After a 5-10 result at "jūryō" 11 in January 2009 he was demoted to the unsalaried "makushita" division for the first time since 2003. Kitazakura did not retire as some expected and compiled a 4-3 record at Ms2w in March 2009, including one win against a "jūryō" "sekitori" (J13e Wakatenro). This however was not quite enough to send him back to "sekitori" status for the Natsu Basho, the three available places going to Sagatsukasa, Jumonji and Tamaasuka. He produced another 4-3 score in May and this time he was promoted back to "jūryō." He is the second oldest wrestler in the modern era after Ōshio to earn promotion back to the "jūryō" division. However, he could score only 3-12 in the July 2009 tournament and returned to "makushita".