Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho moved a step closer to winning his 31st career title on Wednesday after a comfortable win over Takekaze kept him one win clear with four days remaining at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.
With the win, Hakuho improved to 11-0, with fellow yokozuna Kakuryu and 10th-ranked maegashira Ichinojo keeping up the chase with 10 wins at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Hakuho was given a scare by Osunaarashi on Tuesday, but the yokozuna had little trouble dealing with Takekaze (5-6), drawing the sekiwake in before beating him with a textbook hatakikomi slap down.