 This performance returned him to the "sekitori" ranks for the first time since November 2006.His return was not successful however, as he could only manage a 5-10 score at "jūryō" 13.He returned to the "jūryō" division once again for the November 2008 tournament; a 6-1 score at the rank of "makushita" 4 elevating him to "jūryō" 8.