TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Yokozuna Terunofuji outlasted fellow Mongolian-born grappler Kirishima to stay a win back of the lead on Tuesday, the third day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Terunofuji improved to 2-1 following an opening-day defeat in his first tournament since July, but winless No. 1 maegashira Kirishima (0-3) gave the 10-time champion no margin for error in their marathon bout at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Kirishima secured a strong position on the yokozuna's flank but was unable to topple or spin Terunofuji, who had been absent from the ring since his July triumph with chronic knee pain and symptoms of diabetes.

The maegashira's eventual attempt to break the deadlock by shifting his weight forward gave Terunofuji the leverage he needed to re-set his feet, seize better holds and force Kirishima out.

Hoshoryu, one of two ozeki wrestlers who can achieve promotion to yokozuna with a championship-caliber record at the 15-day meet, improved to 3-0.

The nephew of former yokozuna Asashoryu overpowered Wakatakakage (1-2) from the get-go, rocking him upward with his opening charge before delivering a barrage of slaps and thrusts to the base of the throat that drove the reeling komusubi from the ring.

Ozeki Kotozakura, the grandson of a yokozuna and the other candidate for yokozuna promotion, recovered from a weak opening only to go flying out of the ring to his second loss after a poorly executed charge against Tobizaru (2-1).

A heartbeat away from defeat, Tobizaru pivoted out of the onrushing 181-kilogram ozeki's path and yanked Kotozakura over the edge for his second win after three matches against ozeki opponents.

Ozeki Onosato (2-1), who lost on Day 1 to Tobizaru, survived a sloppy bout to shove out No. 1 maegashira Takanosho (0-3) on the second try.

Sekiwake Daieisho remained unbeaten as he kept the pressure on from the start against No. 4 maegashira Shodai (0-3) before eventually shoving the former ozeki over the straw bales.