Yokozuna Kakuryu made a winning start to his first meet back from injury Sunday on the opening day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

The Izutsu stable wrestler, who hurt his right ankle at the Nagoya tournament last July, easily defeated No. 1 maegashira Hokutofuji in his opening bout by hand pull down.

Fellow yokozuna Kisenosato, who likewise missed part of each of the last four meets through injury, lost his comeback bout to komusubi Takakeisho, however.