It was a case of seventh-time luck for perennial bridesmaid Kaio on Wednesday as the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) approved his promotion to ozeki after a strong showing in the recent Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Following an executive meeting at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on Wednesday morning to discuss rankings for the autumn tournament in September, the association dispatched a messenger to the wrestler's Tomozuna stable in Nagoya to officially pass along the welcomed news.
The 28-year-old Kaio, who won his first Emperor's Cup in May, finished the 15-day Nagoya meet with an 11-4 record to post a total of 33 wins over three straight tournaments, considered the minimum requirement for promotion to sumo's second-highest rank.
Criticism from some quarters within the sumo world of the JSA's decision to promote Miyabiyama to ozeki in May was justified during the Nagoya tourney as the young Musashigawa stable wrestler slumped to a 6-9 record in his ozeki debut.
However, the JSA has pointed out that Kaio was a veteran of 21 tournaments as a sekiwake and was making his seventh assault on the ozeki rank in Nagoya.
Kaio, a native of Fukuoka, made his pro debut in 1988 and will have taken 44 tournaments in the elite makuuchi division to reach ozeki, the second-slowest rise in sumo history.