Terao Tsunefumi(Tự vĩ thường sử,born asYoshifumi FukuzonoPhúc 薗 hảo văn; 2 February 1963 – 17 December 2023)was a Japanesesumowrestler. He was born inTokyo,but brought up inKajiki,Aira District,Kagoshima,Japan.He fought out ofIzutsu stable.The highest rank he reached wassekiwake.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 theShikoroyama stableuntil his death in 2023.
| Terao Tsunefumi | |
|---|---|
| Tự vĩ thường sử | |
 Tsunefumi in 2016 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Yoshifumi Fukuzono 2 February 1963 Tokyo,Japan |
| Died | 17 December 2023(aged 60) Tokyo, Japan |
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Weight | 117 kg (258 lb) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Izutsu |
| Record | 860-938-58 |
| Debut | July 1979 |
| Highest rank | Sekiwake (March 1989) |
| Retired | September 2002 |
| Elder name | Shikoroyama |
| Championships | 2 (Jūryō) |
| Special Prizes | Outstanding Performance (3) Fighting Spirit (3) Technique (1) |
| Gold Stars | 7 Ōnokuni(3) Chiyonofuji Hokutoumi Takanohana II Musashimaru |
| * Up to date as of August 2007. | |
Sumo family
editTerao had a long sumo pedigree. He was the third son of formersekiwakeTsurugamine,and younger brother ofKakureizan(formerjūryō) andSakahoko(formersekiwake).[1][2]His paternal grandfather was a cousin ofSatsumanishiki(formermakushita). His father married the adopted daughter of formermakushitaKaganishiki,who was adopted byNishinoumi,the 25thyokozuna.His cousin isTsurunofuji(formerjūryō). Terao and his brothers Kakureizan and Sakahoko together hold various sumo records: they are the first three brothers ever to reachsekitoristatus; in September 1986 Terao and Sakahoko were the first brothers to winprizestogether;[1]and in March 1989 they were the first brothers to holdsekiwakerank simultaneously.[1]In November 1990 they appeared together inChiyonofuji's ring-entering ceremony as sword-bearer and dew-sweeper.
Career
edit
Terao took up sumo shortly after his mother died of cancer.[3]He joinedIzutsu stable,which was run by his father, alongside his two brothers. He started competing under the name Terao Setsuo ( tự vĩ tiết nam ) after his mother's maiden name Setsuko Terao ( tự vĩ tiết tử,Terao Setsuko).[3]
Terao first entered the secondjūryōdivision 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 thejūryōchampionship in January 1985 he entered the topmakuuchidivision, but won only 6 bouts out of 15 and so returned tojūryō.He won thejūryōdivision the next tournament and so reenteredmakuuchiin 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,maegashira1. He changed his name to Terao Tsunefumi in November 1987, on the advice of afortune-teller.[3]In the following tournament in January 1988, he defeatedyokozunaOnokunito earn his firstkinboshi.He defeated Chiyonofuji in the January 1989 tournament and won the Outstanding Performance Award. In the nextbashoin March 1989, he finally made his breakthrough into the titledsan'yakuranks atsekiwakeafter four years in the top division, joining his brother at sumo's third highest rank.
Although Terao fought several tournaments atsekiwakehe never came close toōzeki,his best performance assekiwakebeing 9–6. His last appearance insan'yakuwas atkomusubirank in July 1994. In March 1995 he upsetTakanohanafor the only time as ayokozuna,earning his last special prize. In November 1999, at the age of 35, he defeatedMusashimarufor his finalkinboshi.He remained inmakuuchiuntil May 2000 when he was finally demoted at age 37 after 90 consecutive top division tournaments. However, he managed to return tomakuuchifor 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 ofjūryō 11and faced certain demotion to themakushitadivision.
Records
editDespite suffering from a heart condition,[3]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 theTetsujin,or Iron Man, of sumo.[1]Among his other nicknames were "The Eternal Typhoon," because of both his longevity and histsupparifighting style. After being defeated by the 18-year-oldTakahanadain 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,[4]his total number ofmakuuchibouts (1378) is the fifth highest ever. His 860 wins are the tenth highest ever;[4]his 938 losses were the most ever recorded untilKyokutenhōfinished his career with 944 losses in 2015.[5]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 againstKyokushūzanit ended a run of 1359 bouts without absence, the seventh highest ever. 1063 of these were inmakuuchi,the fourth highest ever. His 110 tournaments ranked as asekitori(in the top two divisions) was an all-time record until it was broken byKaiōin 2010.
Fighting style
editTerao was anoshi-sumospecialist, relying on pushing and thrusting techniques, keeping his opponent away from hismawashi.Throughout his career he consistently weighed around 115 kg (254 lb), a considerable disadvantage in an era when most of his opponents were over 150 kg (330 lb). 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 byhataki-komi(the slap down),oshi-dashi(the push out) andtsuki-dashi(the thrust out).[6]Due to his light weight he was vulnerable to defeat byyori-kiri(force out) if his opponents managed to contain him.
After retirement
editTerao was atoshiyori(a sumo elder) known as Shikoroyama Oyakata. In February 2004 he establishedShikoroyama stable.[7]He decided not to take any wrestlers from Izutsu stable with him, recruiting all the new stable's wrestlers himself. In January 2006Hōmashōbecame his first wrestler to reachsekitoristatus. Hōmashō retired in January 2015, but later in that same yearSeirōbecame the second wrestler coached by Shikoroyama to reach the top division. Shikoroyama has also produced thesekiwakeAbi.[8]
Personal life
editWhile active Terao was friendly with fellow top division wrestlersMasuraoandKotogaume.[3]He was a fan ofJ-pop.[3]His eldest (adopted) son is actorYūki Terao.
Sakahoko died in September 2019, and Kakureizan in March 2020, leaving Terao as the only surviving Fukuzono brother.[9]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 witharrhythmia.[10]
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.[11][12]
Career record
edit| Year | January Hatsu basho,Tokyo |
March Haru basho,Osaka |
May Natsu basho,Tokyo |
July Nagoya basho,Nagoya |
September Aki basho,Tokyo |
November Kyūshū basho,Fukuoka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | x | x | x | (Maezumo) | East Jonokuchi #34 6–1 |
West Jonidan #80 6–1 |
| 1980 | East Jonidan #19 2–5 |
West Jonidan #42 6–1 |
East Sandanme #77 2–5 |
West Jonidan #7 3–4 |
East Jonidan #21 5–2 |
East Sandanme #68 3–4 |
| 1981 | West Sandanme #79 4–3 |
West Sandanme #58 3–4 |
West Sandanme #69 6–1 |
East Sandanme #20 4–3 |
East Sandanme #8 4–3 |
West Makushita #55 2–5 |
| 1982 | West Sandanme #14 6–1 |
West Makushita #37 5–2 |
West Makushita #19 4–3 |
West Makushita #16 4–3 |
East Makushita #12 3–4 |
West Makushita #18 4–3 |
| 1983 | East Makushita #11 3–4 |
East Makushita #20 3–4 |
West Makushita #34 4–3 |
East Makushita #23 3–4 |
East Makushita #31 4–3 |
West Makushita #22 5–2 |
| 1984 | West Makushita #10 5–2 |
West Makushita #4 5–2 |
East Makushita #1 5–2 |
East Jūryō #10 7–8 |
West Jūryō #11 8–7 |
West Jūryō #8 8–7 |
| 1985 | West Jūryō #7 12–3 Champion |
West Maegashira #14 6–9 |
East Jūryō #3 12–3 Champion |
West Maegashira #12 10–5 |
West Maegashira #2 6–9 |
West Maegashira #5 7–8 |
| 1986 | East Maegashira #7 7–8 |
West Maegashira #9 8–7 |
West Maegashira #4 4–11 |
East Maegashira #12 8–7 |
East Maegashira #8 9–6 F |
East Maegashira #1 6–9 |
| 1987 | West Maegashira #4 6–9 |
East Maegashira #7 8–7 |
East Maegashira #2 5–10 |
East Maegashira #5 7–8 |
East Maegashira #6 6–9 |
West Maegashira #9 8–7 |
| 1988 | East Maegashira #3 7–8 ★ |
West Maegashira #3 6–9 |
West Maegashira #6 8–7 |
West Maegashira #1 6–9 |
West Maegashira #4 7–8 |
East Maegashira #6 8–7 |
| 1989 | West Maegashira #1 8–7 O★ |
West Sekiwake #1 5–10 |
East Maegashira #3 7–8 |
West Maegashira #3 10–5 T★ |
West Sekiwake #1 8–7 F |
West Sekiwake #1 8–7 |
| 1990 | East Sekiwake #2 7–8 |
West Komusubi #1 8–7 |
East Sekiwake #1 7–8 |
West Komusubi #1 8–7 |
West Sekiwake #1 9–6 |
East Sekiwake #1 5–10 |
| 1991 | East Maegashira #2 8–7 ★ |
West Komusubi #1 8–7 |
East Komusubi #1 5–10 |
West Maegashira #3 6–9 |
East Maegashira #7 8–7 |
East Maegashira #4 6–9 ★ |
| 1992 | East Maegashira #8 8–7 |
West Maegashira #4 8–7 |
East Maegashira #2 2–13 |
East Maegashira #13 9–6 |
East Maegashira #8 9–6 |
East Maegashira #2 7–8 |
| 1993 | East Maegashira #5 6–9 |
West Maegashira #9 8–7 |
East Maegashira #5 5–10 |
East Maegashira #11 8–7 |
West Maegashira #4 6–9 |
West Maegashira #6 7–8 |
| 1994 | East Maegashira #8 8–7 |
West Maegashira #2 9–6 F |
West Komusubi #1 8–7 O |
West Komusubi #1 4–11 |
East Maegashira #3 4–11 |
West Maegashira #9 9–6 |
| 1995 | West Maegashira #2 5–10 |
West Maegashira #6 8–7 O★ |
East Maegashira #1 5–10 |
West Maegashira #5 5–10 |
West Maegashira #9 8–7 |
East Maegashira #3 5–10 |
| 1996 | East Maegashira #7 6–9 |
East Maegashira #11 9–6 |
East Maegashira #3 5–10 |
West Maegashira #6 5–10 |
West Maegashira #10 9–6 |
East Maegashira #3 4–11 |
| 1997 | West Maegashira #8 8–7 |
East Maegashira #3 2–12–1 |
East Maegashira #13 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
East Maegashira #13 9–6 |
West Maegashira #8 7–8 |
West Maegashira #9 6–9 |
| 1998 | West Maegashira #13 9–6 |
East Maegashira #8 5–10 |
West Maegashira #12 9–6 |
East Maegashira #9 4–11 |
East Maegashira #16 9–6 |
West Maegashira #11 8–7 |
| 1999 | East Maegashira #7 8–7 |
West Maegashira #3 5–10 |
West Maegashira #7 6–9 |
West Maegashira #11 8–7 |
West Maegashira #7 8–7 |
East Maegashira #4 5–10 ★ |
| 2000 | East Maegashira #7 5–10 |
East Maegashira #12 7–8 |
West Maegashira #13 5–10 |
West Jūryō #3 6–9 |
East Jūryō #6 8–7 |
East Jūryō #5 8–7 |
| 2001 | West Jūryō #2 8–7 |
West Maegashira #12 8–7 |
East Maegashira #9 2–13 |
West Jūryō #3 9–6–P |
West Jūryō #1 7–8 |
West Jūryō #2 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
| 2002 | West Jūryō #2 5–10 |
West Jūryō #6 8–7 |
West Jūryō #2 2–3–10 |
East Jūryō #11 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 |
East Jūryō #11 Retired 5–8–2 |
x |
| Record given aswins–losses–absencesTop division championTop division runner-upRetiredLower divisionsNon-participation Sanshōkey:F=Fighting spirit;O=Outstanding performance;T=Technique Also shown:★=Kinboshi;P=Playoff(s) |
||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcdLewin, Brian (December 2005)."Brothers in sumo".sumofanmag.com.Retrieved30 June2007.
- ^Gunning, John (19 March 2019)."Sumo 101: Brothers in sumo".Japan Times.Retrieved20 March2019.
- ^abcdefSharnoff, Lora (1993).Grand Sumo.Weatherhill. p. 218.ISBN0-8348-0283-X.
- ^ab"Sumo: Popular former sekiwake Terao dies of heart failure at 60".Kyodo News.18 December 2023.Retrieved18 December2023.
- ^""【 điệu む】 nguyên tự vĩ の xuyết sơn thân phương, thông toán 938 bại も “Khoa り” đệ tử に vân えた “Phụ けても hủ るな” の giáo え "Former Terao proud of his 938 career defeats""(in Japanese). 18 December 2023.Retrieved18 December2023.
- ^"Terao bouts by kimarite".Sumo Reference.Retrieved9 September2009.
- ^"Shikoroyama – goo Sumo".Japan Sumo Association.Retrieved30 June2007.
- ^Gunning, John (8 March 2020)."Lightweight Terao defied odds in long career".Japan Times.Retrieved9 March2020.
- ^""Tỉnh đồng ３ huynh đệ" trường nam, nguyên thập lạng ・ hạc lĩnh sơn の phúc 薗 hảo chính さんが tử khứ… Tam nam の xuyết sơn thân phương “ぽつんと nhất nhân tàn されてしまった” ".Hochi(in Japanese). 17 May 2020.Retrieved4 September2020.
- ^"Sumo: Abi calls maiden championship long time coming".Kyodo News.28 November 2022.Retrieved28 November2022.
- ^"Nguyên quan hiếp tự vĩ の xuyết sơn thân phương tử khứ 60 tuế tế thân の thể で đấu chí あふれる đột っ trương り thân phương として a viêm ら dục thành"(in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 18 December 2023.Retrieved18 December2023.
- ^"Nguyên quan hiếp tự vĩ の xuyết sơn thân phương tử khứ, 16 nhật に bất chỉnh mạch で dung thể cấp 変 tối kỳ は nhập viện tiên で đệ tử の a viêm らにみとられ".Nikkan Sports. 18 December 2023.Retrieved18 December2023.
- ^"Terao Tsunefumi Rikishi Information".Sumo Reference.Retrieved16 August2012.
External links
edit- Terao Tsunefumi's official biography (English) at the Grand Sumo Homepage
- Terao's basho results from January 1989
- complete biography and basho results (Japanese)
- Terao's official site (Japanese)
- Sumo Fan Magazine articleBrothers in Sumo
- The Eternal Typhoon