Terukuni Manzō

Terukuni Manzō
照國 万藏
Personal information
Born Marizo Suga
(1919-01-10)January 10, 1919
Akita, Japan
Died March 20, 1977(1977-03-20) (aged 58)
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 12 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.[1]

Career

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.[1]

Retirement from sumo

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

Career record

Terukuni Manzō[2]
- 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 #1
123
 
Not held
1944 East Yokozuna #1
114
 
West Yokozuna #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
 
- 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 Retired Lower Divisions

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

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna Ōzeki Sekiwake Komusubi Maegashira

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Sharnoff, Lora (1993). Grand Sumo. Weatherhill. ISBN 0-8348-0283-X.
  2. "Terukuni Manzo Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2007-10-14.

External links

Previous:
Akinoumi Setsuo
38th Yokozuna
1942 - 1953
Next:
Maedayama Eigorō
Yokozuna is not a successive rank, and more than one wrestler can share the title


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