Sole ozeki Takakeisho made a convincing start to the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, pushing out newly promoted komusubi Wakamotoharu for a straightforward win.
The two-time Emperor's Cup winner is the highest-ranked wrestler contesting the 15-day meet at Ryogoku Kokugikan in the absence of Terunofuji, the sport's lone yokozuna, who is sitting out his second grand tournament since having knee surgery in October.
Wakamotoharu neutralized Takakeisho's powerful charge with a strong opening hit of his own, but from there was unable to budge the ozeki, who quickly pushed his way to victory.
Denied the November championship in a three-way playoff loss to rank-and-filer Abi, Takakeisho could stake his claim to yokozuna promotion with another title here.
Wakamotoharu's younger brother, sekiwake Wakatakakage, looked imposing in the day's penultimate bout, forcing out komusubi Meisei after the pair traded blows in a torrid opening clash.
Sekiwake Hoshoryu, who went 11-4 in another impressive showing in November, forced out No. 1 maegashira Tobizaru in a one-sided contest.
The 23-year-old nephew of Mongolian great Asashoryu set himself up for the victory with a powerful and precise opening hit, blasting Tobizaru backward while snaring his belt.
No. 2 Mitakeumi defeated sekiwake Shodai in a battle of recently demoted former ozeki, winning by force out after the pair jostled for a belt hold at the jump.
Shodai, who fell to sekiwake after going 6-9 in November, can earn automatic promotion back to the second-highest rank with a double-digit win total here.
November's other runner-up, sekiwake Takayasu, posed relatively little problem for No. 1 maegashira Daieisho, who pushed and thrusted his way to victory in trademark fashion.
Having fallen painfully short of his maiden Emperor's Cup, Takayasu has been promoted back to the three "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna for the first time since September 2021.
November champion Abi handed new komusubi Kotonowaka a loss in his first bout as a member of the sanyaku, denying him a belt grip and forcing him out.
Fighting as a No. 3 following his breakthrough top-division championship, the former sekiwake is bidding for a return to sanyaku.
Related coverage:
Sumo: Yokozuna Terunofuji to miss New Year tourney
Sumo: Only 1 yokozuna, 1 ozeki ranked for 1st time since 1898
Sumo: Abi wins 3-way playoff to claim maiden championship
