No. 8 maegashira Hokutofuji kept his perfect record and took the sole lead after seven days at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday when No. 3 Tamawashi was handed his first defeat.
Tamawashi (6-1) was on the verge of his seventh straight win as he powerfully drove Wakatakakage (4-3) to the edge, but the sekiwake held his ground and thrust down the 37-year-old veteran at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Hokutofuji moved slightly to his left to soften the opening impact from No. 10 Takanosho (4-3) in his bout and kept charging low en route to a solid push-out win, not allowing Takanosho a belt hold.
"Managing to keep attacking without a break helped (in getting the win)," said the 30-year-old Hokutofuji as he marked his 500th appearance at the elite makuuchi division and continues his quest for his first-ever championship.
Yokozuna Terunofuji (4-3) avoided suffering his third straight defeat as the grand champion quickly held a left overarm belt hold before forcing out giant komusubi Ichnojo (2-5), the winner of July's Nagoya meet.
No. 4 Takayasu (6-1) joined Tamawashi to stay a win behind Hokutofuji after a trio of maegashira started the day at 5-1. The former ozeki's powerful shoves gave Endo (3-4) no chance as the No. 6 was pushed out.
No. 6 Wakamotoharu (5-2) was pulled down to a defeat by Georgian No. 8 Tochinoshin (3-4), the former ozeki using his elbow to lift the jaw of his counterpart before backing off at the right moment to claim the win.
No. 15 Oho (5-2) lost for the second straight day, the grandson of the late yokozuna Taiho failing to halt the low opening charge from No. 11 Kotoshoho (4-3) before getting shoved out.
Takakeisho (5-2) was the only ozeki to triumph on the day, keeping his composure in shoving out trickster No. 3 Ura (4-3) in a battle of two stocky wrestlers.
Komusubi Kiribayama (5-2) grabbed the belt with both his hands to force out demotion-threatened ozeki Mitakeumi (3-4), who needs eight wins at the 15-day tourney to retain the second-highest rank of the ancient sport.
Shodai (1-6) fell to his sixth straight loss and faces an uphill task to avoid a losing record as the ozeki was comfortably grappled out by No. 4 Nishikigi (4-3).
Diminutive No. 1 Midorifuji (3-4) lifted the crowd as his quick movements outflanked Hoshoryu (4-3) before he pushed the nimble sekiwake from behind in an exciting bout, while sekiwake Daieisho (1-6) was thrust down by a tenacious No. 2 Kotonowaka (4-3).
Related coverage:
Sumo: Tamawashi, Hokutofuji stay perfect as Terunofuji falls again
Sumo: Former yokozuna Hakuho to hold retirement ceremony in January
Sumo: July champ Ichinojo rejoins elite in new rankings