He returned to the maegashira ranks in September 2001 after taking his second juryo championship with a 12–3 record, but he was finding it more difficult to hold his own in makuuchi.

His 38th and final top division tournament was in July 2003, and his overall record in makuuchi was 223 wins against 314 losses, with 33 absences due to injury.

He announced his retirement from sumo on the tenth day of the November 2003 tournament, having lost all nine of his previous matches and facing demotion to the makushita division.

His danpatsu-shiki or official retirement ceremony took place on October 3, 2004, at the Ryogoku Kokugikan with around 320 guests taking part in the hair-cutting ritual.

He stood in for Tokitsukaze Oyakata in September 2020 when two Sumo Association directors visited the stable to inform Shōdai of his promotion to ōzeki, due to the stablemaster's illness.

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi