Newly promoted ozeki Kotomitsuki will line up on the west side of sumo's second-highest rank at the upcoming Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament after the Japan Sumo Association on Monday released the rankings for the Sept. 9-23 meet.
The veteran Sadogatake stable grappler fills the ozeki void left by Tochiazuma, who retired in May, and will be out to prove his runnerup finish in Nagoya last month was no fluke when the Aki Basho kicks off in Tokyo.
Last month, Kotomitsuki became the oldest wrestler at 31 years and three months to climb up to ozeki since the format of six tournaments a year was established in 1958.
Masuiyama had previously been the oldest to do so at 31 years and two months.
Hakuho sits on the west side as the lone yokozuna this time out after the JSA barred fellow Mongolian Asashoryu from competing in the autumn meet and the Kyushu tourney in November.