 Kisenosato went into the July 2016 tournament with the possibility of being promoted to "yokozuna" if he could win the tournament, however he was unable to clinch a victory and was runner-up for the eleventh time, and the third time in a row.He was criticized by Hideshige Moriya, chair of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, for the manner of his defeat to the eventual winner Harumafuji on Day 13, which saw him fall to 10–3