Promotion-seeking sekiwake Kotonowaka suffered his first loss of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at the hands of rank-and-file opponent Wakamotoharu on Friday, leaving unbeaten former ozeki Asanoyama with the outright lead.
Lone yokozuna Terunofuji and ozeki Kirishima, who is gunning for promotion to sumo's top rank, both racked up wins to stay on the second rung at 5-1 on Day 6 at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Former sekiwake Wakamotoharu proved too strong for Kotonowaka in one of the day's most anticipated bouts, winning the opening collision and pushing the ozeki aspirant over the straw.
Fighting to reclaim his place among the three elite "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna, No. 1 maegashira Wakamotoharu (3-3) has also defeated Terunofuji and ozeki Takakeisho, who withdrew after their Day 3 bout with a neck injury.
The 26-year-old Kotonowaka now has the thinnest margin for error as he pursues a total of 13 wins at the 15-day meet to reach the ozeki promotion threshold of 33 wins over three consecutive tournaments as a sekiwake or komusubi.
No. 7 Asanoyama dug deep for his victory over No. 5 Nishikigi (3-3), resisting an attempted thrust down before throwing the former komusubi to the clay.
In an ill-tempered final bout of the day, injury returnee Terunofuji shoved No. 4 Tobizaru (3-3) off the dohyo and glared angrily after one of his surgically repaired knees nearly bore the brunt of an unsuccessful trip attempt by the maegashira.
November champion Kirishima kept his promotion bid alive by forcing out No. 3 Gonoyama (2-4).
Formerly winless No. 2 maegashira Abi (1-5) handed ozeki Hoshoryu (4-2) his second straight loss, delivering a strong opening hit to the Mongolian's upper body before pulling him down.
"I've just been thinking of doing my best sumo one day at a time," said Abi, whose Shikoroyama stablemaster, popular former sekiwake Terao, died of heart failure last month. "My stablemaster would have told me to just do my style of sumo, regardless of wins and losses."
Takayasu (2-2-2) returned to competition with an overarm-throw win against fellow komusubi Ura (1-5). The former ozeki had been sidelined since Day 3 with lower back pain.
Related coverage:
Sumo: Gonoyama stuns previously unbeaten Hoshoryu on Day 5
Sumo: Midorifuji stuns promotion-chasing Kirishima at New Year meet
Sumo: Ozeki Takakeisho pulls out of New Year meet with neck injury
