 This earned him promotion back to "komusubi" for September 2007.Kisenosato defeated Asashōryū once again in the "yokozuna"'s comeback tournament in January 2008, earning him his first "kinboshi" or gold star, (his first win over Asashōryū had been at "komusubi" rank so he was ineligible then) and his second Outstanding Performance Prize.After this performance he was named one of seven wrestlers who NHK commentator Shuhei Nagao (the former Mainoumi) called the "Seven Samurai" and identified as "holding the key" to a Japanese resurgence in sumo, which was dominated by foreigners in the top ranks.