Kasugano stable
Several different "heya" were interested in recruiting him for professional sumo, but he eventually chose Kasugano stable. He made his ring debut at the March 2005 tournament, under his family name Kageyama. He rose through the divisions quickly, winning the third lowest "sandanme" division championship in November of that same year. In September 2006 at the age of 19 he became a salaried "sekitori" wrestler when he entered "jūryō", the second highest division, adopting the ring name Tochiōzan.