Terunofuji is the 73rd Yokozuna.

[Tikozan 4]

Congratulations to Terunofuji. Great Comeback for him. 

[hakutorizakura 590]

Astonishing achievement. He was pretty much the bad guy when I started watching sumo in early 2017, being a fierce competitor to the newly minted Japanese hero Kisenosato, plus that damned Giku move. But now he's all clean in my book. I've had no doubt about his top-level sumo after seeing his return to makuuchi, and now it's official that he is indeed at the top.

Congrats #73!!

[orandashoho 720]

Even if a 15-0 yusho after a year of absence is noteworthy, a Hakuho yusho isn't so unique for the GOAT. But to witness the rise of a new Yokozuna from the depths he had fallen to as Ozeki, now that is something that has never happened before and isn't likely to ever happen again. With it, Terunofuji has become a legend.

And we are truly privileged to see these two legends active sharing that rarified rank, competing for next basho's yusho. 

Edited July 20, 2021 by orandashoho

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

13 hours ago, Swami said:

It's very difficult to think of any other sporting comebacks on the same scale, the only one I think that surpasses it - and it made the big screen - was Niki Lauda's return from his horrific 1976 Nurburgring accident.

Lester Piggott. Won nine Epsom Derbys, eleven jockeys championships. Retired. Jailed for tax evasion. Stripped of his OBE... returned to the saddle at 54 to win the Breeders' Cup Mile on Royal Academy. I'm a horse racing nut, admittedly, but it was emotional.

[Kenneth Minami 60]

Vinny Pazienza.

[since_94 650]

Louis Zamperini. Long distance runner.

[Yubinhaad 11,546]

Live now:

 

[Koorifuu 886]

18 hours ago, Swami said:

It's very difficult to think of any other sporting comebacks on the same scale, the only one I think that surpasses it - and it made the big screen - was Niki Lauda's return from his horrific 1976 Nurburgring accident.

 

Swami

This is definitely up there, but Mick Doohan after '92 is on the same scale for sure. I rate it higher than Lauda's.

I'd also say Brian Baker, even if he was never a true force, his story is about as inspirational.

[Dapeng 232]

Congratulations! Well-deserved!

We saw two amazing resurrection and the Terunofuji resurrection is especially encouraging. 

Persistence, courage, and determination are their characters. Hope the two yokozuna will treat us the sumo fans with more quality sumo in future. 

[Dapeng 232]

6 hours ago, orandashoho said:

Even if a 15-0 yusho after a year of absence is noteworthy, a Hakuho yusho isn't so unique for the GOAT. But to witness the rise of a new Yokozuna from the depths he had fallen to as Ozeki, now that is something that has never happened before and isn't likely to ever happen again. With it, Terunofuji has become a legend.

And we are truly privileged to see these two legends active sharing that rarified rank, competing for next basho's yusho. 

100% agree! Their amazing resurrection is a great encouragement to those who are in their low times.

[neonbelly 226]

It will be good if Teru can beat Hakuho before H's retirement to cement the transition, but if Hakuho remains committed to "gritty sumo", that could be tough.

[Rocks 1,807]

Any translation for Terunofuji''s   response to being told he had been made Yokozuna?

[Godango 956]

17 minutes ago, Rocks said:

Any translation for Terunofuji''s   response to being told he had been made Yokozuna?

不動心を心がけ、横綱の品格、力量の向上に努めます。

Someone will likely do a better translation, but it is something like:

"I will keep my mind steadfast and strive to improve the dignity and strength of a yokozuna.".

[Hidenotora 63]

18 minutes ago, Rocks said:

Any translation for Terunofuji''s   response to being told he had been made Yokozuna?

He said: "不動心を心がけ、横綱の品格、力量の向上に努めます"
which I interpreted as something like "Steadfast in attitude, I will strive to elevate my strength with the dignity of a yokozuna."

Someone better at Japanese might be able to put it better though.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Great to see it official. There’s something about the sight of a rikishi in a montsuki kimono at his promotion ceremony.  

[neonbelly 226]

3 hours ago, Yubinhaad said:

Live now:

 

Watching this makes me feel how I imagine more frivolous people feel while watching a royal wedding.

Edited July 21, 2021 by neonbelly

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

Here is the article with what I assume to be a partial transcript of the interview. I will try to translate it tomorrow unless someone else wants to do it sooner. Judging by Isegahama's answer it looks like he's dropping the hint that Teru's style will be Shiranui.

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202107210000180.html?cx_testId=66&cx_testVariant=cx_1&cx_artPos=0#cxrecs_s

[Swami 245]

10 hours ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Lester Piggott. Won nine Epsom Derbys, eleven jockeys championships. Retired. Jailed for tax evasion. Stripped of his OBE... returned to the saddle at 54 to win the Breeders' Cup Mile on Royal Academy. I'm a horse racing nut, admittedly, but it was emotional.

Also Bob Champion recovering from cancer to win the 1981 Grand National on Aldaniti.

Not forgetting Red Rum himself, being written off suffering from pedalostitis, ending up winning three Grand Nationals.

Swami

[RabidJohn 1,665]

1 hour ago, WAKATAKE said:

Judging by Isegahama's answer it looks like he's dropping the hint that Teru's style will be Shiranui.

Asahifuji and Harumafuji were both Shiranui, so I'd be surprised if Terunofuji goes for Unryu style.

I've a question about the fish. I've seen both yusho winners and promotees posing with 1 fish, so I was a little surprised to see Teru with 2 when there was no yusho to celebrate. What's that all about then?

And congratulations again to Terunofuji now it's official.

[rokudenashi 291]

Cor blimey, his knees did not enjoy being in that position at all - he did not bend them beyond a 90 degree angle, let alone try seiza. I sincerely hope that it is not a foreshadowing of his tenure as Yokozuna.

Nonetheless, congratulations. Great news to wake up to!!

[nagora 88]

1 hour ago, Swami said:

Also Bob Champion recovering from cancer to win the 1981 Grand National on Aldaniti.

Not forgetting Red Rum himself, being written off suffering from pedalostitis, ending up winning three Grand Nationals.

Swami

"Dad, I'm going to bet on Red Rum to win."

"Don't waste your money, son. There's no chance."

Grrr. I'll never get that 50p back!

[Seiyashi 4,071]

Quick note: you see that guy in the blue suit standing behind Terunofuji? I have a hunch that that person is Yamada Haruo.

http://mutsu.xsrv.jp/tokyo/15topix/1506/150610b.html

Born in Goshogawara, he is the chairman of a supporter's club based in Setagaya, and has been associated with Terunofuji for a very long time; the article even says that Terunofuji treats him as a "Japanese father".

I don't think it's a coincidence that Terunofuji's shikona given name is the same as his sponsors, nor that he chose to wear that sponsor's keshomawashi in his sainyumaku yusho portrait. During that basho he spoke also of a sponsor who stuck by him all the way - my guess is that's Yamada Haruo.

If Terunofuji gets his citizenship, I'm not surprised if he takes the name Suginomori Haruo, after Isegahama's actual surname, and his sponsor.

[Akinomaki 39,798]

7 hours ago, Yubinhaad said:

Live now:

 

The start of the video with Terunofuji standing and waiting seemed a bit boring at first thought, but when the oyakata came in it turned into a refreshing experience: the oyakata came in with a mask and Terunofuji was without it all the way. In the end of the live transmission, the oyakata took the mask from his sleeve and put it back on. My sympathy for Terunofuji has grown with this display of confidence.

The most hilarious part was for the papers the reenacting of the scene where Terunofuji receives the message and thanks the messengers, still good for something Isegahama ichimon riji Takashima with Asakayama (Kaio). Which papers will show the real thing?

Nothing from Kyodo yet, 1min digest from the NSK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVS-Kb8_Vsw

FNN with reactions in Mongolia, where the people still have to wear masks in public: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlo6QtTPTi4

News video from the interview after the ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5MBXbhL5Jk

 

[code_number3 694]

23 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

The start of the video with Terunofuji standing and waiting seemed a bit boring at first thought, but when the oyakata came in it turned into a refreshing experience: the oyakata came in with a mask and Terunofuji was without it all the way. In the end of the live transmission, the oyakata took the mask from his sleeve and put it back on. My sympathy for Terunofuji has grown with this display of confidence.

The most hilarious part was for the papers the reenacting of the scene where Terunofuji receives the message and thanks the messengers, still good for something Isegahama ichimon riji Takashima with Asakayama (Kaio). Which papers will show the real thing?

The funniest part after the photo-op was someone said “itai!”. Who did say that 

[Akinomaki 39,798]

3 minutes ago, code_number3 said:

The funniest part after the photo-op was someone said “itai!”. Who did say that 

The one with the bad knees who had to kneel, the man himself - and his oyakata did comment that only people with bad knees were there