Toyonoshima sentenced ozeki and longtime friend Kotoshogiku to his first loss of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday, blowing the title race open in the process.
Toyonoshima, a seventh-ranked maegashira, drew Kotoshogiku in after the charge and sent him flying with a tottari, or arm bar throw, to also keep his own chances of winning the championship alive.
Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho capitalized on Kotoshogiku's slip-up to grab a share of the lead at 12-1.