 Takatōriki reached the top "makuuchi" division in September 1990, along with future "yokozuna" Akebono and Wakanohana III.He won eleven bouts and the Fighting spirit prize in his top division debut, and in his next tournament he defeated his first "yokozuna", Ōnokuni.He had a very successful year in 1991, becoming the only man in the top division to achieve a winning record in every tournament that year.