OSAKA, Japan — Mongolian Hakuho posted a hard-fought victory over Kotooshu on Friday to take a big step toward winning the title at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

Bulgarian Kotooshu shoved Hakuho back in the day's penultimate bout, but the grand champion used a textbook arm throw at the edge to stay undefeated at 13-0 in the 15-day meet at Osaka Municipal Gymnasium. Ozeki Kotooshu dropped to 8-5.

In the day's final bout, Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu kept his slim title hopes alive when he forced out ozeki Kaio to pick up his 11th win against a pair losses. Kaio fell to 8-5.

Hakuho can wrap up the Emperor's Cup on Saturday with a win over Kaio.

In other major bouts, ozeki Harumafuji was pushed back to the edge but recovered to shove out Miyabiyama and wrap up a winning record by improving to 8-5. No. 3 maegashira Miyabiyama fell to 4-9.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai was given a taste of his own medicine when fellow ozeki Kotomitsuki used a series of arm thrusts to send the struggling veteran out.

Kotomitsuki secured a winning record and improved to 8-5 while Chiyotaikai dropped to a disappointing 2-11.

Top maegashira Kakuryu wrapped up a winning record when he forced out sekiwake Kisenosato to pick up his eighth win against five losses. Kisenosato fell to 5-8.

Sekiwake Baruto kept his chances of securing a winning record alive when he shoved out Mongolian Kyokutenho to move to 6-7. Komusubi Kyokutenho dropped to 4-9.