Yokozuna Terunofuji, who has looked far from his best in the 15-day event at Edion Arena Osaka, got an easy win to stay one back of the two leaders on Wednesday, the fourth day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
Sumo's sole grand champion, Terunofuji (3-1) staved off defeat by the slimmest of margins the day before, but easily handled giant Mongolian No. 2 maegashira Ichinojo (2-2) from the get-go, forcing him back on the charge and out of the ring.
The yokozuna was dealing with pain in both of his surgically repaired knees in January, when his two-tournament win streak ended. He then tested positive for the coronavirus in February. Terunofuji improved to 13-2 in his career against Ichinojo.