Tokitsukaze stable
Shimotori competed in amateur sumo at Tokyo University of Agriculture, but did not manage to win a major national title. He was recruited by the Tokitsukaze stable and made his professional debut in May 2000, almost a year later than intended due to injuries from a traffic accident. Due to his amateur record he was given "makushita tsukedashi" status and began at the bottom of the third highest "makushita" division.