He was able to circumnavigate sumo's one-foreigner-per-stable rule because Kyokutenhō had become a naturalized Japanese citizen, although this loophole has since been closed.

In November of that same year at the rank of jonidan 5 he achieved a perfect 7–0 record and then won a three-man playoff to take his first yūshō or tournament championship.

For the May tournament Kyokushūhō was promoted to the top division for the second time to a new highest rank of maegashira 12, but had to withdraw through injury on Day 10.

He reached his highest rank to date of maegashira 4 in January 2016, but an injury forced him to sit out the May 2016 tournament, and this resulted in a fall to juryō.

A straightforward yori kiri or force out was his most common winning kimarite but he also regularly used oshi dashi (push out) and uwatenage (overarm throw).

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