Hakuho moved into a tie for the lead with fellow yokozuna Kakuryu at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday as the year's last meet heads into the stretch run.
Kakuryu, who is seeking his second career title, suffered his first defeat of the basho at the hands of ozeki Kisenosato (9-2), who chased the yokozuna around the ring before giving him one final push to stay within a win of the leaders at 10-1.
As Kakuryu faltered, Hakuho didn't miss the opportunity, keeping up his lifetime domination of Goeido — but by a hair, sidestepping the hard-charging ozeki on the ropes to improve to a career 24-5 against the Sakaigawa wrestler, who slipped to a dismal 4-7.
Hakuho faces longtime nemesis Kisenosato on Thursday with Kakuryu taking on Goeido.
Yokozuna Harumafuji appeared to have all but dropped out of the championship, slumping to his third defeat as sekiwake Aoiyama (6-5) slapped him down the dirt to win by hatakikomi.
But Harumafuji was thrown a lifeline by Kisenosato as the Mongolian was one of four who stood at 8-3.
Eighth-ranked maegashira Tochinoshin (9-2), back in the elite class after falling as far as the third-tier makushita, clung onto his title hopes after beating No. 11 veteran Kyokutenho (8-3) by yorikiri in a battle of 8-2 wrestlers.