NAGOYA - Grand champion Onosato suffered his second straight defeat to start the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday, losing to tricky No. 1 maegashira Fujinokawa by thrust down.
Coming off an upset loss to komusubi Yoshinofuji, five-time Emperor's Cup winner Onosato dropped to 0-2 courtesy of the fast-moving Fujinokawa (1-1), winner of their previous meeting in March, who withstood the injury-affected yokozuna's strong initial charge before executing the devastating reversal.
"I wasn't thinking too much about his opening attack, but I was able to hit the yokozuna hard," said Fujinokawa, who is gunning for his first promotion to the three "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna.
"He was able to get a right-hand inside position, but I think my left-hand "ottsuke" arm-clamping technique put the yokozuna under pressure."
Fellow yokozuna Hoshoryu, meanwhile, improved to 2-0 at the 15-day tournament in impressive fashion, hurling No. 1 maegashira Takanosho (1-1) to the clay with a beltless arm throw after the former sekiwake followed a strong opening collision with a thrusting attack.
Both grand champions have returned to action at IG Arena after sitting out May's Summer Grand Sumo Tournament with injuries.
Onosato missed two consecutive meets with debilitating left shoulder pain, while Mongolian-born yokozuna Hoshoryu withdrew with a hamstring injury suffered on the opening day of the May tourney at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Former ozeki Aonishiki, bidding for automatic re-promotion back to the second-highest rank from sekiwake, continued his unbeaten start on Day 2 by forcing out No. 2 maegashira Churanoumi (0-2).
The young Ukrainian star was demoted after skipping the May tournament with ankle trouble and needs a double-digit win total in Nagoya to reclaim ozeki status.
Ozeki Kirishima (2-0) stayed in control during his battle with komusubi Oho (0-2), delivering a strong opening charge and toppling the former sekiwake with a beltless throw.
Demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki Kotozakura kept his record spotless at 2-0 by taking care of Yoshinofuji (1-1). Coming off his victory at last month's Paris exhibition tournament, Kotozakura pushed out the rising star as he attempted a reversal near the edge.
Sekiwake Atamifuji remained unbeaten by throwing No. 3 maegashira Hiradoumi (0-2), while fellow sekiwake Kotoshoho also improved to 2-0 by thrusting down No. 2 maegashira Gonoyama (0-2).
