Terukuni Manzō

{{short description|Japanese sumo wrestler}} {{hatnote|In this Japanese shikona name, the surname is Terukuni.}} {{Infobox sumo wrestler | native_name = 照國万藏 | name = Terukuni Manzō | image = terukuni.jpg | caption = Terukuni, circa 1943 | birth_name = Suga Manzō | birth_date = {{birth date|1919|1|10}} | birth_place = Akita, Japan | death_date = {{death date and age|1977|3|20|1919|1|10}} | height = {{height|meters=1.74}} | weight = {{convert|161|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | heya = Isegahama | rank = | record = 313-110-74 | debut = January 1935 | highestrank = Yokozuna (May 1942) | retireddate = January, 1953 | eldername = Isegahama | yushos = 2 (Makuuchi)<br>1 (Jūryō)<br>1 (Makushita) | goldstars = 1 (Minanogawa) | update = June 2020 }}

{{nihongo|'''Terukuni Manzō'''|照國万藏||January 10, 1919 – March 20, 1977|lead=yes}} 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.<ref name="Sharnoff">{{Cite book |author=Sharnoff, Lora |title=Grand Sumo|publisher=Weatherhill |year=1993 |isbn=0-8348-0283-X}}</ref>

==Career== Born {{nihongo|Suga Manzō|菅萬藏}}, he later changed his name to {{nihongo|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''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/06/02/sumo/terunofuji-takakeisho-double-yokozuna/|title=Dual yokozuna promotion could join list of recent rare events in sumo|last=Gunning|first=John|date=2 June 2021|work=Japan Times|access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref> 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 {{convert|160|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. During World War II, his weight declined due to food shortages. He changed the spelling of his ''shikona'' given name to {{nihongo2|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.<ref name="Sharnoff"/>

==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|thumb|upright|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.'' {{Sumo record box start 1933-1952|Terukuni Manzō<ref>{{cite web | author= | title=Terukuni Manzo Rikishi Information| publisher=Sumo Reference | url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=3819 | date= | accessdate=2007-10-14}}</ref>}} {{Sumo record year start|1935}} {{Basho|MAEZUMOU}} {{Basho|SJ|||1|3}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1936}} {{Basho|JK|4|w|3|3}} {{Basho|JO|17|e|5|1}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1937}} {{Basho|SA|22|w|5|1}} {{Basho|ma|21|w|11|2<br>Champion}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1938}} {{Basho|j|13|e|6|7}} {{Basho|ma|1|w|5|2}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1939}} {{Basho|j|8|e|11|2<br>Champion}} {{Basho|m|15|w|11|4}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1940}} {{Basho|m|2|e|12|3||j|*}} {{Basho|s|2|e|11|4}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1941}} {{Basho|s|1|w|12|3}} {{Basho|s|1|w|13|2||j}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1942}} {{Basho|o|1|e|12|3}} {{Basho|o|2|w|13|2||J}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1943}} {{Basho|y|2|e|14|1||j}} {{Basho|yo|1|w|12|3}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1944}} {{Basho|yo|1|e|11|4}} {{Basho|yo|1|w|6|4}} {{Basho|y|1|w|4|2|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1945}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Basho|y|1|e|5|2}} {{Basho|y|2|e|9|1}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1946}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Basho|y|1|e|3|3|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1947}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Basho|y|1|w|7|3}} {{Basho|y|1|w|7|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1948}} {{Basho|note|'''Not held'''}} {{Basho|y|1|w|9|2||j}} {{Basho|y|1|e|2|5|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1949}} {{Basho|note|'''Sat out due to injury'''}} {{Basho|y|2|e|12|3}} {{Basho|y|1|e|8|2|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1950}} {{Basho|y|2|e|2|2|11}} {{Basho|y|2|e|11|4}} {{Basho|y|2|e|13|2||y}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1951}} {{Basho|y|1|e|15|0||y}} {{Basho|y|1|e|10|5}} {{Basho|y|1|w|11|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1952}} {{Basho|y|1|w|10|5}} {{Basho|kyujo|rank=y|r-no=2|tozai=e}} {{Basho|y|2|w|6|6|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}} {{Sumo record box start 1953-1956}} {{Sumo record year start|1953}} {{Basho|intai|rank=y|r-no=2|tozai=e|win=0|loss=3|absent=12}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070809014407/http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/kiroku_daicho/mei_yokozuna/terukuni.html Japan Sumo Association profile]

{{Yokozuna box | previous = Akinoumi Setsuo | number = 38th | active = 1942–1953 | next = Maedayama Eigorō}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Terukuni, Manzo}} Category:1919 births Category:1977 deaths Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers Category:Sumo wrestlers from Akita Prefecture Category:Yokozuna Category:20th-century Japanese sportsmen