Skip to main content

Terunofuji Retires!

 On Day 2 of this tournament, Terunofuji expressed, "I gave it everything I had, thinking, 'If this doesn’t work out...'" This statement revealed that he had stepped onto the dohyo with his future in sumo hanging in the balance. After suffering his second loss on Day 4, bringing his record to 2-2, he decided to withdraw from the tournament due to severe pain in his right knee and back(waist). This marked his third consecutive tournament withdrawal. And today, his retirement was officially announced.

Terunofuji faced extraordinary challenges, including severe knee injuries and diabetes, which made competing in sumo nearly impossible. Despite falling from the rank of Ozeki all the way down to Jonidan, he persevered through grueling rehabilitation and staged a remarkable comeback, ultimately reaching the pinnacle of the sport as a Yokozuna. Terunofuji's career on the dohyo was truly one of a kind, inspiring and encouraging countless fans.


I became a fan of Terunofuji during his Juryo days when he faced Osunaarashi. 

I was watching casually at first, but when Osunaarashi got a moro-zashi grip and firmly secured both mawashi grips, I thought, "Well, this one's in the bag for Osunaarashi." The next moment, Terunofuji executed a makiotoshi (twist down), slamming Osunaarashi onto the dohyo. Few rikishi could have overturned such a position against Osunaarashi. Watching that match, I was convinced Terunofuji would rise to the rank of Ozeki and began following his career closely. That said, I also thought, "He might follow in Baruto's (former ozeki) footsteps," as his sumo style was  rough and lacked finesse, which increased his risk of injury. Unfortunately, that prediction came true, but his subsequent comeback was beyond anything I could have imagined.

After his return to the upper ranks, Terunofuji's statements and demeanor showed clear signs of personal growth. His journey wasn't just that of a rikishi but also a young man's journey of growth as a human being.

【Memorable Quotes from Terunofuji】
"Being Yokozuna isn’t just about achieving results; it’s about being recognized by everyone as Yokozuna."
"When I was in a wheelchair due to injury, I learned the value of each day as I struggled to keep living. With the support of those around me, I think I’ve come this far."
"Even when I was at my lowest, those who kept supporting me gave me the determination to say, ‘I’ll do it again, no matter what.’ I wanted to make them feel it was worth cheering for Terunofuji."


Moving forward, he plans to dedicate himself to nurturing the next generation as an oyakata. Without a doubt, he will significantly contribute to the continued growth of the sumo world.

Thank you so much for all the unforgettable moments. Terunofuji, you have our deepest gratitude and admiration!




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Written by 小柳公寿

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Grand Sumo 2025 January Tournament Day4

 It was an excellent bout and very enjoyable to watch.  TAKANOSHO - HOSHORYU  Hoshoryu had a strong tachi-ai (initial charge) and maintained good flow throughout the match. However, Takanosho showed remarkable determination, refusing to back down even when in a disadvantageous position. The pivoting movement he made when he was cornered against the tawara (bales on the edge of the dohyo) on the far side was particularly impressive. This turned the tide of the match in Takanosho’s favor. In the end, though, Hoshoryu secured the victory with his incredible athleticism and the exceptional strength of his lower body, snatching the win in dramatic fashion. TAKAYASU - URA Wow, that was surprising! A tsutaezori (Under arm forward body drop)—and not just any tsutaezori, but one executed so beautifully! Watching the match, it was clear that Ura was aiming for a sori-waza (Backwards body drop). Still, I thought, “There’s no way this will work against Takayasu.” But this was truly a...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Heartwarming Story About Hoshoryu

As many of you know, Hoshoryu won the January tournament and was promoted as the 74th Yokozuna. During his victory interview, he shared that after experiencing the heartbreak of losing on the final day of the November tournament, he made a promise to "a certain person." He vowed to channel that frustration into the January tournament and win the championship no matter what. That "certain person" is Ruri Kubota, whom Hoshoryu refers to as his "mother in Japan." And the boy who sat beside Hoshoryu in the open car during the victory parade was none other than Ruri’s son, Teruchika, whom Hoshoryu calls his "younger brother in Japan."   Teruchika has Down syndrome. Hoshoryu first met Teruchika and his mother in 2019, when he was still in the Juryo division. Their connection began when Hoshoryu was invited to coach Teruchika through Kashiwa Sumo Club, where the club’s representative happened to be Hoshoryu’s former high school mentor. Hoshoryu was deep...
Post a Comment
Read more

Grand Sumo 2025 January Tournament Day12

 Shishi Wins Clash of One-Loss Rikishi in Historic Match In the Juryo division, the bout between Aonishiki and Shishi drew significant attention as a showdown between two frontrunners in the yusho (championship) race. This was also the first-ever matchup in professional sumo history between two wrestlers from Ukraine. Aonishiki maintained a strong forward-leaning posture, using harite (slaps) while driving Shishi upward from underneath and pressing forward. Although Shishi was pushed back all the way to the tawara (edge of the ring), he kept his composure and watched his opponent carefully. The decisive moment came when Aonishiki charged headfirst, and Shishi capitalized with a tsuki-otoshi (thrust-down). At that critical moment, Aonishiki’s face was pointed downward, and he wasn’t watching his opponent, which led to his defeat. In the Juryo division, Wakaikari, who lost to Shishi yesterday, has withdrawn from the tournament due to a left arm injury. It’s unfortunate. Kirishima Dom...
Post a Comment
Read more