Photo by Michihiro Taguchi — shot ringside.
In sumo, Terunofuji is the Isegahama-stable wrestler behind the greatest comeback in the sport’s modern history: an ozeki who fell all the way down to the jonidan division and climbed back. This page captures the moment his return was made official on March 31, 2021, the first comeback to ozeki since the September 2017 tournament. He went on to become the 73rd yokozuna that July, and retired in January 2025.
A comeback made official
On March 31, the banzuke ranking committee and an extraordinary board meeting formally confirmed Terunofuji’s restoration to ozeki. The Japan Sumo Association dispatched two messengers — Takashima (the former Daimonyama) and Asakayama (the former Kaio) — to the Isegahama stable in Koto Ward. Receiving them, Terunofuji delivered the customary greeting: “I humbly accept.” It marked his first return to ozeki since the September 2017 basho.
The long fall to jonidan
The road back was long. After dropping out of the ozeki rank, Terunofuji slid almost overnight into juryo — an unusual sight, since former ozeki rarely wrestle that far down. Yet the descent did not stop there. Four straight tournaments sitting out from makushita pushed his rank all the way down to jonidan. At that point, hardly anyone could have pictured an ozeki comeback. Fighting injury and illness at the same time made it even harder to imagine. Words like “perseverance” or “battling adversity” feel too small for the ordeal he went through, and a return to ozeki after falling to jonidan may well never happen again.
The strongest man in makuuchi
The ozeki ranks already held Takakeisho, Asanoyama and Shodai. But among them only Takakeisho had taken a championship as ozeki, and just once. From last year’s July tournament through this year’s March tournament, their records told the story:
- Takakeisho — 45 wins, 22 losses, 8 absences
- Shodai — 45 wins, 20 losses, 10 absences
- Asanoyama — 44 wins, 19 losses, 12 absences
Over the same span Terunofuji went 57–16 with just 2 absences. That gap puts him well ahead of the sitting ozeki — strong enough to be called the best in makuuchi, with every reason to keep adding to his championship count.
Strengths and the work that remains
Technically, his standout sumo comes when he seizes both front mawashi grips and drives his opponent straight out — a style he put on display against Mitakeumi and Shodai, and one he can sharpen further. On the other side of the ledger, he holds a poor record against Takayasu and has lost back-to-back bouts to Onosho. Those are the matchups he still needs to overcome. Through it all, the dohyo has felt like a miniature of life itself, and a comeback story this improbable only pulls fans deeper into the sport.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What stable does Terunofuji belong to?
Isegahama stable, in Koto Ward, led by the former Asahifuji.
Q. How far did Terunofuji fall before returning to ozeki?
All the way down to the jonidan division, after dropping from ozeki to juryo and then sitting out four straight tournaments from makushita.
Q. When was Terunofuji’s return to ozeki decided?
On March 31, by the banzuke committee and an extraordinary board meeting — his first time back at ozeki since the September 2017 tournament.
Photos by Michihiro Taguchi, shot ringside.
