Japanese hopeful Kisenosato beat Bulgarian grappler Aoiyama to post a fourth win and retain his share of the lead, while Kakuryu rebounded from Tuesday's shock defeat at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.
It was a close call, but after both Kisenosato and Aoiyama had traded blows, the ozeki knocked the top-ranked maegashira back with a two-handed shove and was awarded victory following a prolonged meeting among ringside judges.
Kisenosato had initially been given the win and television replays confirmed that Aoiyama (1-3) had stepped out of the ring a just before Kisenosato put his foot on the wrong side of the straw bales.