Yokozuna Hakuho extended his perfect run at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament to 10 wins on Tuesday, the tournament's 10th day.
Hakuho remained one win ahead of ozeki Kisenosato and No. 5 maegashira Ikioi at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
On a day with few surprises, Hakuho withstood an energetic but futile attack from sekiwake Tochiozan (6-4), whom he had beaten in 23 of their 24 career battles.
The sekiwake jumped the gun on the first try and — after an apologetic nod to the classy yokozuna — came out hard and fast on the restart. After trying in vain to slap Hakuho down, Tochiozan lunged but he was no match for the yokozuna, who calmly sent the sekiwake twisting down to defeat.
Yokozuna Kakuryu recovered from a sloppy defeat on Monday by earning his seventh win, forcing out No. 3 maegashira Aminishiki (5-5), while Harumafuji (8-2) followed with a swift win. The yokozuna spun sekiwake Goeido around and shoved him out to his fifth defeat.
Kisenosato got off the mark slowly, but bloodied ozeki nemesis Kotoshogiku in winning a tough fight for his ninth victory. Kotoshogiku gave Hakuho's principal championship rival a run for his money but did not have the energy at the finish and was forced out to his fifth defeat.
Ikioi got a fairly easy ninth victory, when No. 8 maegashira Takayasu (5-5) charged in low and off balance and was brought down with an armlock throw.
Either Ikioi or Kisenosato will suffer a second defeat on Wednesday, when the two square off. The ozeki has won all four of their previous bouts.
Sadanoumi, a No. 17 maegashira, is a win further back along with Harumafuji at 8-2.