Hakuho kick-started his campaign for a 27th career title with a routine win over Takayasu on Sunday, the opening day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.
Seeking a fourth consecutive Emperor's Cup after a 13-2 showing in July in Nagoya, the Mongolian yokozuna was all business in the day's last bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan, sending his komusubi opponent packing in clinical fashion for a yorikiri force-out victory.
Fellow yokozuna Harumafuji also opened with a win on a day free of major upsets, bulldozing komusubi Tochiozan out of the dohyo with minimal fuss.