Kakuryu went tumbling out to a second defeat in a weak display at the hands of sekiwake Goeido while Hakuho made mincemeat out of another would-be challenger in the form of Takekaze to improve to a perfect 10-0 at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday.
Hakuho widened his lead against his closest rivals with just five days remaining in the fourth major tournament of the year.
Kotoshogiku is one behind the sole leader along with No. 11 maegashira Takayasu at 9-1. Kakuryu, in his second meet at sumo's top rung, is one further back with Goeido at 8-2.