Takakeisho secured a comprehensive victory over resurgent No. 1 maegashira Terunofuji, but fellow ozeki Asanoyama fell to a surprise defeat as the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament got under way Sunday at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
With Mongolian-born yokozuna Hakuho and Kakuryu out through injury, the meet is the first in 37 years to open without a yokozuna when more than one wrestler has occupied the sport's highest rank.
All eyes were on the day's penultimate bout pitting July tournament champion Terunofuji against Takakeisho, who had pulled out of the meet with a left knee injury with three days to go.