Yokozuna duo Hakuho and Kisenosato were both ousted for the second consecutive day, falling to their respective opponents in defeats at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.
There were shocks all around as first Kisenosato, the sole Japanese yokozuna, was dismissed to a third loss with another weak display against ozeki Kotoshogiku, while Hakuho fluffed his lines in the day's final match against upstart Yoshikaze.
Yokozuna Kakuryu, who like Kisenosato has missed the last four meets because of injury, leads a group of five wrestlers in the early lead with spotless 4-0 records at Ryogoku Kokugikan.