Yokozuna Harumafuji and ozeki Terunofuji became the first wrestlers in the top two ranks to taste defeat at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday.
All three yokozuna and all four ozeki entered the third day of the 15-day tournament with perfect records, the first time since May 2007 the top two ranks had been unbeaten through two days.
But ozeki Terunofuji was bundled out in his bout, while Harumafuji concluded the day's action unable to cope with the bulk of Mongolian compatriot Ichinojo.