 In January 2017 he took a break from sumo commentary in order to recuperate from heart surgery.Kitanofuji's favoured grip were "hidari-yotsu" (a right hand outside, left hand inside grip on his opponent's "mawashi"), and his favoured techniques were "yori".His most common kimarite (winning techniques) were "yorikiri" (force out), "sotogake" (outer leg trip), "uwatenage" (overarm throw), and "hatakikomi" (slap down).