Izutsu stable
Kirishima had reached sumo's second highest rank at the age of nearly 31, and the 91 tournaments it took him is the slowest ever promotion to "ōzeki". The highlight of his career came in January 1991 when he took his first "yūshō" or tournament title, gaining his revenge on Hokutoumi by defeating him on the last day. He defeated three "yokozuna" on three consecutive days in this tournament, a feat not achieved again by a non-"yokozuna" until Kotoshōgiku did it in January 2016. It was also the first top division championship for Izutsu stable in over sixty years. It had taken him a record 96 career tournaments to win a top division yūshō for the first time, and he was also the oldest first time winner at 31 years and nine months. (Both of these records are now held by Kyokutenhō.) Kirishima finished 1991 with 62 wins, which was more than any other top division wrestler in the calendar year, although it was the lowest number ever needed to achieve that feat. He was only the second non-"yokozuna" after Wakashimazu in 1984 to do so. He was also runner-up in the tournaments of September 1991, March 1992 and July 1992. However, in September of that year he could only manage a 7–8 score after being restricted by an elbow injury, and he had to pull out of the November tournament on Day 8 with only one win after he ruptured ankle ligaments in a bout against Mitoizumi. As a result, he lost his "ōzeki" status.