Akebono, or Chad Rowan of Hawaii, is the only wrestler with just one loss. Takanohana and ozeki (champion) Takanonami share second place at 11-2.
Sekiwake (junior champion) Kaio charged Takanohana back to the rim while establishing a right-handed belt hold, then tipped the yokozuna back. Takanohana didn't go down easy, hoisting Kaio up chest-high before falling on his back rather than stepping out.
Akebono cast out Takanonami after reaching from the ozeki's left side to disarm him with a vise-grip on his throat and the back of his neck. Akebono shoved Takanonami out sideways, striding three rows deep into the audience with his charge.
Akebono is seeking his ninth tournament victory, while Takanohana has a chance at his 14th.
Ozeki Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani of Hawaii, advanced to the opposite side of the ring at the expense of No. 2-ranked maegashira (senior wrestler) Kotonishiki (8-5), who scrambled in vain for a grip on Musashimaru (9-4).
Another wrestler from Hawaii, No. 8 maegashira Konishiki, or Salevaa Atisanoe, blasted No. 5 Tosanoumi back to the rim with a single, persuasive bump before falling over forward as Tosanoumi dodged to the right. But the 310-pound Tosanoumi stepped out before Konishiki, who weighs 602, hit the ground, giving Konishiki his sixth win against seven losses.