 At this low rank he was able to produce a "kachi-koshi" score of 9-6.He had climbed to "maegashira" 2 by September 2008 but was unable to compete in that tournament due to a wrist injury, the first time in his career that he has missed any bouts.After having surgery, he returned in November but despite being ranked as low as "maegashira" 15 he could only win seven matches.He was one of seven wrestlers who NHK commentator Shuhei Nagao (the former Mainoumi) in 2008 called the "Seven Samurai" and identified as "holding the key" to a Japanese resurgence in sumo, which was dominated by foreigners in the top ranks.