 Initially fighting under his real surname of Yamamoto, he rose through the lower divisions quickly, capturing the "yūshō" or tournament championship in the "sandanme" division with a perfect 7-0 record in November 2004, upon which he changed his "shikona" to Hōmashō.He achieved "kachi-koshi" in every tournament until he reached the top "makuuchi" division, only the third wrestler to do so since 1958, following Akebono and Kotoōshū.He moved through the second highest "jūryō" division in just two tournaments.