When he first shot through the ranks in the mid 2000s, more than a few fans and commentators had Kisenosato penciled in as a future yokozuna.
And in his 13-tournament rise from jonokuchi – the lowest of sumo’s six divisions – to the sekitori ranks, not only did he rise from nowhere at a pace rarely equalled, he did so at a time the upper ranks had a number of rikishi at the top of their game and a number of current senior rankers were also vying for promotion.
He is now on the cusp of promotion to yokozuna.