The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) board of directors on Wednesday officially approved the promotion of Tochiazuma to ozeki after his strong showing at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
Tochiazuma, who posted a 12-3 record as sekiwake and finished runnerup to yokozuna Musashimaru at the 15-day meet in Fukuoka, met the JSA's guidelines for ozeki promotion after picking up 34 wins over the last three tournaments.
The 25-year-old Tokyo native became the first wrestler to reach sumo's second-highest rank since Kaio was promoted in July last year, going one rung higher than his father and stable master Tamanoi whose career peaked at sekiwake in the 1970s.
Tochiazuma is the fifth second-generation grappler to become ozeki and the first since Wakanohana achieved the rank in July 1993.