Terutsuyoshi Shoki

Terutsuyoshi Shoki - 照強翔輝 (born January 17, 1995) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Minamiawaji, Hyogo. He made his debut in March 2010 and wrestled for Isegahama stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 2019 and has 1 special prize. His highest rank was maegashira 3 and he retired in March 2024.

Early Life[]

Shoki Fukuoka was born in Sumoto, Hyogo, on January 17, 1995. In fact, he was born on the same day and just 15 hours after the Great Hanshin earthquake which hit his local Hyogo Prefecture. Because of this fact he was often called "earthquake boy" as a child by fellow schoolmates.^[1] Having been born on such a day he always felt he needed to do something great and unique with his life.^[2]

Screen Shot 2020-12-22 at 8.17.58 AM — Shoki (second year of junior high school) gets recruited by Isegahama Oyakata

In first grade of elementary school he would take up judo. In his third year of grade school his parents would get a divorce and it was decided that he would retain his father surname of Fukuoka, instead of taking his mother's maiden name of Kikui. Because of the divorce he was often closer to his grandfather, who was an avid sumo fan, and passed this on to Fukuoka.^[3]

In his fourth year he would attend a local sumo tournament taking second. This would see him join the local sumo club to train. By the time he was in Junior High School he had placed in the best sixteen at the national championship. Fukuoka was not a very good student and had great attendance issues, skipping over thirty days of school one year even though he would still regularly attend his sumo club practices.^[4] With his dislike of school and his club coach having a connection to Isegahama Oyakata he would decide to join Isegahama stable right after junior high at fifteen years old.^[5]

Career[]

Early Career[]

He would make his debut in March 2010 along with the likes of Kagayaki and Takanosho. He initially failed his physical exam as he was merely 167cm tall and weighed 89kg, but would pass after taking the secondary physical exam.^[5] He was given the ring name Terutsuyoshi meaning "a strong light" by his stablemaster, wishing for him to be a bright light of hope to the survivors of the Kobe earthquake.^[5]

Terutsuyoshi2014 — Terutsuyoshi during his time in the makushita division (c. 2014)

Despite his small size Terutsuyoshi would make quick work of the two lowest jonokuchi and jonidan divisions. He would hit his first snag in the sandanme division posting his first make-koshi or losing record. He would spend a year here going back and forth with winning and losing records before making his makushita debut in March 2012. At first, Terutsuyoshi struggled and bounced between sandanme and makushita for a year before establishing himself in makushita. He would remain this way for three years from January 2013 until November 2016, when a 7-0 yusho at makushita 9 earned him automatic promotion to the juryo division and sekitori status.^[6]

Juryo Career[]

Making his juryo debut in January 2017, he would initially struggle, managing just two winning records after a year in juryo, before a disastrous 4-11 record at juryo 9 would send him back down to makushita. In January 2018 at makushita 1 he would score 4-3 and manage immediate re-promotion back up to juryo. His second stint in juryo was far better than his first. After just one make-koshi, on the back of four straight winning records he would get a 8-7 score at Juryo 1 gaining him promotion the top makuuchi division.^[6]

Makuuchi Career[]

Like with his other division debuts Terutsuyoshi would struggle, getting two back to back 6-9 records. He was somewhat fortunate to remain in the top division for the July 2019 tournament, but at the bottom maegashira 16 spot in July 2019 he would produce his first top division winning record.^[6]

20170512-OYT8I50017-1 — Terutsuyoshi prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2017)

He would start out with five straight wins before losing on day six to veteran Sadanoumi. He would then go on another winning streak from day nine to day thirteen. On Day fourteen being a part of the leading group he was given a bout against maegashira 1 Hokutofuji, the only opponent he would face above maegashira 7, which he would lose giving him his third loss. On the final day he would face fellow 11-3 record holder Tomokaze who he would then beat by oshidashi giving him a final record of 12-3. After yokozuna Hakuho's loss to tournament winner Kakuryu, Terutsuyoshi shared runner-up honors with Hakuho. He was also awarded the Fighting Spirit prize. Speaking to reporters after his final match he said, "I wasn't really thinking about winning the championship, I just thought I should put everything into my sumo."^[7]

In the July 2020 tournament, Terutsuyoshi had his first bout against an ozeki. He defeated title-contender ozeki Asanoyama on the fourteenth day by ashitori, or leg pick. As a result, his stablemate Terunofuji was placed in the lead (he ended up winning the tournament) and Terutsuyoshi secured a winning record. He was promoted to maegashira 3 for the following September 2020 tournament, but struggled, and finished with a 5-10 record.^[6]

Later Career[]

In the November 2022 tournament he lost every one of his fifteen matches, which had not been seen in the top division since Itai in July 1991.^[8] Terutsuyoshi said prior to the January 2023 tournament that diabetes had affected his performance.^[9] He could only win five out of his fifteen juryo matches that month, resulting in his demotion out of sekitori status for the March 2023 basho. Due to a series of defeats, Terutsuyoshi was demoted to makushita 12 for the July 2023 tournament. During this tournament he recorded his first kachi-koshi by beating Dewanoryu (Dewanoumi stable) in his sixth match. Congratulating himself on his first positive score in eight tournaments, he mentioned that his diabetes had caused him to lose 20 kg (44 lb).^[10]

Retirement from Sumo[]

Terutsuyoshi's career did not take off any further, and at the March 2024 tournament he decided to retire. At the press conference held the following day to formalize his decision, he announced his intention to hold a haircutting ceremony on 23 June.^[11] About 300 people took turns cutting his topknot at the ceremony, with Terutsuyoshi crying after his hair was cut by his seniors Takarafuji and Terunofuji. After the ceremony Terutsuyoshi announced that he would start a new career that would include travel between Tokyo and his hometown on Awaji Island.^[12]

Personal Life[]

Prior to the January 2023 tournament, Terutsuyoshi revealed that he married a 31-year-old friend of his stablemaster's daughter in August 2022.^[13]
Terutsuyoshi had a habit during the pre-match rituals (but only on the final throw) of grabbing a huge handful of purifying salt and flinging it high into the air, reminiscent of former sekiwake Mitoizumi.^[14]
Terutsuyoshi's hobbies include watching DVD's, fishing, cooking, playing golf and watching soccer.^[15]^[16] He is also an avid reptile enthusiast and keeps lizards and snakes at home.^[17]

Fighting Style[]

Despite his small size, Terutsuyoshi prefers a direct attacking style, moving forward rather than attempting to sidestep or pull down his opponents.^[18] Terutsuyoshi is unusual in that he prefers a maemitsu grip on his opponent's mawashi or belt – grabbing the front part directly below the stomach area.^[16] He is also fond of nage (throwing) techniques and has been known to pull off seldom seen techniques such as nekodamashi.^[14] However, most of his wins are by frontal push out or force out. His most common winning kimarite is oshidashi (push out) followed by yorikiri (force out) and shitatenage (underarm throw).^[19]