Yokozuna Hakuho improved to a perfect 8-0 to maintain a one-win lead as the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament reached its midpoint on Sunday.

The sole remaining yokozuna in action, Hakuho has now won 26 straight bouts, excluding his forfeit on Day 4 of July's grand tournament in Nagoya.

Although he started the 15-day event at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan with a series of near misses, his form has improved since yokozuna Kisenosato retired on Day 4 and yokozuna Kakuryu pulled out with an injury on Friday.