Kotonowaka's promotion to Ozeki guaranteed: “I want to be cool”. He lost to Yokozuna Terunofuji in the championship deciding match at Senshuuraku in his first tournament.
He had a good record of 13 wins and 2 losses, and his total of wins from the last three tournaments in which he played as Sanyaku is Ozeki. The Japan Sumo Association has decided to hold an extraordinary board meeting on the 31st for promotion to ozeki.