Kisenosato got off to a perfect start in his quest for promotion to yokozuna with a routine win over Takekaze on Sunday, the opening day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Kisenosato, who is bidding to become the first Japanese-born yokozuna since Takanohana retired in January 2003, was unfazed by two false starts from No. 1 maegashira Takekaze at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Once the bout finally got under way, the ozeki took control and locked Takekaze up before calmly ushering him out of the dohyo.