Hakuho scraped out a victory to remain perfect in a four-way tie for the lead on Thursday, the fifth day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
A day after his 35th birthday, the yokozuna (5-0) took on January's surprise champion, No. 2 maegashira Tokushoryu at Edion Arena Osaka. The 15-day tourney is being held behind closed doors in order to help stem the spread of the new coronavirus.
Tokushoryu, who fell to 0-5, managed to show some of the spark that made the journeyman wrestler the winner of the New Year Basho.