FUKUOKA (Kyodo) -- Ozeki Kotozakura continued to struggle Tuesday at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, falling to 1-2 with his second straight loss courtesy of komusubi Takayasu.

Sumo's sole current ozeki, returning from a knee issue that kept him out of last month's London tour, looked far from his best in the biggest upset of Day 3 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

September champion Onosato breezed to a perfect 3-0, while fellow yokozuna Hoshoryu and ascendant Ukrainian star Aonishiki were severely tested before also emerging victorious.

Kotozakura, who hurt his knee on Day 13 of the September meet, did little to budge Takayasu (2-1) before the former ozeki clinched victory with an "uchimuso" inner thigh propping twist down.

"I did some good practice and was feeling good coming into the tournament," Takayasu said. "As long as my body is moving well, I'm happy. My goal is just to do some good sumo."

Onosato, gunning for his fourth Emperor's Cup of 2025 and sixth overall, barely broke a sweat as he drove No. 1 maegashira Wakatakakage (0-3) straight out from the jump.

Hoshoryu, determined to avoid a second loss early in the 15-day meet, had to scramble for his victory against fellow Mongolian-born grappler Kirishima, competing as a No. 2 maegashira.

Both jockeyed for a throw before Hoshoryu (2-1) managed to force out former ozeki Kirishima (1-2) and improve to 13-10 in their closely fought head-to-head series.

In one of the day's highlight bouts, 21-year-old sekiwake Aonishiki narrowly escaped with his unbeaten record intact against another rising talent, No. 1 maegashira Hakuoho.

The 22-year-old Hakuoho (1-2) drove Aonishiki to the straw bales but succumbed to a last-ditch headlock throw reversal, with the judges conferring before determining that the Tottori Prefecture native hit the outside of the ring first.

Sekiwake Oho (2-1) took his first loss at the hands of No. 3 maegashira Hiradoumi (2-1), who won the opening collision and maintained his momentum for a victory by force out.