Yokozuna Harumafuji may require left elbow surgery, a move which would not only rule him out of the summer regional tour beginning this weekend, but also the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in September, his stablemaster said Thursday.

"He has inflammation in his left elbow and can't extend it," stablemaster Isegahama said.

Harumafuji is set to miss part of the regional tour but could join up (later on) "depending on how it heals," Isegahama said.