Sekiwake Terunofuji was officially promoted back to sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki by the Japan Sumo Association board of directors on Wednesday.
The re-promotion is a significant moment in the 29-year-old Mongolian's comeback from injury, coming 10 years after his tournament debut in May 2011 and almost four years since he lost the ozeki status he secured after winning the May 2015 tournament.
"I accept with humility. Thank you very much," Terunofuji said in his kojo stage speech, a custom for wrestlers newly promoted to the rank, upon meeting the messengers who delivered the news.