Yokozuna Kisenosato's comeback got off to a losing start as he fell to Tamawashi on Sunday, the first day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
Kisenosato, returning to competition after missing all or part of the past three meets, was charged out of the ring by the No. 1 maegashira as the 15-day meet at Fukuoka Kokusai Center kicked off.
The Tagonoura stable wrestler had been suffering from upper arm and chest muscle injuries sustained at March's Spring Basho, and pulled out of the May and July tournaments. He sat out the entire autumn tourney in September along with fellow grand champions Hakuho and Kakuryu, the latter of whom is not competing in Fukuoka.