 His performance over the next few tournaments was good but not spectacular, until in May 1987 he won his first tournament title with a perfect record of 15 wins and no losses, becoming the first man other than Chiyonofuji to win a top division "yūshō" in the new Ryōgoku Kokugikan.After two runner-up performances in the next two tournaments, in September of that year he was promoted to "yokozuna", sumo's highest rank.His three tournament record of 40 wins and just five losses tied with Wakanohana II as the best produced by a candidate for "yokozuna" promotion in the six tournaments per year era (post 1958).