Both yokozuna remained a win off the pace Saturday with routine victories on Day 7 of the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
Hakuho (6-1) bounced back from his shock loss to second-ranked maegashira Abi the previous day at Ryogoku Kokugikan, quickly forcing out No. 4 maegashira Chiyotairyu (4-3) by the belt.
Fellow Mongolian yokozuna Kakuryu (6-1) had to work a little harder for his win, wheeling away from No. 3 Yutakayama (0-7) before thrusting him down.
Georgian-born sekiwake Tochinoshin remained the only wrestler with a perfect record, moving to 7-0 with a default win over komusubi Endo (3-4), who withdrew from the tournament earlier in the day with an injured right arm.
Endo, who was promoted to the lowest of the three sanyaku ranks beneath yokozuna following the Spring Grand Tournament, suffered the injury in his loss to fellow komusubi Mitakeumi on Day 6.
A day after his win over Hakuho, Abi (3-4) claimed another high-profile victim, making short work of ozeki Goeido (3-4).
Anticipating his opponent's charge, Abi quickly adjusted his position before redirecting Goeido's momentum to send him to the clay.
No. 2 Shohozan pulled off an impressive win against giant sekiwake Ichinojo (4-3) despite an 84-kg weight disadvantage. As the pair locked up in the center of the ring, Shohozan got a grip on his much taller opponent's belt before upending him with a turning throw.
Mitakeumi (4-3) provided little resistance to No. 1 maegashira Kaisei (2-5), trying in vain to push back the 204-km Brazilian before being hoisted over the straw by his belt.
