| Terunofuji Haruo | |
|---|---|
| 照ノ富士 春雄 | |
 Terunofuji in June 2023 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Gantulgyn Gan-Erdene 29 November 1991 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolian People's Republic |
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 3+1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 176 kg (388 lb; 27 st 10 lb) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Magaki→Isegahama |
| Current rank | see below |
| Debut | January 2011 |
| Highest rank | Yokozuna (July 2021) |
| Championships | 10 (Makuuchi) 2 (Jūryō) 1 (Makushita) |
| Special Prizes | Fighting Spirit (3) Outstanding Performance (3) Technique (3) |
| * Up to date as of 28 July 2024. | |
Terunofuji Haruo (Japanese: 照ノ富士 春雄, born 29 November 1991 as Gantulgyn Gan-Erdene[1] (Mongolian: Гантулгын Ган-Эрдэнэ)), is a Mongolian-Japanese professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for the Isegahama stable, he entered professional sumo in January 2011 and took the second division jūryō championship in his debut as a sekitori in September 2013. He took the top makuuchi division championship in May 2015, only 25 tournaments after his professional debut, which is the fourth-fastest behind Asashōryū and Takanohana's 23 tournaments and Takerufuji's 9 tournaments.[2] This earned him promotion to sumo's second-highest rank of ōzeki.
Terunofuji then suffered from knee injuries and other health problems. Surviving kadoban (in danger of demotion from the rank of ōzeki) on three previous occasions, he was finally demoted after the September 2017 tournament. After a long injury layoff he fell to the second-lowest jonidan division in March 2019 and staged a successful comeback and returned to the makuuchi division the following year, the first wrestler to do so from such a low rank. Terunofuji won his return tournament in the top division in July 2020. He earned his second promotion to ōzeki following a third championship win in March 2021,[3] which he immediately followed with another tournament championship in May 2021.[4] Following a runner-up performance in the July 2021 tournament, he was promoted to become the sport's 73rd yokozuna.[5] He acquired Japanese citizenship the following month, taking the name Seizan Suginomori (杉野森 正山).[6] Following the retirement of fellow Mongolian Hakuhō in September 2021, Terunofuji became the only active yokozuna.
Overall, he has ten top division championships, has been runner-up in seven tournaments, and has nine special prizes. Sumo commentator John Gunning called Terunofuji's comeback "a tale unparalleled in sumo history."[7]
- ^ Many sources give the name as "Gantulga Gan-Erderne". This article uses the genitive form.
- ^ Buckton, Mark (27 May 2015). "Terunofuji could be sumo's next yokozuna". Japan Times. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Sumo: Spring basho winner Terunofuji's ozeki promotion formalized". Kyodo News. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Sumo: Terunofuji beats Takakeisho to win 4th career championship". Kyodo News. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "Mongolian wrestler Terunofuji becomes sumo's 73rd yokozuna". Kyodo News. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "照ノ富士、日本名の名前は「正山」 伊勢ケ浜親方の本名「正也」から１字". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 27 August 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ Gunning, John (31 March 2021). "Terunofuji redefines legacy with historic return to ozeki rank". The Japan Times. Retrieved 31 March 2021.