Lone yokozuna Terunofuji remained unbeaten Thursday at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, but sole ozeki Takakeisho suffered his second upset loss on Day 5 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
For the second day in a row, the Mongolian-born grand champion saw off his opponent with an arm barring force out, this time pinning the arms of No. 4 maegashira Ura (3-2) and lifting him outside the ring.
Seven-time Emperor's Cup winner Terunofuji has so far dispelled concerns about his health at the 15-day meet, having undergone surgery on both knees last October and missing the last four tournaments either entirely or in part.
Pulling off the day's big upset with an underarm throw, No. 3 Tobizaru (2-3) was declared the winner after ringside officials overturned the initial decision in favor of Takakeisho (3-2). The ozeki countered the throw but touched the clay first as both wrestlers tumbled.
"I'm happy with the result," Tobizaru said. "I've been facing the wrestlers at the top of the rankings, so I'm reasonably happy (to be 2-3)."
Newly promoted sekiwake Wakamotoharu also advanced to 5-0 by forcing out winless No. 1 Midorifuji, who has lost 10 straight since going 10-0 to start the previous grand tournament in March.
Sekiwake Kiribayama, who broke through for his maiden top-division title in March, hung on against komusubi Kotonowaka (3-2) to stay one win off the lead, while sekiwake Daieisho (4-1) took his first loss at the hands of No. 1 Abi (2-3).
Mongolian sekiwake Hoshoryu (4-1) demonstrated his impressive grappling skills by dispatching komusubi Shodai (1-4) with an overarm throw after the former ozeki had driven him back to the edge.
No. 6 Meisei kept a share of the lead with his fifth win, as did former ozeki Asanoyama, fighting as a No. 14 after climbing back to the top flight in the wake of his lengthy suspension for breaking coronavirus safety rules.
