Afterwards, Emperor Koko promoted sumo which lead to a revival, but from the middle of the Heian period, the events were called sumo 'Meshiawase' (invitation) events that were smaller in scale and in fact organized by the imperial guards.
後に光孝天皇が相撲を奨励するなど再興の動きも見られたが、平安時代中期以後は相撲召合と呼ばれて規模が縮小されるようになり、近衛府が事実上の主催するようになった。