Newly promoted komusubi Onosato overpowered lone yokozuna Terunofuji as the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament opened Sunday with a stunning string of upsets.
The 23-year-old Onosato was the only winner among the three distinguished "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna, claiming victory after all four ozeki and both sekiwake lost their opening bouts at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Having come into the 15-day meet with questions about whether his injury-racked body could hold up, the 32-year-old Terunofuji did little to dispel the doubters against Onosato.
Neither of the powerfully built combatants had a clear upper hand at the initial clash, but the younger wrestler quickly went in for the kill with a beltless arm throw after the Mongolian-born grand champion gave him an opening.
A title contender in March, Onosato will be the fastest to win a top-flight championship from his competitive debut if he lifts the Emperor's Cup in 14 days' time.
Ozeki Kotozakura, formerly Kotonowaka, made an inauspicious start under the ring name he inherited from his former yokozuna grandfather, getting driven out by top-ranked maegashira Daieisho.
Demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki Kirishima failed to launch his bid to stay at the second-highest rank, giving little resistance in a push-out loss to No. 2 maegashira Gonoyama.
Takakeisho, who just avoided kadoban status by scraping together a winning record in March, was shoved over the edge by No. 2 maegashira Hiradoumi.
Mongolian-born ozeki Hoshoryu made a better fist of his battle with No. 1 maegashira Atamifuji but succumbed to the rising star's overarm throw.
Sekiwake Wakamotoharu was pushed out by former ozeki Takayasu, currently ranked No. 3. The other sekiwake, Abi, was pulled down by third-ranked maegashira Tobizaru.
No. 6 maegashira Takerufuji, who sensationally won his debut top-flight tournament in March, has been ruled out for the entire meet due to a ligament injury in his right ankle requiring another three weeks of recovery, according to his stable.
Komusubi Asanoyama, promoted back to sanyaku for the first time in roughly three years, will also be sidelined for three weeks with a right knee injury. The former ozeki had looked on track to eventually return to sumo's second-highest rank.
Related coverage:
Sumo: Spring tourney winner Takerufuji withdraws from summer meet
Sumo: Top prospect Onosato apologizes for underage drinking incident
Former sumo grand champion Akebono dies at 54
