Later Career
In May 1998 Kotonishiki was runner-up for the fourth time and returned to komusubi, but he was sidelined through injury in the next tournament and managed only five wins on his return. This sent him down to maegashira 12 for the November 1998 tournament, his lowest rank since his top division debut in May 1989. Kotonishiki responded by winning his first 11 matches and though he lost to yokozuna Wakanohana on Day 12, he defeated Takanohana and Takanonami over the next two days to clinch the championship. He finished with an outstanding 14-1 record. This victory made him the only wrestler ever to win two tournaments from the maegashira ranks. The seven-year gap between his first and second championships is also the longest ever. He was also awarded special prizes for the final time, receiving his eighth Technique and seventh Outstanding Performance Award. These plus his three Fighting Spirit Prizes gave him a total of eighteen sansho, the most ever at the time (although he was overtaken the following year by Akinoshima).
Now over 30 years of age, Kotonishiki was no longer able to maintain a position in the sanyaku ranks, but he was still a threat, as he defeated yokozuna in three consecutive tournaments from March to July 1999.
Read more about this topic: Kotonishiki Katsuhiro
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