Izutsu stable
Fukuzono was in the navy during World War II, but had an interest in joining sumo. He began his professional career in June 1947, recruited by a fellow Kagoshima Prefecture native, former "maegashira" Tsurugamine Michiyoshi, who had just retired and become Izutsu Oyakata. He began under his own surname of Fukuzono but in his first official tournament on the "banzuke" he switched to Kakureizan. He won the "jonokuchi" "yūshō" or championship in this tournament. In November 1947 he followed Izutsu Oyakata in leaving Tokitsukaze stable to a newly re-established Izutsu stable. After winning the "jūryō" championship in September 1952 and following up with a 9–6 record in January 1953, he was promoted to the top "makuuchi" division. To mark the occasion he adopted his stablemaster's old "shikona" of Tsurugamine.