Autumn champion Kakuryu bounced back from a shock opening defeat to take out No. 2 maegashira Aoiyama at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday.
On a day of contrasting fortunes for the three Mongolian yokozuna, championship favorite Hakuho also came through with a routine win, but Harumafuji came a cropper and fell to his first loss at the hands of Egyptian bruiser Osunaarashi (1-1).
Stunned by giant-killer Yoshikaze on Sunday, Kakuryu always looked in control and shook off an early smack to the face to send the Bulgarian-born Aoiyama (0-2) sprawling with an underarm throw.