Beginning his career in March 1975, Kazumi Yoshinaga, as he then was, joined the Izutsu stable. He was given the sumo name Kirishima, which came from the national park in his native Kagoshima Prefecture. He did not become established as an elite "sekitori" wrestler until November 1983 when he produced a 9–6 score at the rank of "jūryō" 10 (he had made the "jūryō" division briefly in May 1982 but had lasted only one tournament there). He reached the top "makuuchi" division for the first time in July 1984, and won a "sanshō" or special prize for Fighting Spirit in his very first tournament. His good looks and slim build made him popular with female sumo fans, and he was sometimes called "the Alain Delon of Japan."