Sadogatake stable
Born , he came from a sumo background, as his father was involved in organising regional amateur sumo tournaments and his grandfather's brother had been a professional "rikishi". The young Kamatani at first competed in judo, achieving shodan level while still in middle school. However, after doing well in a national high school sumo competition he decided on a career in professional sumo. Initially his parents wanted him to continue with judo but they were persuaded by former "komusubi" Kotonishiki Noboru to let him join Sadogatake stable.