

Kaisei (5-1) relinquished his share of the lead on Day 6 after incurring his first loss of the tournament to No. 11 Sadanoumi (3-3).