Terunofuji ends run of active foreign-born yokozuna since 1993

Yokozuna Terunofuji’s retirement on Friday left sumo with no active grand champion for the first time in about 32 years, during which at least one foreign-born wrestler always occupied the exalted rank.

Akebono was the first of seven overseas-born wrestlers to scale sumo’s pinnacle in March 1993 before being joined by his fellow Hawaiian-born grappler Musashimaru in 1999. The powerful pair locked horns with the popular brothers Takanohana and Wakanohana before the emergence of Mongolian-born wrestlers early in the new millennium.

Asashoryu rose to yokozuna in 2003 and won 25 Emperor’s Cups, fourth on the all-time list. Hakuho, a record 45-time winner, fought as yokozuna from 2007 to 2021, during which time Harumafuji and Kakuryu also won promotions and eventually retired.

Takanohana (R) crushes out fellow yokozuna Akebono on the final day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on July 21, 1996. (Kyodo)

Hakuho’s time as yokozuna overlapped for one meet with Terunofuji, who has been the lone grand champ since November 2021.

Since Akebono’s first career championship in May 1992, the seven foreign-born wrestlers combined for 118 titles out of 194 meets through last November, with 95 of them won by Mongolian-born wrestlers. After Asashoryu’s maiden victory in November 2002, over 70 percent of the titles were won by him or one of his four countrymen.

Lean, fast and aggressive wrestlers from Japan’s Asian neighbor stood in the way of local hopefuls, who could not win a single Emperor’s Cup for exactly a decade from January 2006. In March 2017, Kisenosato finally became the first Japanese-born yokozuna in 19 years ahead of the Spring meet.

Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu (R) is jubilant after winning his 23rd Emperor’s Cup at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 25, 2009. Asashoryu outmuscled fellow Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho (L) in a dramatic championship playoff to win the 15-day tourney. (Kyodo)

While the Mongolian influx brought excitement and energy to the ring, there has also been controversy, with Asashoryu retiring in 2010 following an alleged assault of a member of the public.

Harumafuji left the sport in 2017 after assaulting one of his fellow Mongolian wrestlers, while Hakuho drew criticism for his rough wrestling style on the dohyo and lack of modesty off it.

With more Mongolian-born wrestlers, including Terunofuji, having entered Japanese high schools to start learning the sport before entering professional sumo, no significant troubles have surfaced in recent years.

Harumafuji (R) pushes Kakuryu out of the ring at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Nov. 21, 2015, at Fukuoka Kokusai Center in the southwestern Japanese city of Fukuoka. (Kyodo)

The run of Mongolian yokozuna can continue should Hoshoryu, the nephew of Asashoryu, secure a championship-caliber record at the ongoing New Year meet after a 13-2, runner-up outing at November’s Kyushu meet.

“We’ve done great to have yokozuna for more than 20 years,” Kakuryu, now Otowayama stablemaster, said. “And Hoshoryu could soon be taking over from Terunofuji.”