Kasugano stable
Born in Gobo, he was an amateur champion at Toyo University, but did not have enough collegiate titles to receive "makushita tsukedashi" status and join professional sumo in the third highest "makushita" division, instead beginning at the bottom of the rankings in March 2004. He joined Kasugano stable, run by another Wakayama Prefecture native, the former "sekiwake" Tochinowaka. His "shikona" or fighting name was adapted from his own surname, which is also a time-honoured name in Kasugano stable, being the name of a "gyoji" or referee, Kimura Soshiro, who ran the stable in the early 20th century.