 Ranked at "maegashira" 2 in May 2011, he won just three bouts; although these did include wins over Kotoōshū and "sekiwake" Kisenosato.Fighting from a more comfortable position at "maegashira" 9 in the July tournament, he scored 11-4 and won his fifth Fighting Spirit Prize and seventh Special Prize overall.This resulted in his promotion to "maegashira" 1 for the fifth time in the September 2011 tournament.