AP Photo/Kyodo
New grand champion Wakanohana, left, toppled Gojoro by pulling
his head in the 5th day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament
Thursday, July 9, 1998. Wakanohana and Takanohana, sumo's first
brother grand champions shared the lead with Hawaiian-born
Musashimaru after winning their fifth straight bouts.

Wakanohana, Takanohana
keep pace at Nagoya sumo

NAGOYA, July 9 (Kyodo) -- Wakanohana posted a solid victory Thursday while Takanohana survived a scare as the yokozuna brothers held on to their share of the lead with ozeki Musashimaru five days into the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

New grand champion Wakanohana absorbed winless Gojoro's initial charge, pushing the No. 3 maegashira to the edge of the ring at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium and twisting him down by the shoulder to maintain a perfect 5-0 record.

Takanohana weathered a spirited fight from up-and-coming Tochinonada -- including several belt throw attempts -- and got hold of the No. 2 maegashira's sash with both hands before forcing him out to his fifth straight loss.

Hawaiin-born Musashimaru, meanwhile, remained calm as he allowed Shikishima, 2-3, to chase him almost halfway around the dohyo and then retaliated, placing a firm left-hand grip on the third-ranked maegashira's belt and driving him out.

Yokozuna Akebono, without a moment of hesitation, bulldozed No. 2 maegashira Musoyama out and off the raised ring for a one-sided victory. Akebono trails the co-leaders at 4-1 along with six other wrestlers. Musoyama stands at 2-3.

Ozeki Takanonami tamed the robust Oginishiki with his forceful grabbing technique and forced the winless top maegashira to straighten his back at the ring's edge before shoving him out, picking up his fourth victory on the way.

Thursday proved to be a disappointing day for two young overnight co-leaders as newly promoted sekiwake Chiyotaikai and rebounding Tochiazuma both suffered their first losses of the 15-day meet.

Komusubi Kaio stopped Chiyotaikai's half-hearted initial charge and twisted the wriggling sekiwake down by the belt. The veteran grappler posted his first win in three meetings with Chiyotaikai.

Earlier, top maegashira Takatoriki, 2-3, dumped Tochiazuma with a violent slapping attack that forced the fifth-ranked maegashira to take a big step backward and outside the ring.

Eleventh-ranked maegashira Kyokushuzan, 2-3, got tossed sideways and out the ring by hard-shoving No. 10 maegashira Tamakasuga, 3-2, while fellow Mongolian Kyokutenho, a No. 15 maegashira, picked up his second win after edging out Kotoryu.

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