Terao Tsunefumi

{{Short description|Japanese sumo wrestler (1963–2023)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox sumo wrestler | native_name = 寺尾常史 | name = Terao Tsunefumi | image = Terao-Tsunefumi20160522.jpg | caption = Tsunefumi in 2016 | birth_name = Yoshifumi Fukuzono | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1963|2|2}} | birth_place = Tokyo, Japan | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2023|12|17|1963|2|2}} | death_place = Tokyo, Japan | height = 1.86 m | weight = {{convert|117|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | heya = Izutsu | rank = | record = 860-938-58 | debut = July 1979 | highestrank = Sekiwake (March 1989) | retireddate = September 2002 | eldername = Shikoroyama | yushos = 2 (Jūryō) | prizes = Outstanding Performance (3) Fighting Spirit (3) Technique (1) | goldstars = 7 Ōnokuni (3) Chiyonofuji Hokutoumi Takanohana II Musashimaru | update = August 2007 }}

{{nihongo|'''Terao Tsunefumi'''|寺尾常史||born as '''Yoshifumi Fukuzono''' 福薗好文; 2 February 1963 – 17 December 2023}} was a Japanese sumo wrestler. He was born in Tokyo, but brought up in Kajiki, Aira District, Kagoshima, Japan. He fought out of Izutsu stable. The highest rank he reached was ''sekiwake.'' Despite his relatively light weight he had an extremely long career, spanning 23 years from 1979 until 2002, and was known as the "iron man" of sumo. After retiring, he was the owner of the Shikoroyama stable until his death in 2023.

==Sumo family== Terao had a long sumo pedigree. He was the third son of former ''sekiwake'' Tsurugamine, and younger brother of {{Interlanguage link multi|Kakureizan Hōichi|ja|3=鶴嶺山宝一|lt=Kakureizan}} (former ''jūryō'') and Sakahoko (former ''sekiwake'').<ref name="Lewin">{{cite web | author=Lewin, Brian | title=Brothers in sumo | publisher=sumofanmag.com | url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_4/Brothers.htm | date=December 2005 | accessdate=30 June 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/03/19/sumo/sumo-101-brothers-sumo/#.XJJJZuSWyUk|title=Sumo 101: Brothers in sumo|last=Gunning|first=John|date=19 March 2019|publisher=Japan Times|accessdate=20 March 2019}}</ref> His paternal grandfather was a cousin of Satsumanishiki (former ''makushita''). His father married the adopted daughter of former ''makushita'' Kaganishiki, who was adopted by Nishinoumi, the 25th ''yokozuna''. His cousin is Tsurunofuji (former ''jūryō''). Terao and his brothers Kakureizan and Sakahoko together hold various sumo records: they are the first three brothers ever to reach ''sekitori'' status; in September 1986 Terao and Sakahoko were the first brothers to win prizes together;<ref name="Lewin"/> and in March 1989 they were the first brothers to hold ''sekiwake'' rank simultaneously.<ref name="Lewin"/> In November 1990 they appeared together in Chiyonofuji's ring-entering ceremony as sword-bearer and dew-sweeper.

==Career== [[File:Teraotegata.jpg|left|thumb|Terao's ''tegata'']]

Terao took up sumo shortly after his mother died of cancer.<ref name="Sharnoff">{{Cite book |author=Sharnoff, Lora |title=Grand Sumo|publisher=Weatherhill |year=1993 |pages=218|isbn=0-8348-0283-X}}</ref> He joined Izutsu stable, which was run by his father, alongside his two brothers. He started competing under the name Terao Setsuo (寺尾節男) after his mother's maiden name Setsuko Terao (寺尾節子, ''Terao Setsuko'').<ref name="Sharnoff"/>

Terao first entered the second ''jūryō'' division in July 1984. To mark this promotion he changed his name to Genjiyama Rikisaburō, but reverted to Terao Setsuo after a single tournament. After winning the ''jūryō'' championship in January 1985 he entered the top ''makuuchi'' division, but won only 6 bouts out of 15 and so returned to ''jūryō''. He won the ''jūryō'' division the next tournament and so reentered ''makuuchi'' in July 1985. In September 1986 he earned nine wins and his first special prize, for Fighting Spirit. This advanced him to his then highest rank, ''maegashira'' 1. He changed his name to Terao Tsunefumi in November 1987, on the advice of a fortune-teller.<ref name="Sharnoff"/> In the following tournament in January 1988, he defeated ''yokozuna'' Onokuni to earn his first ''kinboshi''. He defeated Chiyonofuji in the January 1989 tournament and won the Outstanding Performance Award. In the next ''basho'' in March 1989, he finally made his breakthrough into the titled ''san'yaku'' ranks at ''sekiwake'' after four years in the top division, joining his brother at sumo's third highest rank.

Although Terao fought several tournaments at ''sekiwake'' he never came close to ''ōzeki'', his best performance as ''sekiwake'' being 9–6. His last appearance in ''san'yaku'' was at ''komusubi'' rank in July 1994. In March 1995 he upset Takanohana for the only time as a ''yokozuna'', earning his last special prize. In November 1999, at the age of 35, he defeated Musashimaru for his final ''kinboshi''. He remained in ''makuuchi'' until May 2000 when he was finally demoted at age 37 after 90 consecutive top division tournaments. However, he managed to return to ''makuuchi'' for two tournaments in March and May 2001, becoming at 38 years and 24 days the oldest man post World War II to earn promotion to the top division. His last tournament was in September 2002, where he scored only five wins at the rank of ''jūryō 11'' and faced certain demotion to the ''makushita'' division.

==Records== Despite suffering from a heart condition,<ref name=Sharnoff/> Terao enjoyed an exceptionally long and relatively injury-free career from his debut in 1979 aged 16 to his retirement in 2002 aged 39. He was referred to as the ''Tetsujin'', or Iron Man, of sumo.<ref name="Lewin"/> Among his other nicknames were "The Eternal Typhoon," because of both his longevity and his ''tsuppari'' fighting style. After being defeated by the 18-year-old Takahanada in March 1991, which he regarded as the most disappointing loss of his career, he was determined to keep fighting for as long as possible.

His total number of bouts is 1795, the fourth highest ever,<ref name="kyodo1218">{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/12/f0a2a315261d-sumo-popular-former-sekiwake-terao-dies-of-heart-failure-at-60.html|title=Sumo: Popular former sekiwake Terao dies of heart failure at 60|work=Kyodo News|publisher=18 December 2023|access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref> his total number of ''makuuchi'' bouts (1378) is the fifth highest ever. His 860 wins are the tenth highest ever;<ref name="kyodo1218"/> his 938 losses were the most ever recorded until Kyokutenhō finished his career with 944 losses in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202312180000017.html|title="【悼む】元寺尾の錣山親方、通算938敗も「誇り」弟子に伝えた「負けても腐るな」の教え "Former Terao proud of his 938 career defeats"|publisher=18 December 2023|language=Japanese|access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref> When he had to sit out 1 day of the March 1997 tournament and the whole May 1997 tournament after breaking his big toe in a bout against Kyokushūzan it ended a run of 1359 bouts without absence, the seventh highest ever. 1063 of these were in ''makuuchi'', the fourth highest ever. His 110 tournaments ranked as a ''sekitori'' (in the top two divisions) was an all-time record until it was broken by Kaiō in 2010.

==Fighting style== Terao was an ''oshi-sumo'' specialist, relying on pushing and thrusting techniques, keeping his opponent away from his ''mawashi''. Throughout his career he consistently weighed around {{convert|115|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, a considerable disadvantage in an era when most of his opponents were over {{convert|150|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. He compensated by relying on his speed and agility, and was often able to use his quick reactions to outwit his heavier opponents. He was well known for his rapid series of thrusts to the chest (''tsuppari''), enabling him to win many of his matches by ''hataki-komi'' (the slap down), ''oshi-dashi'' (the push out) and ''tsuki-dashi'' (the thrust out).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_kim.aspx?r=33|title=Terao bouts by kimarite|publisher=Sumo Reference|accessdate=9 September 2009}}</ref> Due to his light weight he was vulnerable to defeat by ''yori-kiri'' (force out) if his opponents managed to contain him.

==After retirement== Terao was a ''toshiyori'' (a sumo elder) known as Shikoroyama Oyakata. In February 2004 he established Shikoroyama stable.<ref>{{cite web | author=| title=Shikoroyama – goo Sumo| publisher=Japan Sumo Association| url=http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_meikan/sumo_beya/shikoroyama.html | date= | accessdate=30 June 2007}}</ref> He decided not to take any wrestlers from Izutsu stable with him, recruiting all the new stable's wrestlers himself. In January 2006 Hōmashō became his first wrestler to reach ''sekitori'' status. Hōmashō retired in January 2015, but later in that same year Seirō became the second wrestler coached by Shikoroyama to reach the top division. Shikoroyama has also produced the ''sekiwake'' Abi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/03/08/sumo/lightweight-terao-defied-odds-long-career/#.XmajZ-SWyUl|last=Gunning|first=John|title=Lightweight Terao defied odds in long career|date=8 March 2020|work=Japan Times|accessdate=9 March 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life== While active Terao was friendly with fellow top division wrestlers Masurao and Kotogaume.<ref name=Sharnoff/> He was a fan of J-pop.<ref name=Sharnoff/> His eldest (adopted) son is actor {{Interlanguage link multi|Yūki Terao|ja|3=寺尾由布樹}}.

Sakahoko died in September 2019, and Kakureizan in March 2020, leaving Terao as the only surviving Fukuzono brother.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hochi.news/articles/20200516-OHT1T50220.html|title="井筒３兄弟"長男、元十両・鶴嶺山の福薗好政さんが死去…三男の錣山親方「ぽつんと一人残されてしまった」|work=Hochi|date=17 May 2020 |publisher=17 May 2020|language=Japanese|accessdate=4 September 2020}}</ref> His own health declined in 2022, and he was unable to see his top wrestler Abi win the championship in Kyushu in November as he was hospitalized with arrhythmia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/11/ea21ac77f081-sumo-abi-calls-maiden-championship-long-time-coming.html|title=Sumo: Abi calls maiden championship long time coming|date=28 November 2022|work=Kyodo News|access-date=28 November 2022}}</ref>

Terao was admitted to the hospital again in September 2023 with heart issues. His health had been improving, but on 16 December 2023 his condition took a sudden turn for the worse. He died the next evening, on 17 December, at the age of 60.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 2023 |title=元関脇寺尾の錣山親方死去 60歳細身の体で闘志あふれる突っ張り親方として阿炎ら育成 |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202312170001399.html |access-date=18 December 2023 |publisher=Nikkan Sports |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202312170001852.html|title=元関脇寺尾の錣山親方死去、16日に不整脈で容体急変最期は入院先で弟子の阿炎らにみとられ|date=18 December 2023|publisher=Nikkan Sports|access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref>

==Career record== {{Sumo record box start|Terao Tsunefumi<ref>{{cite web | author= | title=Terao Tsunefumi Rikishi Information | publisher=Sumo Reference | url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=33 | date= | accessdate=16 August 2012}}</ref> }} {{Sumo record year start|1979}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho|MAEZUMOU}} {{Basho|JK|34|e|6|1}} {{Basho|JO|80|w|6|1}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1980}} {{Basho|JO|19|e|2|5}} {{Basho|JO|42|w|6|1}} {{Basho|SA|77|e|2|5}} {{Basho|JO|7|w|3|4}} {{Basho|JO|21|e|5|2}} {{Basho|SA|68|e|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1981}} {{Basho|SA|79|w|4|3}} {{Basho|SA|58|w|3|4}} {{Basho|SA|69|w|6|1}} {{Basho|SA|20|e|4|3}} {{Basho|SA|8|e|4|3}} {{Basho|MA|55|w|2|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1982}} {{Basho|SA|14|w|6|1}} {{Basho|MA|37|w|5|2}} {{Basho|MA|19|w|4|3}} {{Basho|MA|16|w|4|3}} {{Basho|MA|12|e|3|4}} {{Basho|MA|18|w|4|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1983}} {{Basho|MA|11|e|3|4}} {{Basho|MA|20|e|3|4}} {{Basho|MA|34|w|4|3}} {{Basho|MA|23|e|3|4}} {{Basho|MA|31|e|4|3}} {{Basho|MA|22|w|5|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1984}} {{Basho|MA|10|w|5|2}} {{Basho|MA|4|w|5|2}} {{Basho|MA|1|e|5|2}} {{Basho|j|10|e|7|8}} {{Basho|j|11|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|8|w|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1985}} {{Basho|j|7|w|12|3 Champion}} {{Basho|m|14|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|3|e|12|3 Champion}} {{Basho|m|12|w|10|5}} {{Basho|m|2|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|5|w|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1986}} {{Basho|m|7|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|9|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|4|w|4|11}} {{Basho|m|12|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|8|e|9|6|||f}} {{Basho|m|1|e|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1987}} {{Basho|m|4|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|7|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|2|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|5|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|6|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|9|w|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1988}} {{Basho|m|3|e|7|8|||*}} {{Basho|m|3|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|6|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|1|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|4|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|6|e|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1989}} {{Basho|m|1|w|8|7|||o|*}} {{Basho|s|1|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|3|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|3|w|10|5|||t|*}} {{Basho|s|1|w|8|7|||f}} {{Basho|s|1|w|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1990}} {{Basho|s|2|e|7|8}} {{Basho|k|1|w|8|7}} {{Basho|s|1|e|7|8}} {{Basho|k|1|w|8|7}} {{Basho|s|1|w|9|6}} {{Basho|s|1|e|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1991}} {{Basho|m|2|e|8|7|||*}} {{Basho|k|1|w|8|7}} {{Basho|k|1|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|3|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|7|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|4|e|6|9|||*}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1992}} {{Basho|m|8|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|4|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|2|e|2|13}} {{Basho|m|13|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|8|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|2|e|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1993}} {{Basho|m|5|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|9|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|5|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|11|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|4|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|6|w|7|8}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1994}} {{Basho|m|8|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|2|w|9|6|||f}} {{Basho|k|1|w|8|7|||o}} {{Basho|k|1|w|4|11}} {{Basho|m|3|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|9|w|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1995}} {{Basho|m|2|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|6|w|8|7|||o|*}} {{Basho|m|1|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|5|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|9|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|3|e|5|10}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1996}} {{Basho|m|7|e|6|9}} {{Basho|m|11|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|3|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|6|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|10|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|3|e|4|11}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1997}} {{Basho|m|8|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|3|e|2|12|1}} {{Basho|kyujo|rank=m|r-no=13|tozai=e}} {{Basho|m|13|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|8|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|9|w|6|9}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1998}} {{Basho|m|13|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|8|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|12|w|9|6}} {{Basho|m|9|e|4|11}} {{Basho|m|16|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|11|w|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1999}} {{Basho|m|7|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|3|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|7|w|6|9}} {{Basho|m|11|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|7|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|4|e|5|10|||*}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2000}} {{Basho|m|7|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|12|e|7|8}} {{Basho|m|13|w|5|10}} {{Basho|j|3|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|6|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|5|e|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2001}} {{Basho|j|2|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|12|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|9|e|2|13}} {{Basho|j|3|w|9|6|P}} {{Basho|j|1|w|7|8}} {{Basho|kyujo|rank=j|r-no=2|tozai=w}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2002}} {{Basho|j|2|w|5|10}} {{Basho|j|6|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|2|w|2|3|10}} {{Basho|kyujo|rank=j|r-no=11|tozai=e}} {{Basho|intai|rank=J|r-no=11|tozai=e|win=5|loss=8|absent=2}} {{Basho}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Goo Sumo|A=|8}} * [http://www.szumo.hu/sekitori/Terao.html Terao's basho results from January 1989] * [http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~sumo/profile/1/19850304.htm complete biography and basho results (Japanese)] * [http://www.terao.info/ Terao's official site (Japanese)] * [http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_4/Brothers.htm Sumo Fan Magazine article ''Brothers in Sumo''] * [http://thethunderchild.com/themudvillemegaphone/MartialArts/Sumo/Terao.html The Eternal Typhoon]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Terao Tsunefumi}} Category:1963 births Category:2023 deaths Category:Fukuzono family Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers Category:Sumo wrestlers from Kagoshima Prefecture Category:Sekiwake