Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu and Hakuho disposed of their third victims Tuesday to remain unbeaten in the early going of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
Asashoryu, who shrugged off his critics' talk of retirement to lift an Emperor's Cup for the first time in five meets in January, tossed aside winless Hokutoriki with an overarm throw to improve to 3-0 at Osaka Municipal Gymnasium.
In the penultimate bout, Hakuho never lost his composure after absorbing a fierce throat attack by countryman Kakuryu before sending the No. 1 maegashira sprawling into the ringside seats.
Kakuryu, who dropped to 1-2, appeared to have a chance when he pushed Hakuho near the edge.
But the yokozuna read his opponent like a book as he muscled him over the straw bales.
The yokozuna pair featured in a group of five undefeated wrestlers, thus far at the 15-day meet.
Ozeki wrestlers once again had a mixed bag of fortunes with two of the five suffering their second defeats after just three days.