On a chance meeting with the head of Naruto stable, the former yokozuna Takanosato, the stablemaster convinced Hagiwara's initially skeptical parents that he was a great candidate for sumo.

[10] The stable was known for its strict environment and the oyakata would encourage him to always use forward-moving techniques in training to better prepare him for tournament situations, rather than go for a quick win by stepping backward.

[11] His first major top division result was 12 wins against three losses in the September 2005 tournament, where he was awarded the Fighting Spirit special prize.

Shaken by this, Asashōryū responded in the next tournament by leaping to the side at the tachi-ai and employing a highly unusual leg-kicking technique called ketaguri.

[14] In July 2007 Kisenosato turned in a strong 11–4 record and derailed Kotomitsuki's hopes of a tournament championship on the final day by slapping him down.

After this performance, he was named one of seven wrestlers who NHK commentator Shūhei Nagao (the former Mainoumi) called the "Seven Samurai" and identified as "holding the key" to a Japanese resurgence in sumo, which was dominated by foreigners in the top ranks.

Returning to komusubi in the March 2008 tournament, Kisenosato lost to Asashōryū on opening day but defeated three out of four ōzeki and held his rank with an 8–7 score.

[16] In May 2008 he scored another win over Asashōryū on opening day, finishing with a strong 10–5 record and a share of the Fighting Spirit prize.

Kisenosato spent nine tournaments at komusubi without making sekiwake, which has only happened to three previous wrestlers, Dewanishiki, Fujinishiki, and Takamiyama.

He scored eight wins there, and Aminishiki's losing record meant Kisenosato finally made his long-awaited sekiwake debut in March 2009, in his tenth tournament at a san'yaku rank.

However, he proved this rank was too low for him by producing a 13–2 record, his best-ever top division score, and winning his third Fighting Spirit prize.

"[22] He had long been regarded as one of the most promising Japanese sumo wrestlers,[23] but before reaching ōzeki there had been concern expressed about his seeming inability to hold down a san'yaku position and a possible lack of fighting spirit.

In the second half of 2015, Kisenosato maintained his consistent form: he went 10–5 in July (including a win over Kakuryū), 11–4 in September, and 10–5 in November (beating Harumafuji on the final day).

On Day 14, Kisenosato secured his much-anticipated first career top-division championship with a win over Ichinojō and a Hakuhō loss against Takanoiwa.

[37] Having won his first tournament in January 2017, combined with his overall 2016 record (including four runner-up finishes), Kisenosato was considered for promotion to the yokozuna rank.

The Japan Sumo Association's Yokozuna Deliberation Council met on January 23, 2017, and determined that Kisenosato was a suitable candidate.

[41] Kisenosato was listed on the west side of the new banzuke released on February 27, 2017, the first Japanese born wrestler to appear as a yokozuna on the ranking sheets since Takanohana retired in January 2003.

"[42] At Osaka in March he began impressively, winning his first twelve matches to lead the tournament but was defeated by Harumafuji on day 13 sustaining shoulder and chest injuries as he fell from the dohyō.

[48][49] He was ranked as the top East Yokozuna on the May 2017 banzuke, the first time a Japanese wrestler held the highest position since Takanohana in July 2001.

[50] He withdrew from the tournament on Day 11 having lost four matches, due to his failure to recover from his upper body injuries and inability to use his left arm properly.

"[53] On September 7 Kisenosato's stablemaster confirmed that he would sit out the tournament, saying "it takes courage to rest, and I hope this break will turn things in the right direction.

[57] Having received criticism for repeatedly returning to action without healing properly, Kisenosato said that the outcome of the next tournament in which he competes will determine whether or not he continues his career.

"[64] He was the sole yokozuna to enter the November 2018 tournament, but lost his opening three bouts, and seemed to observers to be still suffering from a lack of power in his left upper body.

"[75] In a press conference on January 16, 2019, Kisenosato said "I'm retiring as a wrestler in the ongoing tournament and assuming the name of Araiso as a sumo elder.

"[77] Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said during his daily briefing that, "I would like to give honor to what he has achieved and to send hearty cheers to Kisenosato.

[81] To help him prepare for being a head coach he took a one-year sports science research master's course at Waseda University graduate school, his thesis being "A new way to run a sumo stable."

[90] Kisenosato's injury in March 2017 prevented him from using his favoured defensive technique of ottsuke, where he traps his opponent's arm with his left.

[56] He had been encouraged by his first stablemaster, Naruto Oyakata, to base his style around his powerful left arm, and after the injury commentators noted that it appeared difficult for him to adapt and use his right in tournament bouts.

[91] Kisenosato confirmed this in an interview after his retirement, saying "My left chest muscle became weak after that injury, and my opponents were able to easily escape my attempts for a hold.

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