 He is the first wrestler to be ranked at "maegashira" 1 more than three times without ever making the "san'yaku" ranks.In the September tournament he went 10-5, including victories over all three "ōzeki", and this performance saw him finally reach "san'yaku" in the November 2011 tournament at "komusubi" rank.At 30 years and six months he became the fourth oldest "san'yaku" debutant since the six tournament a year system began in 1958.