He began his career in the spring of 1965, joining Futagoyama stable which had been set up his elder brother, former "yokozuna" Wakanohana Kanji I, three years previously. He initially fought under his own surname of Hanada. He reached the top "makuuchi" division in November 1968 at the age of just 18, the youngest ever at the time (the record is now held by his son Takanohana). He weighed barely 100 kg, and would remain one of the lightest men in the top division for the rest of his career. He adopted the "shikona" of Takanohana in 1969. He was the last man to beat "yokozuna" Taihō, in May 1971. As he rose up the rankings he collected nine special prizes, including four prestigious "Ginō-shō", or Technique Awards.