Yokozuna Hakuho overcame a spirited effort Tuesday from komusubi Endo to remain one win off the pace at the Summer Grand Summer Tournament.
Fellow yokozuna Kakuryu likewise improved to 9-1 with a somewhat controversial win, while tournament leader Tochinoshin maintained a perfect record on Day 10 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
In the final bout of the day, all-time championship record-holder Hakuho squared off against fan favorite Endo (3-5-2), who was making his return to the raised ring after pulling out of the tournament Saturday with an injured right arm.
With Hakuho seeking a belt hold in the opening exchange, Endo initially retreated to the edge of the ring before fighting his way through a flurry of slaps to gain forward momentum.
As the younger fighter attempted to push the yokozuna out, Hakuho was able to turn him around and shove him out from behind.
In the day's shortest bout, Kakuryu slapped down No. 5 maegashira Kotoshogiku (6-4) in half a second, earning an easy win but also the disapproval of some sumo purists in the crowd for his use of a frowned-upon evasive technique.
Sekiwake Tochinoshin used brute force to overcome No. 4 Chiyotairyu (4-6) and retain the sole lead in the tournament with a perfect 10-0 record.
Chiyotairyu opened with a shoulder charge but failed to budge Tochinoshin, allowing the powerful Georgian to gain a belt hold before lifting the 190-kg maegashira over and out.
In a highly entertaining bout, komusubi Mitakeumi (7-3) gutted out a tough win against No. 5 Ikioi (7-3) after being driven to the edge of the straw.
