After not even being around in the final days of the previous tournament, the yokozuna pair of Hakuho and Kakuryu will now battle it out for the title of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka.
Hakuho won a showdown with No. 13 maegashira Aoiyama on Saturday, while Kakuryu came out on top in a nail-biter with sekiwake Asanoyama that had to be decided by the council of judges to leave the yokozuna pair on top with 12-2 records going into the final day.
Fighting off a pushing attack from Aoiyama, Hakuho deftly shrugged him aside, which caused the maegashira to stagger forward. From that point, Hakuho needed to only press down to send him the rest of the way to the dirt for his 22nd win in 23 career meetings between the two.
Aoiyama, who dropped to 11-3, was eliminated from the title race when Kakuryu won in the final bout of the day before the empty stands at Edion Arena Osaka.
Against Asanoyama, Kakuryu was backed up to the edge several times. On the final one, Asanoyama launched an overhand belt throw that sent the two sailing out of the ring together. The in-ring judge awarded the sekiwake the victory, but upon further review, the side judges ruled that his forearm hit down first out of the ring, reversing the decision and making Kakuryu the winner.
Asanoyama was fighting not only to stay in the chase for the Emperor's Cup, but to keep alive his hopes of promotion to ozeki. Needing 13 wins in principle and now with a 10-4 record, it looks like he will have to wait another tournament for his chance.
Hakuho will be going for his record-extending 44th career championship, while Kakuryu will try to capture his seventh.
In other action, ozeki Takakeisho, looking to avoid his first losing record in the three tournaments since he returned to the second-highest rank, evened his slate at 7-7 by pushing out No. 5 maegashira Onosho.
Sekiwake Shodai assured he will be remaining in the third-highest rank when he forced out No. 7 maegashira Takarafuji for his kachikoshi eighth win.
Komusubi Endo, however, will see his fate decided on the final day after he fell to No. 4 maegashira Abi, leaving him at 7-7. Endo came out charging hard, but when Abi suddenly pulled back, it left the komusubi flopping to the dirt.
In a bout between two wrestlers due for hefty promotions, No. 9 maegashira Takanosho bulled out No. 3 maegashira Mitakeumi to improve to 11-3. Mitakeumi, a former sekiwake, fell to 10-4.
Meanwhile, former ozeki and No. 3 juryo Terunofuji took another step toward returning to the makuuchi division following his unprecedented plunge to jonidan when he notched his 10th win in the second-tier division.
By throwing down No. 11 juryo Wakamotoharu, the Mongolian moved one win off the lead going into the final day to keep alive his chances for a second straight juryo title.
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