Yokozuna Kakuryu won his sixth top-division title by defeating Hakuho at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday and avoiding a playoff with the all-time championship record holder.
Kakuryu (14-1) summoned every ounce of his strength to fight off an attack from his yokozuna colleague, who went into the bout one win off the pace at a meet that saw all four ozeki withdraw prior to the final day.
The 33-year-old Kakuryu said he owed his first championship in Nagoya to the support from local fans.