Injury-hit yokozuna Harumafuji gave overnight sensation Ichinojo a rude awakening, thrashing his opponent in a sumo clinic on the opening day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.
A sell-out crowd was on hand on the first day in Kyushu for the first time in 17 years, anticipating a possible upset by newly promoted sekiwake Ichinojo — the man who in just his second appearance in the elite makuuchi division has been nicknamed "The Monster."
But Harumafuji, who has shrugged off a fracture around his right eye suffered at the September basho to compete in the 15-day meet, was in full-destruction mode at Fukuoka Kokusai Center after missing 10 days last time out.