Sekiwake Wakamotoharu and komusubi Abi remained the only wrestlers from sumo's four uppermost ranks to stay unbeaten at 3-0 Tuesday at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
Wakamotoharu withstood a shove to the throat to maintain forward pressure on No. 3 maegashira Takanosho (1-2), forcing him backward and finally out at the 15-day meet at Edion Arena Osaka.
Abi, a former sekiwake, overpowered sekiwake Daieisho (0-3) from the jump and easily shoved him across the straw bales to join the six-wrestler pack at 3-0.
Yokozuna Terunofuji and three of the four ozeki, Hoshoryu, Kotonowaka and Takakeisho, improved to 2-1, while the fourth, Kirishima, remained winless.
Although he won, the often-injured Terunofuji struggled mightily before forcing out No. 1 maegashira Asanoyama (1-2), a former ozeki. Despite a solid start, the yokozuna was unable to put his disadvantaged opponent away and endured his second prolonged bout of the tournament.
Takakeisho was headed toward defeat with his back to the straw when he brought down No. 2 maegashira Meisei (1-2). Large but nimble and quick, new ozkei Kotonowaka outlasted komusubi Nishikigi (1-2), while Hoshoryu clung tenaciously to a belt hold to force out impressive No. 2 maegashira Atamifuji (1-2).
Kirishima appeared on track for his first win, until he took his eye off tricky No. 1 Ura (2-1).
As he backed the maegashira wrestler toward defeat, Kirishima unleashed a full-blooded slap. Ura, however, ducked the blow, and then thrust down the ozeki, who lost his balance when he swung and missed.
The two wrestlers at the No. 8 maegashira rank, Takayasu and Onosho improved to 3-0, with Onosho, from northern Japan, feeling at home during a cold snap in Osaka.
"My feet get so cold in morning practice here I can't feel them," he said. "It's nostalgic because it reminds me of home in Aomori (Prefecture)."
Rising young stars Takerufuji, making his makuuchi-division debut at No. 17, and January debutant No. 5 maegashira Onosato also remained undefeated with solid wins.
Takerufuji avenged one of the two losses he suffered in January en route to the juryo-division championship with a crisp overarm throw of No. 15 Roga (2-1). The two know each other well, having attended Tottori Johoku high school at the same time.
"More than mentally, my body reacted. I know his strong points and weak points," Takerufuji said of his lightning-quick win.
Related coverage:
Sumo: Terunofuji gets 1st win, but upsets continue on Day 2
Sumo: Yokozuna Terunofuji suffers surprising opening-day defeat
Sumo: Tamagaki to cover for penalized Hakuho at stable
