 In January 2010, he rose to "maegashira" 4 and fought his first bout against a "yokozuna" since his injury.Due to the absence of Chiyotaikai and Kotomitsuki, on the final day he took part in the "san'yaku soroibumi" ceremony.He finished the tournament with a respectable 6-9 record, but was unable to produce a "kachi-koshi" or winning score in the next four tournaments either.