Hakuho captured his fifth consecutive title on Sunday, defeating rank-and-filer Toyonoshima in a playoff on the final day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
The Mongolian yokozuna, who rebounded from the devastation of failing to tie Futabayama's all-time wins streak of 69 bouts, was cooler than ice in his final match of the year after both wrestlers ended regulation with 14-1 records at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
The victory was Hakuho's career 17th, the yokozuna overcoming the psychological bump of losing to Kisenosato on the second day of the 15-day meet, which snapped his winning run at 63 bouts.
Hakuho took the charge from Toyonoshima, a former sekiwake who is currently a No. 9 maegashira, and calmly shoved his opponent down from the rear after deftly maneuvering around him.