Teruzakura Hiroyuki

Teruzakura Hiroyuki - 照櫻 弘行 (born December 5, 1947) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Minoh, Osaka. He made his debut in May 1964 and last wrestled for Isegahama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in July 1970. His highest rank was maegashira 7 and he retired in January 1976.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

After dropping out of Tenri High School, where he was a member of the judo club, he joined Isegahama stable and made his professional debut in May 1964. He was given the shikona "Teruzakura" (照櫻) and he won the jonidan yusho with a perfect 7-0 record in his second tournament. He was promoted to makushita in September 1965 where he remained until reaching juryo in September 1969.

### **Juryo Career**

Teruzakura was able to establish himself as a sekitori. in his first juryo tournament, he finished with a solid 9-6 record. In May 1970, he produced a 10-5 record at the rank of juryo 4 and was promoted to makuuchi in July 1970.

### **Makuuchi Career**

In his first tournament ranked in the top division, Teruzakura produced an 8-7 record and was promoted to the rank of maegashira 5 in the following tournament. However, he went on to produce two consecutive losing records and was demoted back down to juryo in January 1971. Nevertheless, he returned to makuuchi in the following tournament, but was could only retain his rank for two more tournaments.

### **Later Career**

Due to his struggles with diabetes, Teruzakura eventually fell back down to makushita in November 1971. After losing his elite sekitori status, he changed his shikona to his surname Ozaki. He returned to juryo in November 1972 and reverted back to Teruzakura. He remained in juryo for another three years before announcing his retirement after the January 1976 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, under the name Urakaze. He worked as a coach for Isegahama stable before transferring to Kiriyama stable in 1997. He transferred once gain to Asahiyama stable in 2011. In addition, he was also a member of the regional tournament department, specializing in the Osaka tournament. He reached the Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age in December 2012.

## **Personal Life**

His nephew Isao Hara (born 1980) was also a professional sumo wrestler. He joined Kiriyama stable in September 1997 where his uncle worked as a coach and he was given the shikona "Nishisegawa" (西瀬川). His highest rank was sandanme 61 and he retired in March 2005.

## **Fighting Style**

Teruzakura was proficient in both yotsu-sumo (grappling) and oshi-sumo (pushing and thrusting) techniques. His favored grip on his opponent's mawashi was hidari-yotsu, a right hand outside, left hand inside position. His most often used winning kimarite was oshidashi (push out), followed by yorikiri (force out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 371-352-7/722 (71 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 34-41/75 (5 basho)
* **Juryo:** 177-196-2/372 (25 basho)
* **Makushita:** 127-99-5/226 (33 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 20-15/35 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 7-0/7 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Jonidan** Championship (September 1964)

## **Shikona History**

* Teruzakura Hiroyuki (1964.05 - 1971.09)
* Ozaki Hiroyuki (1971.11 - 1972.09)
* Teruzakura Hiroyuki (1972.11 - 1976.01)

## **Gallery**

Teruzakura poses with his kesho-mawashiTeruzakura's retirement ceremony pamphlet (c. 1976)Teruzakura after retirement as Urakaze Oyakata (c. 1982)
## **Sources**

* Teruzakura Hiroyuki Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Teruzakura Hiroyuki Rikishi Information