Troubled yokozuna Asashoryu marked his eagerly anticipated return to the raised ring with an enthralling opening-day win over komusubi Kisenosato at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.

Roared on by the majority of fans at Ryogoku Kokugikan, the 22-time Emperor's Cup winner regrouped after a nervous start to bulldoze Kisenosato up against the straw bales and stun his crimson-faced opponent with a pair of meaty blows to the face.

Victory helped ease some of the pressure on the yokozuna to put on a strong showing at the 15-day meet after he missed part or all of the previous three tournaments through injury.

Asashoryu is facing calls to bow out of Japan's ancient sport if he underperforms here and needs to get back to his fearsome best to convince sumo's hierarchy that as a grand champion he still has plenty left in the tank.

Yokozuna legend Takanohana once sat out seven complete tournaments in succession while other former grand champions Kashiwado, Kitanoumi and Musashimaru have all missed six straight.

But Asashoryu is under extra strain because of run-ins with sumo officialdom for a catalog of misdemeanors both on and off the ring.