Born Eitaro Sakurai (櫻井 英太郎) in Chuo, Tokyo, he joined Dewanoumi stable and was coached by former yokozuna Hitachiyama.

His rival for the championship, veteran maegashira and former sekiwake Misugiiso, had won all his bouts in actual fights but was then defeated by strong komusubi Tamanishiki (later yokozuna) on the 11th day.

The controversy gathered around the system of keeping score for matches won by default as one wrestler does not appear for their scheduled fight (fusensho).

In the following tournament in March 1928, the modern system was established where the winner by default was officially scored as a win and not a no-show, as it was in the past.

He remained in the sumo world as an elder, under the name Sakaigawa (境川), and worked as a coach in Dewanoumi stable until his death.