A former amateur champion, he made his professional debut in 1998, reaching the top makuuchi division at the end of 2000.

In March 2001, upon his second promotion to the top division, he adopted the Tamanoshima name, which had previously been used by a former yokozuna from his stable, Tamanoumi.

The highest rank he has achieved is sekiwake, which he reached after scoring ten wins (including another yokozuna upset, over Musashimaru) at maegashira 3 in November 2003.

In November 2011, after losing his first eight matches at the rank of jūryō 12 and facing certain demotion to the makushita division, Tamanoshima announced his retirement from active competition.

Not only was his father a former professional boxer, but he is the nephew of former ōzeki Kiyokuni and his older brother is the former jūryō wrestler Tamamitsukuni [ja], who made his debut in the same tournament as Tamanoshima, also as a makushita tsukedashi entrant, retiring in January 2008.

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