 In July 2007, he fell to the unsalaried "makushita" division for the first time since September 2000, and he announced his retirement in December of that year.Kōbō remained with the Japan Sumo Association as an elder under the name Ajigawa-oyakata, and initially worked as a coach at his old stable.In May 2008, he had his "danpatsu-shiki," or official retirement ceremony, at the Ryogoku Kokugikan.