Top-division debutant Takerufuji overcame fellow rank-and-file wrestler Gonoyama to claim a historic championship Sunday at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
The 24-year-old from Aomori Prefecture compiled a 13-2 record at Edion Arena Osaka to become the first wrestler since Ryogoku in 1914 to win his maiden 15-day competition in the elite makuuchi division.
He also secured his first Emperor's Cup faster than any competitor since sumo adopted the current calendar of six annual grand tournaments in 1958, having made his official debut in September 2022.