Former ozeki Asanoyama held onto the outright lead with his seventh straight win, while lone yokozuna Terunofuji suffered his second loss, at the hands of rank-and-file opponent Shodai, Saturday at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
Asanoyama, currently ranked as a No. 7 maegashira, defeated No. 9 Meisei to remain the only unbeaten competitor through seven days at Ryogoku Kokugikan. He has a one-win buffer over four wrestlers including ozeki Kirishima and sekiwake Kotonowaka.
Injury returnee Terunofuji (5-2) was unable to keep his share of second place as No. 4 Shodai (4-3) turned back the clock in the day's final bout. The former ozeki was strong off the mark and kept the eight-time Emperor's Cup winner off balance before crushing him out.
Asanoyama won the opening collision against former sekiwake Meisei (4-3) and kept driving forward on his way to a decisive force-out victory.
The 29-year-old from Toyama Prefecture is aiming for his second Emperor's Cup and his first since his July 2022 return from a year-long suspension. Asanoyama's ranking plummeted from ozeki to No. 22 in the fourth-tier sandanme division after violating the Japan Sumo Association's COVID-19 safety rules.
Kirishima won a marathon battle against No. 3 Hokutofuji (4-3) to keep up his pursuit of a second straight championship and yokozuna promotion at the 15-day tournament. The pair jostled back and forth around the ring, inadvertently knocking down the referee, before Kirishima managed to force former komusubi Hokutofuji over the edge.
Kotonowaka continued his push for ozeki promotion and a maiden Emperor's Cup by forcing out No. 5 Ryuden (3-4). The sekiwake secured a strong belt grip and stayed in control as he maneuvered the maegashira over the straw.
Ozeki Hoshoryu (5-2) snapped a two-bout losing streak by forcing out No. 4 Tobizaru (3-4), while sekiwake Daieisho improved to 5-2 by thrusting out komusubi Ura (1-6), who continues to struggle in his debut among the three "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna.
In the bottom half of the draw, highly touted top-division debutant Onosato, fighting as a No. 15, remained tied for second place at 6-1 by forcing out No. 11 Oho (5-2).
Related coverage:
Sumo: Kotonowaka loses to Wakamotoharu, Asanoyama takes sole lead
Sumo: Gonoyama stuns previously unbeaten Hoshoryu on Day 5
Sumo: Midorifuji stuns promotion-chasing Kirishima at New Year meet
