Tsurunofuji Tomokazu

Tsurunofuji Tomokazu - 鶴ノ富士 智万 (born January 29, 1973) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kirishima, Kagoshima. He made his debut in March 1988 and last wrestled for Izutsu stable. He reached the juryo division in November 1994. His highest rank was juryo 9 and he retired in May 2007.

## **Early Life**

Yoichiro Fukuzono was born in the town Hayato (currently Kirishima city) in Kagoshima Prefecture. He was a member of the soccer club in junior high school. After graduating junior high school, he joined Izutsu stable, because his paternal uncle was Izutsu oyakata (former sekiwake Tsurugamine).

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Fukuzono made his debut in March 1988 alongside future yokozuna's Akebono, Takanohana, and Wakanohana. Only weighing 77 kg (170 Ib), Fukuzono struggled to make it past jonidan in his first two years of sumo. In January 1991, he cut off his chonmage and ran away from the stable. He worked as a security guard at one point, but decided to return. Since his retirement papers were never handed in, he was allowed back to his stable and he was promoted to makushita in May 1992. In 1992, he briefly wrestled under the shikona "Kakureizan" (鶴嶺山) before switching back to Fukuzono in 1993. He won the makushita yusho in March 1994 and followed with three consecutive 4-3 records which earned him a spot in the juryo division in the November 1994 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Upon promotion to juryo, he changed his shikona to "Tsurunofuji" (鶴ノ富士). In his sekitori debut, Tsurunofuji managed a solid 9-6 record and he followed with an 8-7 record which promoted him to a career-best juryo 9 in March 1995. However, he could only manage 6 wins at this rank and he followed with a poor 4-11 record which sent him back down to makushita in July 1995.

### **Later Career**

Upon demotion from juryo, he reverted his shikona back to his surname Fukuzono. Due to injuries his sumo deteriorated and he wrestled in the lower tier of makushita. However, once he recovered he returned back to the upper makushita ranks. Fukuzono had late career resurgence where he produced 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 8 in January 2006. As a result, he was promoted to the rank of makushita 3 in the following March tournament. On the 14th day of the March 2006 tournament, Fukuzono was put up against juryo-ranked Toki, which made this his first juryo match since May 1995. He defeated Toki by yorikiri (force out), but still finished with a losing record of 3-4.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Fukuzono announced his retirement after the May 2007 tournament and his danpatsu-shiki, or retirement ceremony, was held on June 3rd. After retirement, He opened up a chankonabe restaurant called ZONO in Higashi Mukojima, Sumida, Tokyo.

## **Personal Life**

* Fukuzono's hobby is watching soccer.
* It was revealed during his juryo promotion that if he reached makuuchi, he would take the shikona "Kakureizan" (鶴嶺山) which temporally belonged to his stablemaster and his cousin.

## **Fighting Style**

Fukuzono preferred to fight on the opponent's mawashi, and his favored grip was (somewhat unusually) morozashi, or double hand inside. His most common winning kimarite was yorikiri, a straightforward force out. He was also fond of employing uwatenage, or overarm throw.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 424-390-23/813 (116 basho)
* **Juryo:** 27-33/60 (4 basho)
* **Makushita:** 292-273-9/564 (82 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 38-25-7/63 (10 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 46-45-7/91 (14 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 21-14/35 (5 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Makushita** Championship (March 1994)

## **Shikona History**

* Fukuzono (1988.03 - 1992.01)
* Kakureizan Yoichiro (1992.03 - 1992.11)
* Fukuzono Yoichiro (1993.01 - 1994.09)
* Tsurunofuji Tomokazu (1994.11 - 1995.05)
* Fukuzono Mitsuhiko (1995.07 - 2002.03)
* Fukuzono Yoichiro (2002.05 - 2007.05)

## **Gallery**

Tsurunofuji after promotion to Juryo (c. 1994)Tsurunofuji during the juryo dohyo-iriTsurunofuji prepares for his juryo match (c. 1995)Tsurunofuji after falling to the unsalaried ranksTsurunofuji with stablemate, future Yokozuna KakuryuTsurunofuji's retirement ceremony (c. 2007)Tsurunofuji's chankonabe restaurant, ZONOTsurunofuji's tegata
## **Sources**

* Tsurunofuji Tomokazu Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Tsurunofuji Tomokazu Rikishi Information