In 1934, with the help of Tamanishiki who had come as part of a regional sumo exhibition, the future Saganohana joined the now defunct Kumegawa stable and first entered the ring in May of that same year.

In the Spring 1941 tournament, he received an 8–7 record at maegashira 1 and it was expected he would be promoted to the titled ranks, called san'yaku.

He was however, left at the same rank for the following tournament, but this allowed him another chance to distinguish himself, as he managed an improved 9–6 record and also had his second kinboshi victory against yokozuna Minanogawa.

This convincing record finally accorded him promotion to the lowest san'yaku rank of komusubi for the Summer 1942 tournament.

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