Miyabiyama Tetsushi most short-lived "ōzeki" on record (not counting wrestlers who have quickly been promoted to "yokozuna"). Miyabiyama sat out the two tournaments following his demotion with an injury, and so had to start all over again from the "maegashira" ranks. In January 2003 he looked to have earned his first ever "kinboshi" or gold star and to have defeated "yokozuna" Takanohana for the first time in eleven attempts with a rare counter-attacking "nichonage" throw but although the referee declared him the winner the judges ordered a rematch, which he lost. (The Sumo Association was inundated with calls of protest from the
Miyabiyama Tetsushi slap downs, "hiki otoshi" and "hatakikomi". Like most "oshi" specialists, he was at a disadvantage if his opponents managed to grab hold of his "mawashi" or belt. At , he was the heaviest man in the top division from the retirement of his stablemate Musashimaru in November 2003, until the arrival of the (now retired) Yamamotoyama in 2009. Miyabiyama was married in 2008 to a 24-year-old former office worker from Kurume, Fukuoka, and their wedding reception was held in June 2009 with 450 guests including his stablemaster Musashigawa Oyakata attending. In June 2013 his second eldest son died. In February