Hakuho and Kakuryu grabbed a share of first place Friday at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament after sole overnight leader Aoiyama suffered his second loss.
The Mongolian-born yokozuna sit alongside the rank-and-file grappler at 11-2 following an action-packed Day 13 at Edion Arena Osaka.
Hakuho overpowered fellow title contender Asanoyama in the day's marquee bout, while Kakuryu compounded struggling ozeki Takakeisho's woes.