Hakuho exchanged a series of slaps to the upper body with his opponent, then prevailed when he used an arm throw to send ozeki Kotooshu sprawling to the dirt surface.

Hakuho, who won the Kyushu tournament in November, improved to 11-1 while Kotooshu dropped to 7-5 in the 15-day tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

In the day's final bout, grand champion Asashoryu forced out sekiwake Aminishiki to keep pace at 11-1. Aminishiki fell to 5-7.

Asashoryu, who has won 21 Emperor's Cups, is coming off a two-tournament ban for playing a charity soccer game in Ulan Bator last summer while skipping an exhibition sumo tournament in Japan.

In other major bouts, No. 8 maegashira Kakuryu stayed in the hunt when he forced out No. 12 maegashira Futeno to pick up his 10th win against a pair of losses. Futeno dropped to 8-4.

Ozeki Kaio got both arms around Kyokutenho and waltzed the Mongolian out to improve to 8-4. It was a tough loss for No. 10 maegashira Kyokutenho, who saw his record drop to 9-3.

In an earlier bout, No. 7 maegashira Takekaze forced out No. 13 Iwakiyama (8-4) to improve to 9-3.

Sekiwake Ama dodged to his side at the faceoff and swatted down top maegashira Kisenosato to improve to 7-5. Kisenosato fell to 8-4.