👤 Who is Takerufuji?
Takerufuji Mikiya (尊富士 弥輝也, born April 9, 1999 in Goshogawara, Aomori) is a top-division wrestler for Isegahama stable — the stable of former Yokozuna Terunofuji. At 186 cm and 149 kg he is built for fast, forward-moving sumo, and his rise was one of the quickest in recent memory: he entered professional sumo in September 2022 and was in the top division by March 2024, winning the lower-division titles at jonokuchi and jonidan and two jūryō championships (January 2024 and September 2024, both 13–2) along the way.
🏆 The debut no one had seen in 110 years
Ranked Maegashira 17 East — the very bottom of the top division — for the March 2024 Haru Basho in Osaka, Takerufuji went 13–2 and won the Emperor's Cup in his makuuchi debut. It was the first top-division championship by a wrestler in his debut tournament since Ryōgoku in 1914, and he collected all three special prizes (Outstanding Performance, Fighting Spirit and Technique) in the same tournament — a sweep recorded by the Japan Sumo Association's prize list.
The title came at a price. He hurt his ankle on day 14 and still fought on the final day to clinch the championship outright, then missed the entire May 2024 tournament (0–0–15).
🩹 Injuries, demotion and the long way back
Absence costs rank in sumo regardless of talent. Takerufuji dropped to jūryō for July 2024, withdrew after three bouts (2–1–12), then won his second jūryō championship in September 2024 (13–2 from Jūryō 11) to return to the top division in November. He posted 10–5, 10–5 and 9–6 across November 2024 to March 2025, but a 6–9 in May 2025 and a 5–8–2 in July were followed by another full absence in September 2025, which sent him back to jūryō for a second time.
The second comeback took three tournaments of 8–7, 8–7 and then 11–4 (May 2026) to earn promotion. Back in makuuchi at Maegashira 13 for July 2026 he went 10–5, and at Maegashira 8 East in September 2026 he finished 9–6 — two straight winning records in the top division for the first time since early 2025.
📊 Tournament results
Wins–losses–absences for every tournament listed (🏆 = division championship). Follow the November tournament on the live scores page.
| Year | Jan | Mar | May | Jul | Sep | Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Jan · Jūryō 10E 13–2 🏆 jūryō | Mar · Maegashira 17E 13–2 🏆 makuuchi + 3 prizes | May · Maegashira 6E 0–0–15 (absent) | Jul · Jūryō 2E 2–1–12 (withdrew) | Sep · Jūryō 11W 13–2 🏆 jūryō | Nov · Maegashira 16W 10–5 |
| 2025 | Jan · Maegashira 11W 10–5 | Mar · Maegashira 6W 9–6 | May · Maegashira 4E 6–9 | Jul · Maegashira 6E 5–8–2 | Sep · Maegashira 12E 0–0–15 (absent) | Nov · Jūryō 7E 8–7 |
| 2026 | Jan · Jūryō 5W 8–7 | Mar · Jūryō 4W 8–7 | May · Jūryō 2W 11–4 | Jul · Maegashira 13W 10–5 | Sep · Maegashira 8E 9–6 |
📋 Career stats
| Full name | Takerufuji Mikiya (尊富士 弥輝也) |
| Born | April 9, 1999 · Goshogawara, Aomori |
| Stable | Isegahama |
| Height / Weight | 186 cm / 149 kg |
| Pro debut | September 2022 |
| Top-division debut | March 2024 — won the championship (13–2) |
| Highest rank | Maegashira 4 (May 2025) |
| Rank, September 2026 | Maegashira 8 East (9–6) |
| Rank, November 2026 | Maegashira 4 East |
| Career record | 178–82–44 in 24 tournaments (top division: 72–46–32) |
| Championships | Makuuchi 1 (March 2024) · Jūryō 2 (January 2024, September 2024) · Jonidan 1 · Jonokuchi 1 |
| Special prizes | 3 — Outstanding Performance, Fighting Spirit and Technique, all in March 2024 |
Figures via sumo-api (Japan Sumo Association records), official profile: JSA. Verified October 22, 2026.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Takerufuji?
Takerufuji Mikiya (尊富士) is a top-division sumo wrestler from Goshogawara, Aomori, competing for Isegahama stable. He turned professional in September 2022 and won the top-division championship in his makuuchi debut in March 2024.
What is Takerufuji's record in his debut tournament?
13–2 at Maegashira 17 East in March 2024, winning the Emperor's Cup and all three special prizes. He was the first wrestler to win the top division in his debut tournament since 1914.
Why did Takerufuji drop to jūryō?
He missed the entire May 2024 tournament after an ankle injury suffered late in his championship tournament, and later missed all of September 2025. In sumo a full absence costs rank, so each absence sent him down to the jūryō division, from which he fought his way back both times.
What is Takerufuji's current rank?
For the September 2026 Aki Basho he was ranked Maegashira 8 East and finished 9–6. For the November 2026 Kyushu Basho (Nov 8–22, Fukuoka) he is ranked Maegashira 4 East on the banzuke announced October 26, 2026.
How tall and heavy is Takerufuji?
186 cm and 149 kg according to the Japan Sumo Association listing.
🔗 Keep Exploring
- 🔴 Live Sumo Scores — every bout of the current tournament, updated through the day.
- Kyushu Basho 2026 guide (Fukuoka) · Tournament schedule
- Terunofuji — his stable's former Yokozuna · Most championships in history
- How Sumo Ranks Work · Kimarite — winning techniques