No. 13 maegashira Gonoyama remained unstoppable in his elite makuuchi-division debut, improving to 5-0 at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday.
The 25-year-old, the second-tier juryo division champion in May, showed off his devastating pushing-and-thrusting technique in a slap-down victory over No. 11 Kotoeko (3-2).
Gonoyama's dominant win left him in a three-way tie for the lead at the 15-day meet along with No. 1 Nishikigi and No. 7 Takayasu.
Following the withdrawals of lone yokozuna Terunofuji and ozeki Takakeisho, ozeki Kirishima, who missed the tourney's first three days due to bruised ribs, became the center of attention at Nagoya's Dolphins Arena.
Needing eight wins to avoid putting his rank in jeopardy in September's grand tournament, Kirishima (1-2-2) threw away his early advantage with failed pull-down attempts and was backed up to the straw bales and forced out by No. 1 Tobizaru (2-3).
Two of the three sekiwake in line for promotion to sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki, Hoshoryu and Daieisho, advanced their causes by improving to 4-1. Hoshoryu secured a poised victory over komusubi Abi (3-2), while Daieisho overpowered No. 3 Meisei (2-3) with his charge and thrust him out.
The third sekiwake, Wakamotoharu (3-2), hesitated at the jump and fell victim to co-leader Nishikigi, who ran him out of the ring in a heartbeat.
Former ozeki Takayasu also remained unbeaten when he overpowered No. 5 Hiradoumi (1-4) with his charge, rocked him back and slapped him down to defeat.