First-time champion Ichinojo was rewarded for his July triumph with a re-promotion to komusubi in the Japan Sumo Association's rankings published on Monday ahead of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament which, starts Sept. 11 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
The 192-cm, 211-kg Mongolian, a former sekiwake who wrestled as a No. 2 maegashira in Nagoya, will move up two spots as he returns to the three sanyaku ranks below yokozuna for the first time since last November.
In an alignment sumo hasn't seen in 23 years, the JSA has opted to go with three wrestlers at sekiwake, the sport's third-highest rank, and three at komusubi, one rung below.