not been tested. The system was called "guest ōzeki" (). Most of these vanished from the banzuke soon after, but a few wrestlers, notably Tanikaze Kajinosuke, remained as real wrestlers. Demotion from ōzeki Like the other san'yaku ranks, but unlike a yokozuna, an ōzeki may be relegated. For an ōzeki, relegation is a two-step procedure. First, the ōzeki must have a losing record in a tournament (7-8 or worse), known as a make-koshi. At this point, the ōzeki is called kadoban. If he makes a winning record (8-7 or better) in the next tournament (which is called kachi-koshi), he is restored to regular ōzeki status. If, on the other hand, he suffers another losing record in the next tournament while kadoban, he is relegated to sekiwake in the following tournament. (No matter how badly he does, he will not fall lower than sekiwake.) If he wins ten or more bouts in this tournament, he is restored to ōzeki for the following tournament. However, if he fails to win ten or more bouts, he is treated just like any other wrestler in any further attempts at being promoted back to ōzeki. This system has been in place since the Nagoya Tournament of 1969. Since that time, six wrestlers have managed an immediate return to ōzeki: Mienoumi, Takanonami, Musōyama, Tochiazuma (who managed it on two occasions), Tochinoshin and Takakeishō. Mitakeumi is the only wrestler to be demoted from ōzeki after three consecutive losing records instead of two. He entered the July 2022 basho at kadoban status, but withdrew in the middle of the tournament after a stablemate tested positive for COVID-19. Under the Sumo Association's COVID protocols at the time, Mitakeumi's ōzeki rank and kadoban status were extended to the following tournament in September, where he sustained another losing record and was subsequently demoted. Benefits of being an ōzeki In addition to a salary increase, there are a number of perks associated with reaching ōzeki rank: He is guaranteed a higher rank in the Sumo Association when he first retires. He will be given a three-year temporary membership of the Sumo Association on his retirement if he does not yet own a share. He will receive a special merit payment on his retirement (the amount decided by his strength and longevity as an ōzeki). He is given a parking space at the Sumo Association headquarters. He can vote in the election of