Terunofuji’s incredible championship-capped comeback wasn’t the only good news to come out of the July tournament for Isegahama stable.
Twenty-four-year-old Nishikifuji’s 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 3 east was good enough to earn the Aomori native promotion to sumo’s second highest (jūryō) division.
While that’s an achievement that pales in overall significance to his stablemate’s Emperor’s Cup win, Nishikifuji making it to the paid ranks will remain among the most memorable moments of his sumo life long after retirement — no matter how well the Kindai University graduate does from here on out.