 He reached "sekiwake" rank for the first time in January 1986.After regular training sessions at Takasago stable, where he knew Asashio from his university days, he began to develop a more rounded technique, and after three double figure scores he was promoted to sumo's second highest rank of "ōzeki" after the September 1987 tournament.In January 1988 he won his first top division tournament championship, which was also the first for the Tatsunami-Isegahama "icihimon" or group of stables in nearly twenty years.