 In February 1977, at the age of 36, he suffered a stroke, and his subsequent health problems may have played a part in him being passed over for the chairmanship of the Sumo Association.He had extensive rehabilitation sessions to get the left side of his body moving again.In general he did not manage to replicate his own wrestling success as a trainer, but he did produce Ōzutsu, a "sekiwake" who fought in 78 consecutive top division tournaments from 1979 to 1992.