 The June 1945 tournament was held in a bomb-damaged Kokugikan with barely any spectators, and Futabayama dropped out after the first day.He did not take part in the November 1945 tournament and announced his retirement during it, claiming that he objected to the newly enlarged "dohyō" that the Sumo Association had introduced at the behest of the American occupying authorities.However, he had actually made a decision to retire a year earlier, having suffered a loss to Azumafuji, another future "yokozuna".