In 1997 his stablemaster died suddenly and for the remainder of his career he was coached by former ozeki Daiju.
In 1999 he won the yūshō or tournament championship and earned promotion to the second highest rank of ōzeki, but he lost the rank in 2001 and, for the most part, remained a maegashira until his retirement in 2009.
He reached the third highest sekiwake rank in July 2009, and in March 2012 he secured promotion to the second highest rank of ōzeki after finishing runner up to yokozuna Hakuhō and accumulating a total of 33 wins in his previous three tournaments.
In 1993 his stable merged with Fujishima stable and he became a stablemate of ozeki (later yokozuna) Takanohana Koji, whom he had fought eight times previously without beating.