He did very well in sumo at Tokyo University of Agriculture, but after graduating, he passed an entrance test to begin working at a printing company and was planning to have a career with them.

Soon afterwards, he was recruited by the former ōzeki Yutakayama, a fellow Tokyo University of Agriculture graduate, and joined his Tokitsukaze stable.

In June 2010 he faced censure for his involvement in the gambling scandal rocking the sumo world, after it was revealed that he had illegally bet on baseball while still an active wrestler.

[5] On July 4 he was demoted to the lowest toshiyori level on the elder hierarchy, with no opportunity for re-promotion for at least five years.

Tokitsuumi was told not to leave his house and prevented from attending the September 2020 tournament after he breached the Sumo Association's COVID-19 guidelines by travelling to another prefecture.

[7] In the same month he was unable to take part in the ceremony marking Shōdai's promotion to ōzeki, despite having been given permission to do so, due to an acute illness.

During his trip he had engaged in several non-essential activities such as eating out, playing golf and visiting his home town of Gotō, Nagasaki.

[9][10] In January 2021 the Sumo Association said it was again investigating Tokitsuumi for possible COVID-19 safety protocol violations, after he was reported to have visited a mahjong parlor.

Kiryuko was promoted to juryo after the July 2024 tournament, the 12th time in sumo history that a father and son have both made the sekitori ranks.

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