New yokozuna Kisenosato and his Tagonoura stablemate Takayasu both improved to 8-0 on Sunday, the midpoint of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
Kisenosato finished the action at Edion Arena in a short but tense battle, handing No. 3 maegashira Shohozan his seventh defeat. The yokozuna's victory kept him even for the tournament lead with Takayasu, one win ahead of Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji and No. 10 Tochiozan, both at 7-1.
Facing an opponent who had beaten him in 10 of their 12 career bouts, Shohozan was quick and full of energy but short on finish.