Autumn champion Kakuryu took the prestigious east yokozuna slot for the first time as the Japan Sumo Association on Monday released the rankings for the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
Kakuryu ousted Terunofuji in a dramatic championship playoff at the Autumn meet in September, although his path to the title was eased by the absence of the other two yokozuna, Hakuho and Harumafuji.
Hakuho pulled out early in the Autumn tournament with a left knee injury and is back on the yokozuna west side for the first time in 11 basho.