 After being personally trained by the new Dewanoumi Oyakaya, former yokozuna Sadanoyama, he developed his technique and was promoted to "jūryō" division in March 1969, and "makuuchi", the top division, in September 1969.In July of the following year, he reached the rank of "komusubi", defeating two "yokozuna" (Taihō and Tamanoumi) and receiving his first prize ("shukun-shō").He was promoted to "sekiwake" in the next tournament in September 1970.