Takakeisho's name was officially placed among the sumo elite on Tuesday when the rankings for next month's Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, the first of the Reiwa Era, were released by the Japan Sumo Association.
On the last day of the Heisei Era, wrestlers picked up a copy of the printed banzuke with the new imperial era name at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, while fans lined up before 6 a.m. to purchase the ranking sheets, which went on sale the same day.
Takakeisho, who became the last rikishi to earn ozeki promotion in the 30-year Heisei Era, said in news conference at his Chiganoura stable that seeing his name on the latest banzuke makes him feel both tense and determined.