sentences:  He returned with a comfortable 9–6 mark in May, and remained in the upper "maegashira" ranks, defeating Asashōryū again in September 2008.In May 2009 he slipped to "maegashira" 11, his lowest ever top division ranking, but he responded with two consecutive winning records, the first time he had achieved this since 2006.In November 2009 he was runner-up alongside Tochinoshin on 12–3 and shared the Fighting Spirit award.