Harumafuji was tripped up in a shocker at the hands of rank-and-filer Takayasu on Tuesday, suffering his first loss of 2013 at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
Rival yokozuna Hakuho, meanwhile, demolished another would-be opponent in the form of Georgian Tochinoshin to move into a two-way tie with Estonian sekiwake Baruto at 3-0.
None of the four at sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki are undefeated, and both Bulgarian Kotooshu and Kotoshogiku tumbled to their second straight defeats.