Hakuho used brute force and technical supremacy to defeat rival Mongolian yokozuna Kakuryu and win his 31st career championship on the final day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.
Hakuho entered the final day with a one-win lead but needed to beat Kakuryu to avoid a playoff with 10th-ranked maegashira Ichinojo, who had won earlier in the day to keep alive his hopes of becoming the first wrestler in a century to win the title on his debut in the elite makuuchi division.
The 29-year-old Hakuho (14-1) came through with a clinical performance at Ryogoku Kokugikan, yanking Kakuryu (11-4) around after a brief stalemate and then sending him out with a "kakenage" hooking inner thigh throw.