Ozeki Takakeisho blew away komusubi Daieisho to make a winning start Sunday at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
But fellow ozeki Shodai started in his now-customary losing fashion, falling to komusubi Tobizaru while competing under demotion-threatened kadoban status resulting from his 4-11 record in September.
The ozeki pair shares top billing in the absence of sumo's lone yokozuna Terunofuji, who withdrew ahead of the 15-day meet at Fukuoka Kokusai Center following endoscopic surgery on both knees.