However, after two more losing scores in March and May 2000 he was demoted once again, and was never able to return. Takanonami had a well-known rivalry with fellow "ōzeki" and later "yokozuna", Musashimaru. They met a total of 58 times in the top division, which at the time of his retirement was the most between any two wrestlers in the history of sumo. In all, Musashimaru had the upper hand, winning 37 bouts to Takanonami's 21, although Takanonami did manage to beat him seven times in a row from November 1996 to January 1998, and also won their last three matches, after he had fallen from the "ōzeki" rank. Two of those wins provided Takanonami with his only "kinboshi." Takanonami had an unusual defensive style, often being driven back to the edge of the "dohyō" before using his long reach to lean over and grab his opponent's arms and launch a counter-offensive. This style was given as the reason why he was not awarded a special prize in November 1993 despite a 12–3 record at "sekiwake" rank. He regularly won by "kimedashi" ("arm barring force out"), a sumo technique seldom seen today. He was also a frequent employer of "kotenage", the armbar throw, with 65 victories using this technique from 1990, more than any of his contemporaries. In his later years his various injuries (particularly those to his ankles) meant his defensive style was less effective, and his results suffered. He largely remained in the "maegashira" ranks and had six consecutive losing scores in 2003. By May 2004 Takanonami was the only top division wrestler left from the once dominant Futagoyama stable, which had been renamed Takanohana stable a few months earlier. He had slipped to "maegashira" 13 in the rankings and after losing his first two bouts, he announced his retirement. He worked as a coach in his old stable under the name Otowayama. Along with five other "oyakata" (Magaki, Onomatsu, Ōtake, Tokiwayama and Futagoyama), he left the Nishonoseki "ichimon" or group of stables in January 2010 after declaring his support for his former stablemate Takanohana's unsanctioned bid to be elected to the board of directors of the Sumo Association.