There, he was spotted by Itagaki Taisuke, an influential politician and renowned sumo patron, due to his size and strength.

Taisuke persuaded him to become a professional wrestler (rikishi) and he joined Tomozuna stable in January 1895, under former maegashira Kaizan [ja], who was also from Kōchi Prefecture.

[4] After retiring as a wrestler in June 1912, Kunimiyama remained in the Tokyo Sumo Association as an elder in his stable, assuming the name Hanaregoma.

Kunimiyama suffered severe burns and fell into a coma, being taken to a nearby hospital where he steadily recovered and was praised after his discharge.

[5] The last use of the Kunimiyama shikona was in May 1985, when Korean wrestler Ki-Ju Kim was given the ring name to help him build a comeback after falling from makushita to sandanme.