Terukuni Manzō

Terukuni Manzō (Japanese: 照國 万藏, January 10, 1919 – March 20, 1977) 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.[1]

Terukuni Manzō
照國 万藏
Terukuni, circa 1943
Personal information
BornSuga Manzō
(1919-01-10)January 10, 1919
Akita, Japan
DiedMarch 20, 1977(1977-03-20) (aged 58)
Height1.74 m (5 ft 8+12 in)
Weight161 kg (355 lb)
Career
StableIsegahama
Record313-110-74
DebutJanuary 1935
Highest rankYokozuna (May 1942)
RetiredJanuary, 1953
Elder nameIsegahama
Championships2 (Makuuchi)
1 (Jūryō)
1 (Makushita)
Gold Stars1 (Minanogawa)
* Up to date as of June 2020.

Career

Born Suga Manzō (菅 萬藏), he later changed his name to Ono Manzō (大野 萬蔵). 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.[2] 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 160 kg (350 lb). During World War II, his weight declined due to food shortages. He changed the spelling of his shikona given name to 萬藏 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.[1]

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

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.
Terukuni Manzō[3]
- Spring
Haru basho, Tokyo
Summer
Natsu basho, Tokyo
Autumn
Aki basho, Tokyo
1935 (Maezumo) Shinjo
13
 
Not held
1936 West Jonokuchi #4
33
 
East Jonidan #17
51
 
Not held
1937 West Sandanme #22
51
 
West Makushita #21
112
Champion

 
Not held
1938 East Jūryō #13
67
 
West Makushita #1
52
 
Not held
1939 East Jūryō #8
112
Champion

 
West Maegashira #15
114
 
Not held
1940 East Maegashira #2
123
East Sekiwake #2
114
 
Not held
1941 West Sekiwake #1
123
 
West Sekiwake #1
132
 
Not held
1942 East Ōzeki #1
123
 
West Ōzeki #2
132
 
Not held
1943 East Yokozuna #2
141
 
West Yokozuna-Ōzeki #1
123
 
Not held
1944 East Yokozuna-Ōzeki #1
114
 
West Yokozuna-Ōzeki #1
64
 
West Yokozuna #1
424
 
1945 Not held East Yokozuna #1
52
 
East Yokozuna #2
91
 
1946 Not held Not held East Yokozuna #1
337
 
1947 Not held West Yokozuna #1
73
 
West Yokozuna #1
74
 
1948 Not held West Yokozuna #1
92
 
East Yokozuna #1
254
 
1949 Sat out due to injury East Yokozuna #2
123
 
East Yokozuna #1
825
 
1950 East Yokozuna #2
2211
 
East Yokozuna #2
114
 
East Yokozuna #2
132
 
1951 East Yokozuna #1
150
 
East Yokozuna #1
105
 
West Yokozuna #1
114
 
1952 West Yokozuna #1
105
 
East Yokozuna #2
Sat out due to injury
0015
West Yokozuna #2
663
 
Record given as win-loss-absent    Top Division Champion Top Division Runner-up Retired Lower Divisions

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
- New Year
Hatsu basho, Tokyo
Spring
Haru basho, Osaka
Summer
Natsu basho, Tokyo
Autumn
Aki basho, Tokyo
1953 East Yokozuna #2
Retired
0312
Record given as win-loss-absent    Top Division Champion Top Division Runner-up Retired Lower Divisions

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

References

  1. Sharnoff, Lora (1993). Grand Sumo. Weatherhill. ISBN 0-8348-0283-X.
  2. Gunning, John (2 June 2021). "Dual yokozuna promotion could join list of recent rare events in sumo". Japan Times. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  3. "Terukuni Manzo Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
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