Struggling yokozuna Kisenosato withdrew from his fifth consecutive tournament on Friday, a day after suffering a demoralizing fourth defeat at the ongoing New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Although he pulled out citing injury, with just one tournament of perfect attendance in six meets at sumo's highest rank, the 31-year-old has all but guaranteed he will be forced to make a decision on whether to retire from the sport.

According to his stablemaster Tagonoura, Kisenosato aggravated an existing injury to the left side of his chest in his loss to second-ranked maegashira Yoshikaze on the fifth day of the 15-day tournament.