Promotion-chasing ozeki Kisenosato labored past winless komusubi Kotoyuki to keep his eyes on the prize as the second week of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament got under way on Sunday.
Seeking an elusive first championship, Kisenosato had his hands full after the charge as Kotoyuki threatened to stage an upset at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium with a lively attack.
But the ozeki stood his ground and came through unscathed, grabbing Kotoyuki by the back of the neck and slapping him down to improve to 7-1.