After finishing five straight tournaments with a losing record, Tochiozan was demoted to the juryo division for the ongoing Fukuoka meet.
The veteran is in a good position for instant repromotion to the top tier after securing a winning record on Day 12, but whether he still possesses the ability and strength to stay there is hard to say.
The 32-year-old was still a teenager the last time he fought in sumo's second division.