Veteran No. 4 maegashira Myogiryu remained unbeaten after the fifth day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday to take the sole lead in the 15-day meet at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
The 34-year-old Myogiryu started the day in a two-way tie with Mongolian sekiwake Terunofuji. But the sekiwake, seeking 10 wins in his bid for re-promotion to the sport's second-highest rank of ozeki, was beaten for the fourth time in five career bouts against No. 1 Onosho.
Myogiryu was challenged by mountainous 2-meter Mongolian Ichinojo, but kept the No. 6 maegashira under pressure and eventually forced him out to his second loss. Myogiryu, who needed to win his last two bouts in January to clinch a winning record at the New Year tourney, improved to 11-4 in his career against Ichinojo.