In January 1967 he followed the coach who had scouted him, former "yokozuna" Chiyonoyama, to a new stable, Kokonoe. His first tournament championship came in March of that year. Kitanofuji was competing in an era dominated by Taihō, but he emerged from the great "yokozuna's" shadow by winning consecutive championships in November 1969 and January 1970 to secure his own promotion to "yokozuna". Promoted alongside him was his friend and rival Tamanoumi. His first title as a "yokozuna" came in May 1970. After a run of relatively mediocre 11–4 marks he won in May 1971 with a perfect record and he took two other championships that year.