Terukuni Manzō

was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ogachi, Akita. He was the sport's 38th yokozuna. He was promoted to yokozuna without any top division tournament titles to his name, although he later attained two.

Career

Born , he later changed his name to . In the summer of 1930, he was scouted by Isegahama, former sekiwake Kiyosegawa Keinosuke, his distant relative. However, he was largely forgotten due to the disruption caused by the Shunjuen Incident of 1932, in which a large number of wrestlers went on strike. After the dispute was settled, he joined Isegahama stable in 1934, making his debut in January 1935 with the Terukuni Manzō shikona or ring name.

He was promoted to the top makuuchi division in May 1939, and reached the ōzeki rank in May 1941. After two tournaments at ōzeki, he finished in a three-way tie for the championship in May 1942 with Futabayama and Akinoumi, on 13–2. The championship was awarded to Futabayama (whom Terukuni had defeated in their individual match) simply because he was of a higher rank, as was the rule at the time. Nevertheless, after the tournament both Terukuni and Akinoumi were promoted to yokozuna. At 23 years of age, Terukuni was the youngest wrestler to reach the yokozuna rank until the promotion of Taihō in 1961. He did well in his yokozuna debut, scoring 14–1, although he finished one win behind Futabayama, who won his last match by default.

Terukuni was a heavy wrestler for his time, weighing over . During World War II, his weight declined due to food shortages. He changed the spelling of his shikona given name to in May 1945, but changed it back in October 1949.

Having been a runner-up on five previous occasions, Terukuni finally won his first championship in September 1950, about eight years after his promotion. He won his second championship in the very next tournament with a perfect 15–0 record.

Three days into the January 1953 tournament, he announced his retirement. After the tournament, Kagamisato was promoted to yokozuna, and a photograph was taken of Terukuni and Kagamisato alongside the other grand champions Chiyonoyama, Azumafuji and Haguroyama. As Terukuni had not yet had his official retirement ceremony, some regard January 1953 as being the only occasion on which there were five yokozuna at the same time.

Retirement from sumo

After his retirement, Terukuni became the head coach of Isegahama stable and produced ōzeki Kiyokuni Katsuo. He had already made arrangements to pass control of the stable over to Kiyokuni at the time of his death in 1977 at the age of 58.

Career record

File:Terukuni 1951 Scan10059.JPG

Terukuni holding the Emperor's Cup after winning the January 1951 tournament

• Through most of the 1940s only two tournaments were held a year, and in 1946 only one was held. The New Year tournament began and the Spring tournament moved to Osaka in 1953.

1935 (Maezumo) Shinjo
1–3
  Not held 1936 West Jonokuchi #4
3–3
  East Jonidan #17
5–1
  Not held 1937 West Sandanme #22
5–1
  West Makushita #21
11–2
Champion
  Not held 1938 East Jūryō #13
6–7
  West Makushita #1
5–2
  Not held 1939 East Jūryō #8
11–2
Champion
  West Maegashira #15
11–4
  Not held 1940 East Maegashira #2
12–3
★ East Sekiwake #2
11–4
  Not held 1941 West Sekiwake #1
12–3
  West Sekiwake #1
13–2
  Not held 1942 East Ōzeki #1
12–3
  West Ōzeki #2
13–2
  Not held 1943 East Yokozuna #2
14–1
  West Yokozuna-Ōzeki #1
12–3
  Not held 1944 East Yokozuna-Ōzeki #1
11–4
  West Yokozuna-Ōzeki #1
6–4
  West Yokozuna #1
4–2–4
  1945 Not held East Yokozuna #1
5–2
  East Yokozuna #2
9–1
  1946 Not held Not held East Yokozuna #1
3–3–7
  1947 Not held West Yokozuna #1
7–3
  West Yokozuna #1
7–4
  1948 Not held West Yokozuna #1
9–2
  East Yokozuna #1
2–5–4
  1949 Sat out due to injury East Yokozuna #2
12–3
  East Yokozuna #1
8–2–5
  1950 East Yokozuna #2
2–2–11
  East Yokozuna #2
11–4
  East Yokozuna #2
13–2
  1951 East Yokozuna #1
15–0
  East Yokozuna #1
10–5
  West Yokozuna #1
11–4
  1952 West Yokozuna #1
10–5
  East Yokozuna #2
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15 West Yokozuna #2
6–6–3
  Record given as wins–losses–absences    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

1953 East Yokozuna #2
Retired
0–3–12 x x x Record given as wins–losses–absences    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

See also

• Glossary of sumo terms
• List of past sumo wrestlers
• List of sumo tournament top division champions
• List of yokozuna

External links

• Japan Sumo Association profile

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