"He earned two "kinboshi" for defeating "yokozuna" Wajima when ranked as a "maegashira," but was never able to defeat "yokozuna" Kitanoumi, losing to him 29 straight times, which is a record.After being runner-up in the January 1979 tournament and winning the Fighting Spirit prize he changed his "shikona" or fighting name to Tochihikari, in honour of "ōzeki" Tochihikari Masayuki, who also fought for Kasugano stable.