He did not continue his training, however, and in 1997 chose to accompany his friend, future yokozuna Asashōryū who was moving to Japan to attend high school.

In later years Asasekiryū would often serve as a tachimochi or sword bearer during Asashōryū's yokozuna dohyō-iri or ring entering ceremony.

He made little impact in the top division until March 2004, when he won his first twelve bouts, including a defeat of ōzeki Kaiō.

He lost, but the eight wins he managed in this tournament at maegashira 1 were enough to earn him promotion to sekiwake for September, which was to be his highest career rank.

In the May 2012 tournament, ranked at maegashira 14, he stood at only 3–7 after ten days, and although he rallied somewhat to finish on 6–9, this was not enough to prevent demotion back to jūryō for the first time.

This result left the Takasago stable without any wrestlers in the top two divisions for the first time since it was founded in 1878, a situation for which Asasekiryū expressed his regret.

He became Nishikijima Oyakata, an elder name which had been thought to be owned by the active wrestler Toyonoshima, but Asasekiryū is listed in an owner's position rather than a borrower's at the Sumo Association.

In his retirement press conference he said his most memorable honbasho was his 13–2 runner-up performance in March 2004, the same tournament in which his stablemate Asashōryū won with a perfect 15–0 record.

His danpatsu-shiki (retirement ceremony) was held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan on February 4, 2018, with around 250 guests taking part in the hair-cutting ritual.

[3] Asasekiryū was handed a 20% salary cut for three months in June 2021 after then-ōzeki Asanoyama was issued a one-year suspension from sumo for violating COVID-19 protocols.

They began a relationship in 2012 and had a child together in 2013, but they delayed their wedding reception as Asasekiryū wanted to wait until he was promoted back to the top makuuchi division, which did not happen until September 2015.

[6] Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi