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23:56 JST, January 16, 2025 (updated at 11:30 JST, Jan. 17)
Yokozuna Terunofuji will retire and train younger wrestlers under the name stablemaster Terunofuji, the Japan Sumo Association announced on Friday.
The mongolian wrestler was the only remaining yokozuna, the highest rank in the sumo world, so unless someone is promoted to yokozuna after the ongoing New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, the yokozuna position will be vacant for the first time in 32 years.
Terunofuji first stepped into the ring in May 2011 and was promoted to ozeki, the second-highest rank, after the summer tournament in 2015. He subsequently dropped to the jonidan division, the second lowest in the sport due to diabetes and knee injuries. But he overcame the difficulties and rose to yokozuna after the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in 2021.
After winning his 10th tournament last year, he missed two tournaments in a row due to old injuries. In the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament this year, he suffered two losses by the fourth day and withdrew from the fifth day.
