Kotomitsuki, winner of last month's autumn tourney, returns to sumo's third-highest rank of sekiwake for the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, according to rankings released Monday by the Japan Sumo Association.
The Sadogatake-stable grappler went 13-2 as a No. 2 maegashira to win the September meet and will likely be one of the favorites for another championship when the 15-day Kyushu tourney gets under way at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 11.
Grand champion Musashimaru will step onto the ring from the east again for a third straight tournament after going 9-6 in September while yokozuna Takanohana, who missed the entire autumn meet, will again be on the west side of the ring.