Upon graduation he chose to join Onoe stable which was led by former Hamanoshima who went to the same high school and university as Minami had.

Minami started his professional career with a consistent string of successes, only losing a few bouts in his first several tournaments and winning the sandanme division championship from the low rank of sandanme 92 with a 7–0 record and a playoff win over veteran Kihonoumi.

He again continued to rise slowly but consistently through the ranks, achieving second division jūryō promotion for the July 2011 tournament.

After battling for three tournaments in the top tier makuuchi he was relegated back to the second division.

His most common winning kimarite was a straightforward yori-kiri or force out, which accounted for about half of his career victories.

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