Takakeisho’s hot start to the November meet came to an abrupt end on Day 4 at the hands of maegashira-ranked Meisei.
Although the promotion-chasing ozeki bounced back quickly, consecutive losses over the tournament’s middle weekend put a major dent in his hopes of attaining the rank of yokozuna by the end of 2023.
The good news for Takakeisho is that slip-ups elsewhere mean he remains in the title race, just one win behind four men atop the leaderboard as of Wednesday as the Kyushu basho heads into the home stretch.