Enjoying plenty of local support, rank-and-file grappler Meisei pulled off one of Wednesday's biggest upsets at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
The No. 2 maegashira from Kyushu's Kagoshima Prefecture earned his first win by forcing out ozeki Takakeisho (2-2) on a chaotic Day 4 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, where there are no longer any undefeated wrestlers in the top division.
"I was just trying to go forward," said former sekiwake Meisei (1-3). "I want to perform my best in front of my faithful fans (in Kyushu)."
Demotion-threatened kadoban ozeki Shodai (2-2) also failed to pick up a win and remains six victories short of the eight needed to keep his rank. The winner of a single Emperor's Cup was forced out by the July tourney champion, No. 2 Ichinojo (2-2).
Takakeisho and Shodai share the top rung in the absence of injured grand champion Terunofuji, but they have so far failed to live up to their billing, along with the rest of the three elite sanyaku ranks below yokozuna.
Sekiwake Hoshoryu (3-1) had a chance to take the outright lead late in the day but could not seal the deal against No. 1 Takayasu (3-1), who slapped down the 23-year-old rising star from Mongolia.
New komusubi Tobizaru (3-1) likewise started the day undefeated before losing to Kiribayama (3-1), who is also fighting from the fourth-highest rank.
Sekiwake Wakatakakage (2-2) slipped to his fourth straight head-to-head loss against No. 1 Kotonowaka (1-3), who clinched his first win of the meet.
Sekiwake Mitakeumi (3-1) gained one more win in his bid to return to ozeki, pushing out No. 3 maegashira Ura (0-4).
In line with sumo rules, Mitakeumi can go straight back up to the second-highest rank with double-digit wins in his first tournament following demotion.