Ozeki Kotoshogiku, pursuing a second straight championship and promotion to yokozuna, improved to 3-0 on Tuesday, the third day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
Against an opponent he had routinely beaten in the past, Kotoshogiku needed two tries to overcome No. 2 maegashira Tochinoshin. But he was never in danger of losing at Edion Arena Osaka, where all three yokozuna finished the day at 2-1 and all four ozeki remained perfect in the 15-day meet.
Kotoshogiku outmaneuvered his opponent on the tachiai and shoved him back to the straw. Tochinoshin dodged one bullet, slipping around the ozeki to mid-ring, but lost his footing when he was nearly thrown. From there, Kotoshogiku seized control and easily levered his man out to improve to 21-4 in their head-to-head matchups.