Among the illustrious sumo wrestlers who have entered the ring over the past century, Takerufuji stands out as the one who achieved a feat that eluded even the greatest of his predecessors.

In a remarkable turn of events, Takerufuji, ranked as the lowest No. 17 maegashira in the prestigious makuuchi division, secured a historic victory at the Spring Grand Tournament in Osaka, marking the first time in 110 years that a wrestler achieved championship glory in their debut at the top tier.

In a gripping finale, the 24-year-old Takerufuji, hailing from Aomori Prefecture, bounced back from a missed opportunity the day before to secure victory by decisively pushing out No. 6 maegashira Gonoyama, concluding the tournament at EDION Arena Osaka with an impressive 13-2 record. Reflecting on his triumph, Takerufuji humbly remarked in a ringside interview, "While achievements are significant, my primary goal was to leave a lasting impression on the audience through my relentless efforts."

Lurking in contention was No. 5 maegashira Onosato, the sole wrestler with a plausible opportunity to overtake Takerufuji. If Takerufuji had stumbled, Onosato's victory over ozeki Hoshoryu in the subsequent nine matches would have set the stage for a dramatic playoff showdown.

Onosato's defeat concluded his tournament with an 11-4 record, though it was essentially a matter of personal pride at that juncture. Meanwhile, Takerufuji, undeterred by a leg injury sustained in a prior loss to top maegashira Asanoyama, swiftly dispatched Gonoyama to the rapture of the packed arena. Despite his injury forcing a hospital visit the previous day, Takerufuji was resolute in his determination to persevere through the pain. "I received countless messages after my injury, realizing it wasn't just my concern but that of many others. Whether victory or defeat, I entered the ring with self-belief." The last instance of a wrestler clinching the championship in their makuuchi debut dates back to 1914, when Ryogoku emerged triumphant in the Summer tournament. Ironically, a mere two months earlier at the New Year tournament, Onosato himself had come close to achieving the feat, briefly sharing the lead after nine days before three consecutive losses dashed his hopes.

During this tournament, Takerufuji's remarkable performance included a victory over Onosato on the 10th day, marking one of his impressive streak of 11 consecutive wins since the opening day. This achievement puts him on par with the legendary Taiho, who set the makuuchi debut record back in 1960.

The champion not only clinched the prestigious Emperor’s Cup but also swept all three post-tournament accolades: the Outstanding Performance Award, Fighting Spirit Prize, and Technique Prize. Likewise, Onosato was honored with the Fighting Spirit and Technique Prizes, recognizing his remarkable contributions to the tournament.

Takerufuji's journey into professional sumo began at Nihon University. Unlike his rival from Nippon Sports Science University, Onosato, Takerufuji didn't boast a notable record that would grant him entry into a high division. However, his determination and skill propelled him to the makuuchi division in just eight tournaments.

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