FUKUOKA (Kyodo) -- Yokozuna Onosato continued his perfect start and sealed a winning record at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday. but only by the skin of his teeth in the face of an inspired effort from veteran Tamawashi fighting on his 41st birthday.

Onosato (8-0) had the biggest scare of the 15-day meet at Fukuoka Kokusai Center after Tamawashi (4-4) stood his ground off the opening charge before driving forward and pushing a desperate grand champion's throat with his right hand at the edge of the raised ring.

But Onosato shifted his body to his left while backpedaling before barely slapping down the Mongolian-born No. 4 maegashira as he kept himself in the bout with his left foot on the straw bales.

New sekiwake Aonishiki (7-1) stayed one win off the pace after overcoming Oho (3-5), also occupying the third-highest rank, who tried hard to overcome the Ukrainian rising star's low attacks.

But Aonishiki was patient with his approach and his persistence proved enough in the end as he ousted Oho with a thigh-grabbing push-down at the edge.

Yokozuna Hoshoryu is one of five wrestlers at 6-2 after his pull-down attempt had Ura (3-5) almost running out of the ring before the grand champion grabbed the No. 3 maegashira's thigh from behind and threw him away to win by a leg pick.

Hoshoryu is joined at 6-2 by No. 5 maegashira Yoshinofuji and No. 12 maegashira Fujinokawa, who both lost on the day, as well as No. 14 maegashira Tokihayate and No. 15 maegashira Nishikifuji.

Ozeki Kotozakura (3-5) ended his three-bout losing streak after withstanding aggressive attacks from No. 3 maegashira Hiradoumi (2-6) before prevailing with a beltless arm throw with his right foot on the straws.