Terukuni
| Terukuni Manzō | |
|---|---|
| 照國 万藏 | |
 |
|
| Personal information | |
| Born | Marizo Suga January 10, 1919 Akita, Japan |
| Died | March 20, 1977 (aged 58) |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 161 kg (355 lb) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Isegahama |
| Record | 313-110-74 |
| Debut | January 1935 |
| Highest rank | Yokozuna (May 1942) |
| Retired | January, 1953 |
| Championships | 2 (Makuuchi) 1 (Jūryō) 1 (Makushita) |
| Gold Stars | 1 (Minanogawa) |
| * Up to date as of October 2007. | |
Terukuni Manzō (照國 万藏, January 10, 1919 – March 20, 1977) was a sumo wrestler from Ogachi, Akita Prefecture, Japan. 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.
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.
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.
He was a heavy wrestler for his time, weighing over 160 kg (350 lb). During World War II, his weight declined due to the food shortages.
Having been a runner-up on five previous occasions, he 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.
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