Rank-and-file wrestler Tochiozan beat ozeki Takayasu and earned his fifth straight win Thursday, taking the spotlight at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament following the withdrawal of yokozuna Kisenosato.
With no remaining yokozuna in competition, Tochiozan shares the lead with komusubi Takakeisho one-third of the way through the 15-day tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center. Both wrestlers are seeking their first top-division title.
Kisenosato forfeited his scheduled Day 5 bout against No. 2 Tamawashi (3-2). The 32-year-old withdrew prior to the day's bouts citing a knee injury after posting four-straight opening losses, the most by a yokozuna in 87 years.