2016 tournament did not go well for Okinoumi who had a lingering injury that had caused him to miss the autumn tour. He ended the tournament with only a 5–10 record and fell back to the maegashira ranks. In the November 2017 tournament Okinoumi was a runner-up to Hakuhō with an 11–4 record, and was awarded his third Fighting Spirit prize, shared with Aminishiki. In September 2019 Okinoumi won his first eight matches to lead the tournament outright. He finished on 11–4 and received his fourth (and final) Fighting Spirit Award. In July 2020 Okinoumi returned to the komusubi rank for the first time since 2016, and secured his first winning record in san'yaku with a 9–6 score. Retirement Okinoumi withdrew from the January 2023 tournament after he was defeated in his first five matches. On the day of his withdrawal the Sanin Chūō Shimpō newspaper reported that Okinoumi had decided to retire. His retirement was confirmed by the Japan Sumo Association the next day, on 14 January 2023. At the time of his retirement he was the second-oldest active wrestler in the top two divisions behind Tamawashi. At his retirement press conference, Okinoumi said that for several years he had to rely on mental strength to overcome his inability to perform his style of sumo and that it had recently become too exhausting. Okinoumi finished his career with a total of 75 tournaments ranked in the top division, eight of them in . He had acquired toshiyori kabu, or elder stock, in the Sumo Association prior to his retirement. He is now a coach under the name of Kimigahama-oyakata. Okinoumi opened his own Twitter account on the day of his retirement, as he was no longer subject to the Sumo Association's SNS ban. His danpatsu-shiki (retirement ceremony) has been scheduled for 30 September 2023 at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. Fighting style Okinoumi was a yotsu-sumo fighter, preferring grappling techniques to pushing or thrusting. His most common winning kimarite was yori-kiri or force out, and he favoured a migi-yotsu grip on the mawashi, with his left hand outside and right hand inside his opponent's arms. He also regularly used uwatenage, or overarm throw. Career record See also List of sumo tournament top division runners-up List of active gold star earners Glossary of sumo terms List of active sumo wrestlers List of sekiwake Active special prize winners References External links 1985 births