He won fourteen special prizes, including a record ten Outstanding Performance Awards, and five gold stars for defeating yokozuna.
He initially competed under his own surname, Nagaoka, but in March 1979 he was given the shikona of Asashio (or "morning tide"), which had previously been used by several past greats in Takasago stable, including his own stablemaster.
After accumulating a record ten Shukun-shō, or Outstanding Performance prizes for his achievements in tournaments, he was promoted to sumo's second highest rank of ōzeki in May 1983.
Asashio remained in the sumo world as an oyakata, or elder, and became the head coach of Wakamatsu stable in March 1990, taking over from former sekiwake Fusanishiki who resigned because of ill-health.
[3] Takasago was seemingly unable to control his most senior wrestler, often unaware of whether Asashōryū was in Japan or back in Mongolia, and this damaged his standing within the Sumo Association.
In January 2010 he was severely reprimanded by the Board of Directors after Asashōryū allegedly punched an acquaintance while on a drunken night out during a honbasho.
[8] Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi