The odds of Kisenosato becoming the first Japanese wrestler in eight years to win a championship is not only no longer a pipedream but the ozeki is arguably his closest ever to gaining promotion to sumo’s highest rank of yokozuna.

When the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament kicks off this Sunday at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Koco’s Corner 2014 Fight Team Member Kisenosato will make his case in a second bid at yokozuna with a newfound confidence he gained from what was likely his most convincing victory to date against yokozuna and Combat Sports Hall of Famer Hakuho.

The Japan Sumo Association, however, will not make it easy with the roughly proposed guideline that he not only win the title but achieve the feat with no fewer than 13 victories.

“I have been gaining experience tournament by tournament,” said the 27-year-old Kisenosato, who is hoping to become the first Japanese-born yokozuna in 11 years. “I will be able to grow as long as I continue to take advantage of my experience.”

Success or failure will depend on not losing to lower-ranked wrestlers, an offense Kisenosato has been guilty of time and again. With yokozuna Harumafuji sidelined due to an ankle injury, he will get the chance to face more of the rank-and-filers.

The highlight for Kisenosato in his second year as ozeki in 2013 was when he won 13 straight bouts before falling to Hakuho in a battle of undefeated wrestlers on the 14th day at the summer basho in May.

“You don’t get many chances to have a match of that magnitude. It was a match that allowed me to grow more than if I had sparred in 100 or 200 practice bouts.”

He beat Hakuho in July before suffering another loss to the yokozuna in September.

But Kisenosato, who carved out an outstanding 13-2 mark in November, was his most impressive when he dominated from start to finish in a landside against Hakuho at the Kyushu basho for his 10th career win against his longtime nemesis.

Correcting a bad tendency to wrestle with an erect posture will also be key for Kisenosato, especially when facing the likes of sekiwake Goeido and komusubi Tochiozan, two opponents he struggled with last year.

“I want to make this a year that I can be proud of — both in terms of results and how I wrestle. I will give it my all as I focus (on the expectations),” Kisenosato said.

Hakuho, who will be gunning for his 28th career title and first championship in two meets, has trained hard as usual and is exhibiting no signs of waning. After beating Kisenosato in four out of six bouts last year, the yokozuna is still eager to show his dominance in the ring.

A championship in Tokyo will move him within four of the 32 titles achieved by legendary yokozuna Taiho.

Ozeki Kotoshogiku, who pulled out of the Kyushu meet with a torn right pectoral muscle, faces demotion this time and must notch a majority of wins to keep his rank. Ozeki Kakuryu appears game to mix it up in the title race.

Bulgarian Kotooshu, who has fallen to sumo’s third rank of sekiwake, is still shaky after dislocating his left shoulder and faces an uphill battle to post the 10 wins necessary for a return to ozeki.