Mongolian Asashoryu overpowered Iwakiyama on Thursday to move into a tie for the lead with Kotomitsuki on the fifth day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
Fighting in the day's final bout, grand champion Asashoryu deployed a textbook arm throw just after the face off to send No. 2 maegashira Iwakiyama tumbling to the dirt surface and improve to a perfect 5-0 on a day that three ozeki wrestlers lost their bouts at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Earlier, No. 4 maegashira Kotomitsuki maintained his share of the lead when he got both arms around Kinkaiyama and forced the ninth-ranked maegashira out to improve to 5-0. Kinkaiyama fell to 1-4.