[1] Baasandorj passed a selective test administered by a Japanese coach from Tottori Jōhoku High School in Shimane Prefecture, who had come to Mongolia looking for sumo prospects.
The ring name he would choose is purported to have come from a chance meeting with singer and author Akihiro Miwa in Haneda airport, as he was being accompanied by Takanohana from Shimane Prefecture to his new stable.
Proceeding him were graduates from Johoku High School (well known for its strong sumo program) Takarafuji, Kimikaze and Tokushōryū.
In the May 2009 tournament in the jonidan division, he would vie for the championship, logging a perfect 7–0 record and only losing on the final day in a play-off.
He was awarded his first special prize, for Fighting Spirit, and won promotion to his highest rank to date of maegashira 3 for the September 2016 tournament.
Despite losing to Sokokurai on the final day he finished in a tie for third place and was awarded the special prize for Outstanding Performance.
[5] Harumafuji withdrew from the November tournament on the same day and did not deny the reports, saying "I sincerely apologize for causing trouble.
[8] He finally spoke to the Sumo Association's crisis committee investigating the affair on December 19, and said that he had not done anything discourteous that would warrant being struck by Harumafuji.
He also said that he was embarrassed about being hit in front of officials from Tottori Jōhoku High School, which Takanoiwa attended and whose graduates were being celebrated when the incident occurred.
[10] Takanoiwa made his first public appearance since the scandal at a training event on March 1, where he said he was gradually returning to fitness.
On October 4, 2018 Takanoiwa filed a lawsuit in Tokyo District Court seeking 24 million yen in damages from Harumafuji, after negotiations over an informal settlement broke down.
[12] He withdrew the suit on October 30, saying his family had suffered abuse over the legal action because of Harumafuji's continued popularity in Mongolia.
On 5 December 2018 the Japan Sumo Association announced that Takanoiwa had assaulted one of his personal attendants, or tsukebito, during a regional tour, giving him a swollen face.
Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi