 His fourth bid for "yokozuna" promotion in September ended in failure after two losses in the first three days, to Okinoumi on the opening day and Tochinoshin on Day 3, and a final score of 10–5.In the November 2016 tournament Kisenosato was runner up for the twelfth time in his career finishing with a 12–3 record including victories over all three "yokozuna" (dealing "yokozuna" Kakuryū, the victor of the tournament, his only loss).He also won against "ōzeki" Gōeidō, and "ōzeki" Terunofuji.