Sekiwake Wakatakakage, who had been shaping as one of the top candidates for promotion to sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki, has been ruled out of action for up to a year after undergoing knee surgery, his stablemaster says.
New sekiwake Kiribayama clinched his first career title March 26 by defeating Komusubi Daieisho twice on the last day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.