Yokozuna Hakuho condemned ozeki Kisenosato to a sixth defeat with a vicious eruption on Friday, putting an exclamation on his would-be rival's utter implosion on the 13th day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
Bulgarian Kotooshu, meanwhile, was also dumped to a sixth and fatal defeat in his bid to return to the ozeki rank at the hands of rising star Endo.
Hakuho, who is seeking his 28th career title, retained his lead with an unbeaten 13-0 mark and drove Kisenosato to the brink of possibly failing to even reach a majority of wins with just two days remaining at the 15-day tournament.
Kakuryu kept his hopes of claiming his first title alive with a massacring of rival ozeki Kotoshogiku (8-5) to improve to 12-1.
In front of a full house at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Hakuho unleashed a venomous throat grab against the sour-faced ozeki before marching ahead at full throttle with a salvo of slaps and burying his opponent over the straw bales.
No. 10 maegashira Endo (10-3), whose popularity has shot through the roof in just his third appearance in the elite makuuchi division, kept his center of gravity low against Kotooshu, who he sent flying over the edge with a beltless arm throw for his 10th win.
Sekiwake Goeido (6-7) manhandled Tamawashi (8-5) in a textbook frontal force-out to move within two victories of a majority of wins.
Earlier, Osunaarashi (8-5), sumo's first Egyptian-born wrestler, was thrown down with a well-timed overarm throw by Takayasu (7-6) a day after posting his first winning record in the top division.
