 Kisenosato produced an 11–4 record in his debut "ōzeki" tournament in January 2012.In the May 2012 tournament he was leading the "yūshō" race after twelve days, the first Japanese born wrestler to do so at that stage since Tochiazuma in 2007, but then defeat to Hakuhō on Day 13 meant he was caught by rank–and–filers Kyokutenhō and Tochiōzan, and a final day loss to Baruto meant he finished on 11–4 and missed out on a playoff for the championship.In the next five tournaments he produced five double figure scores, but only just, as they were all 10–5.