In July, he took part in an historic play-off with Chiyonofuji – the first time ever that two yokozuna from the same stable had met in the ring (the rules of sumo state that wrestlers from the same stable can only fight each other in a play-off).
In July, he took part in an historic play-off with Chiyonofuji – the first time two top-ranked sumo wrestlers from the same stable had met in the ring (sumo rules allow such matches to occur only through a play-off).