Returning yokozuna Terunofuji won his fourth straight bout to remain in the lead alongside four other wrestlers Wednesday at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
Terunofuji (4-0), who missed all of the last three tournaments following knee surgeries in October, was cautious in dispatching tricky No. 3 maegashira Tobizaru (1-3) as the grand champion took several backward steps early on at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
The seven-time Emperor's Cup winner then found the right moment to lock up his smaller opponent's arms, hoist him off his feet and slowly carry him over the straw at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Two sekiwake wrestlers, Daiesho and Wakamotoharu, improved to 4-0, along with No. 6 Meisei and former ozeki Asanoyama, currently wrestling as a No. 14 maegashira.
Daieisho overcame stubborn resistance from komusubi Shodai (1-3), but pushed the former ozeki from one end of the ring to the other before slapping him down.
Wakamotoharu handed komusubi Kotonowaka (3-1) his first loss. The sekiwake debutant withstood Kotonowaka's powerful drive at the edge before grabbing a left underarm belt hold on a counter and shoving him out.
Meisei pulled Hokutofuji (1-3) off balance before forcing out the No. 7, while Asanoyama needed just a few seconds to shove out No. 16 Oho (1-3). The former ozeki is back in the elite makuuchi division for the first time since 2021, when he was suspended for violating coronavirus-prevention protocols.
Demotion-threatened ozeki Takakeisho (3-1) slapped down No. 2 Endo (0-4) to inch closer to the eight wins he needs to continue on in the sport's second-highest rank.
Ozeki promotion-chasing sekiwake Kiribayama (3-1) needed a rematch to beat No. 3 Nishikifuji (0-4) after they hit down simultaneously in their first bout. Kiribayama, March's Spring champion, who will likely earn promotion with 10 victories here, won the rematch when Nishikifuji's feet slipped out from under him.