Yokozuna Terunofuji suffered his second loss, while former ozeki Takayasu took over the sole possession of the lead at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday.
The fifth day of the 15-day meet at Edion Arena Osaka saw the sport's lone yokozuna beaten by 37-year-old Mongolian and No. 2 maegashira Tamawashi for the second straight tournament.
Tamawashi (2-3) threw Terunofuji back on the charge with a salvo of well-placed shoves to the throat. After tipping backward, the yokozuna rocked forward off balance. Tamawashi seized control of the bout and finished off his opponent with a final left hand to the throat that sent the yokozuna backward off the raised ring.