He made the breakthrough to the salaried "sekitori" ranks in May 1984 when he reached the "jūryō" division, in the same tournament in which Takamiyama announced his retirement. Mitoizumi was promoted to the top "makuuchi" division just two tournaments later in September 1984. However, he was to suffer more misfortune. Just before the May 1985 tournament he was involved in a motor accident, receiving cuts to his face; and was forced to sit out part of the tournament. After the next tournament, he was demoted back to "jūryō." In September 1986, after he had managed to return to the top division and reach a new highest rank of "sekiwake", he injured his knee again in a bout with "ōzeki" Ōnokuni and returned to the second division once more. It took him until January 1988 to fight his way back to the top division, but this time he was to remain there for the next eleven years.