Tatsunami stable
Born in Anamizu, Hosu District, as an amateur he won eleven sumo titles, including collegiate and amateur "yokozuna", while studying at Nihon University. He also served as captain of the school sumo team. He was recruited by the former "sekiwake" Annenyama of the Tatsunami stable. Yamazaki had stayed at the "heya" while taking part in junior high school competitions (as did Daishōhō), and he had also met the former Tatsunami stable wrestler Wakanami as an infant, being held in his arms for a photograph (as top "rikishi" are often requested to do for luck). As an amateur champion he was given "makushita tsukedashi" status and made his debut in the third highest "makushita" division. His first tournament was in January 1989 and after two consecutive "yūshō" with perfect 7-0 records in January and March 1990 he was promoted to the second highest "jūryō" division, becoming the first "sekitori" from Tatsunami stable since the abrupt departure of "yokozuna" Futahaguro in 1987. He changed his "shikona" or fighting name from his own surname to Daishōyama at this point.