sentences:  This earned him promotion to "sekiwake" for the first time for the May 2009 tournament.He began the tournament brightly, defeating three "ōzeki" in the first three days (the best start by a new "sekiwake" since Tochinowaka in September 1987), but he faded after that and recorded a disappointing 6–9.Ranked at "maegashira" 1 in July, he could only score 5–10.