| Kotoshōgiku Kazuhiro | |
|---|---|
| 琴奨菊 和弘 | |
 Kotoshōgiku in 2013 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Kazuhiro Kikutsugi (1984-01-30)30 January 1984 (age 41) Yanagawa, Fukuoka, Japan |
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft11+1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 186 kg (410 lb; 29 st 4 lb) |
| Web presence | website |
| Career | |
| Stable | Sadogatake |
| Record | 828-676-41 |
| Debut | January, 2002 |
| Highest rank | Ōzeki (November, 2011) |
| Retired | November 2020 |
| Elder name | Hidenoyama |
| Championships | 1 Makuuchi 1 Jūryō |
| Special Prizes | Technique (4), Outstanding Performance (3) |
| Gold Stars | 3 Harumafuji Kisenosato Hakuho |
Last updated: October 25, 2020 | |
Kotoshōgiku Kazuhiro (Japanese:琴奨菊 和弘; born 30 January 1984 asKazuhiro Kikutsugi (菊次 一弘,Kikutsugi Kazuhiro) inYanagawa, Fukuoka) is a Japanese former professionalsumo wrestler. Wrestling forSadogatake stable, he made his professional debut in 2002, and reached the top division in 2005. In 2011 he achieved the standard for promotion to the second highest rank ofōzeki by winning 33 bouts over three tournaments, and was formally promoted by theJapan Sumo Association on 28 September.[1]
On 24 January 2016 he became the first Japanese-born wrestler in ten years to win a top-division tournament. He had a long-standing rivalry withKisenosato against whom he fought a record 66 times, the most between two wrestlers in sumo history. He continued to fight after losing hisōzeki rank in January 2017, and in March 2020 became the oldest activesekitori. He announced his retirement from active competition on 14 November 2020.[2] Kotoshōgiku earned sevenspecial prizes in his career, won one top division tournament, and was runner-up in three others.
Kikutsugi was one of three brothers born to a builder. As a young boy he attended an area sumo exhibition and had his picture taken sitting on the lap of futureyokozunaTakanohana. This encouraged him to try out sumo. He transferred to Meitoku Gijuku Junior High School which is well known for its strong sumo program. In 1998, his third year of junior high, he won a national sumo tournament and was named junior high schoolyokozuna. He continued sumo at Meitoku's high school. In his club were two Mongolians exchange students, the futuresekitoriAsasekiryū and futureyokozunaAsashōryū. Having become known to the owner of Sadogatake for his sumo skills, he joined that stable after graduating from high school.
He fought his first professional bout in January 2002 under theshikona of Kotokikutsugi Kazuhiro (琴菊次 一弘). Rising quickly, he changed his ring surname to Kotoshōgiku in January 2004 before reachingjūryō in July 2004 and the topmakuuchi division in January 2005. In May 2005 he changed the spelling of hisshikona given name to和弘. He steadily climbed the top division ranks, reachingmaegashira 1 in July 2006, but a disastrous 3–12 result sent him back tomaegashira 7. However, two 10–5 results in the following two tournaments saw him rise back up tomaegashira 1 and earned him his first Techniquespecial prize. He produced a strong 9–6 score in the 2007 New Year tournament.
In March 2007 he made hissan'yaku debut atsekiwake rank, the first newcomer to the rank for nine tournaments.[3] He made a poor start to the tournament, losing eight of his first nine bouts, but he showed great strength of character in winning the last six in a row to finish with a 7–8 record and remain insan'yaku, albeit at the lower rank ofkomusubi. Further losing scores in the next two tournaments caused him to slip tomaegashira 3 by September 2007. However, a 10–5 mark in that tournament returned him to the titled ranks for November, again atkomusubi. In that tournament he defeatedyokozunaHakuhō on the opening day and picked up his second Technique prize.
In January 2008 he was amongst the tournament leaders until he injured his right knee on the eighth day in a loss to Hakuhō and had to withdraw. This was the first time in his career that he had missed any tournament bouts. It was initially reported that he would need ten days of rest, but his stablemaster (the formerKotonowaka) indicated that Kotoshōgiku was keen to return to action as soon as possible.[4] He re-entered the tournament from the 12th day, winning three of his four bouts to finish with nine wins. After this tournament he was named as one of seven wrestlers whoNHK commentator Shuhei Nagao (the formerMainoumi) called the "Seven Samurai" and identified as "holding the key" to a Japanese resurgence in sumo, which was dominated by foreigners in the top ranks.[5] (The others wereGōeidō,Kisenosato,Hōmashō,Toyohibiki,Toyonoshima andTochiōzan).
Kotoshōgiku was promoted back tosekiwake for the March 2008 tournament, where he defeated the eventual tournament winnerAsashōryū on the 12th day (his second career win over ayokozuna) to earn the Outstanding Performance award. He maintained hissekiwake rank for three tournaments but returned to themaegashira ranks after scoring only 6–9 in July 2008. In July 2009 he returned to thesan'yaku ranks for the first time in six tournaments, atkomusubi, and came through with a winning record. He madesekiwake again in September, but fell short with a 6–9 record. He returned tokomusubi for the January 2010 tournament, following a strong 10–5 performance at the rank ofmaegashira 2 the previous November. However, he had only one win over asan'yaku wrestler in this tournament (ōzekiKaiō) and could score only amake-koshi 6–9. In July 2010 he returned to thesekiwake rank after scoring 9–6 atkomusubi in May. Despite admitting some involvement with gambling in the wake of the scandal surrounding his stablemateKotomitsuki, it was not deemed serious enough to warrant a suspension. He scored only 5–10 in this tournament.
Returning tosekiwake once again in January 2011, he produced double digit wins for the first time in thesan'yaku ranks, scoring 11–4 and winning his third Technique prize.Sumo Association officialTakanohana indicated that Kotoshōgiku would be considered forōzeki promotion if he won or came close to winning the following tournament in March.[6] However, that tournament was cancelled due to amatch-fixing scandal, and in the following May 2011 'technical examination' tournament he finished out of contention on 10–5. Needing to win at least twelve bouts in July to be considered forōzeki promotion,[7] Kotoshogiku seemed on course by Day 11 when he defeated Hakuho for just the second time to move to 9–2.[8] However, he then lost two in a row to rank-and-filersOkinoumi andWakanosato, dashing any hopes of immediate promotion. He finished the tournament on 11–4 and was awarded his second Outstanding Performance prize.
In the September 2011 tournament Kotoshōgiku put in another strong performance, faltering only against fellowsekiwakeKakuryū andmaegashiraTochiōzan before beating Hakuhō for the second time in a row on Day 13. This put both men at 10–2 and left open the possibility of a playoff for theyūshō on the final day. In the event however, Kotoshōgiku lost his last bout toōzekiBaruto while Hakuhō won to clinch his twentieth championship.[1] Nevertheless, Kotoshogiku at 12–3 had achieved the necessary number of 33 wins over the last three tournaments to earnōzeki promotion. Takanohana commented "Beating theyokozuna was a big factor. It was close to a unanimous decision by the judging committee to promote him."[1] Kotoshōgiku became the first Japanese wrestler to be promoted toōzeki since his former stablemate Kotomitsuki in 2007.[9] He was also awarded special prizes for Outstanding Performance (his third) and Technique (his fourth).[1] In his debutōzeki tournament he won his first nine matches, although he lost to two fellowōzeki andyokozuna Hakuhō and finished at 11–4. He did not win more than ten bouts in abasho over the next year, and had to withdraw from the September 2012 tournament after suffering a knee injury.[10] He was injured again and withdrew early in the November 2013 tournament; after returning he had two mediocre performances followed by a very poor 5–10 in May 2014 and waskadoban, at risk of losing hisōzeki status. In the July 2014 tournament, he responded with his best performance as anōzeki, and was tied for the lead going into the final day before losing toGōeidō and finishing 12–3. This was his first runner-up performance as anōzeki and the third overall in his career. After a mediocre 9–6 in September, he once again fellkadoban after a poor 6–9 performance in the November tournament. However, he comfortably held his rank in the opening tournament of 2015. Another 6–9 in May 2015 saw himkadoban yet again. In July his record was 5–7 after twelve days but he preserved his rank with three consecutive wins including a last day victory overTerunofuji. September 2015 saw a return to form as he recorded an 11–4 result to tie for third place. In November he started strongly, winning seven of his first eight matches, but then began to struggle and withdrew injured on day 14 to end with an 8–6–1 record.
The January 2016 tournament marked ten years sinceTochiazuma became the last Japanese-born wrestler to win the top-division title. Kotoshōgiku began it with ten straight victories (including wins overKisenosato andKakuryū)[11] before attempting to take sole possession of the lead against the similarly undefeated Hakuhō on day 11. Kotoshōgiku had won only four of their previous fifty meetings but started aggressively, forced theyokozuna to the edge and won byoshidashi: Hakuhō said of the winner; "He is better than he's ever been. I thought I had room to work with, but I was on the straw before I knew it".[12] Kotoshōgiku maintained his lead with a win overHarumafuji and said after the contest "I did what I had to do and gave everything I had. I'm getting calmer every passing day. I've come through tough times so I'd like to have the mindset to enjoy this. I just have to win a battle with myself".[13] On day 13 his winning run ended as he sustained an upset loss to themaegashiraToyonoshima, a long-time friend. A win againstTochiōzan meant that he entered the final day one win in front of Hakuhō and Toyonoshima, and needing a win over Gōeidō to claim the championship. He defeated his opponent bytsukiotoshi to win the tournament with a 14–1 record. His parents, who were in attendance, reportedly burst into tears whilst fans in his hometown ofYanagawa celebrated after watching his victory on a big screen.[14] Interviewed after the match he said "I'm so happy, I can't even put it into words. But I'm also thrilled because I'm standing here now thanks to a great number of people who supported me when I struggled and didn't get the results I wanted".[15] At a press conference on 16 February, he reflected on the ten-year wait for a Japanese winner and remarked that his fellow Japanese wrestlers may lack the will to win that Mongolian wrestlers have shown.[16] "All the Japanese wrestlers want to win championships... but sumo is about winning. Maybe we Japanese are too set in our ways, maybe we lack the greed to win at all costs... We can learn from them."[16]
The head of theJapan Sumo Association's Judging Department,Isegahama-oyakata, indicated that if he achieved a "high quality championship" in the March Grand Sumo Tournament, he would be recommended for promotion toyokozuna rank.[17] This would have made Kotoshōgiku the first Japaneseyokozuna to be promoted sinceWakanohana Masaru in 1998. In March he began very strongly to win seven of his first eight matches. His hopes of promotion however, disappeared in the second week as he suffered a series of defeats and ended with an 8–7 record. He withdrew from the July 2016 tournament inNagoya after suffering five losses in the first six days, citing knee and foot injuries.[18] He escaped demotion with a 9–6 record in September. In November 2016 Kotoshōgiku did not have the best tournament managing only five wins which put him inkadoban status for the January 2017 tournament, the seventh time in his career. Kotoshōgiku did not perform well in the January 2017 tournament and was only able to get a 5–10 record, but was able to giveKisenosato, who ended up winning the tournament, his only defeat. Since Kotoshōgiku waskadoban and failed to get the necessary 8 wins he was demoted tosekiwake after 32 tournaments atōzeki.
In March 2017, Kotoshōgiku was unable to obtain the ten wins required to return immediately toōzeki status, falling one win short at 9–6. His sixth defeat was controversial – up againstTerunofuji on Day 14, with Terunofuji among the leaders, Kotoshōgiku needed to win his last two matches for a return toōzeki. At thetachiai, Terunofujisidestepped the onrushing Kotoshōgiku and won byhatakikomi, ending the popular Kotoshōgiku's quest for a return toōzeki with the palpable disapproval of theOsaka crowd.[19] In May he lost seven of his first eight bouts and despite mounting a spirited comeback in the second week he ended with a 7–8 record and was relegated tokomusubi. Another 7–8 result followed in July resulting in him dropping to themaegashira ranks. On the third day of the September 2017 tournament he defeatedHarumafuji, earning his first careerkinboshi for an upset of ayokozuna while ranked as amaegashira.[20] Kotoshogiku is the fourth wrestler to get his firstkinboshi as a formerozeki, followingMiyabiyama,Takanonami andNoshirogata. He returned to thesan'yaku ranks atkomusubi for the November 2017 tournament. In January 2018 he defeated Kisenosato to earn his secondkinboshi. This was his 66th and finalmakuuchi bout against Kisenosato, the highest number of contests between two wrestlers in sumo history.[21] He had defeated Kisenosato 34 times, with 29 losses (not including two wins by default and one loss by default).[21] He was forced to withdraw from the July 2018 tournament after suffering a tendon injury in his left elbow during a defeat toTamawashi on Day 10 in which he was thrown from thedohyo with akotenage armlock throw.[22] In March 2019 he was in contention for the Fighting Spirit prize but was defeated on the final day; however he still finished with a strong 11–4 record. He defeated Hakuhō on Day 14 of the July 2019 tournament, to earn his thirdkinboshi, a record for an ex-ōzeki. He was nominated for a fourth Outstanding Performance Prize as a result, but was defeated on the final day of the tournament and so missed out on the award.[23]
By 2020 Kotoshōgiku had fallen towards the bottom of themakuuchi division, although he said he had not lost his motivation to keep fighting.[24] During the January 2020 tournament he tied withTakanohana on 701 top division wins, ninth place on theall-time list, and said he felt honoured to find his name next to him.[25] He surpassed Takanohana andMusashimaru in the following tournament, andHarumafuji andKisenosato in July, to rise to sixth place on the all-time list, finishing hismakuuchi career with 718 wins. His 92 top division tournaments is the seventh highest in history. He became the oldest activesekitori in March 2020, following the retirements ofToyonoshima andSōkokurai.
Kotoshōgiku withdrew from the September 2020 tournament after a torn muscle in his lower left leg,[26] but returned from Day 7. He was only able to win one more match and finished with a 2–10–3 record. Kotoshōgiku reportedly told the mayor ofYanagawa that he would continue to wrestle, even after being demoted tojūryō.[27] After losing four of his first five matches, he withdrew from the November tournament and retired from competition on Day 6.[2] As the owner of the Hidenoyamatoshiyori kabu or elder stock, he assumed the Hidenoyama (秀ノ山) name and became a coach atSadogatake stable.[28]
Kotoshōgiku'sretirement ceremony was held on 1 October 2022 at theRyōgoku Kokugikan.[29]
In May 2023, Kotoshōgiku announced that he was planning to openhis own stable in 2024.[30] Although the groundbreaking ceremony took place in November 2023,[31] the stable officially opened on 19 October 2024, with four wrestlers, all ranked in thejonidan division.[32]
Kotoshōgiku announced his engagement in February 2015, revealing that he had proposed the previous October. He credited his fiancée with helping him through his injury in the Kyushu 2013 tournament.[33] Kotoshōgiku had previously announced an engagement in November 2012, but that was broken off three months later.[citation needed] After marrying in the summer of 2015, the wedding reception was held on 30 January 2016, Kotoshōgiku's 32nd birthday, and just a week after his first tournament championship. 630 guests, including formerPrime MinisterYoshiro Mori, attended.[34] The couple's first child was born in May 2017.
Kotoshōgiku was ayotsu-sumo specialist, preferringtechniques which involved grabbing the opponent'smawashi or belt. He favoured a right hand outside, left hand inside grip (hidari-yotsu). His most common winning technique was a straightforwardyori-kiri or force out, which he used in sixty percent of his career victories.[35] His trademark wasgaburi-yori, which involves using the torso to bump the opponent out, aided by a low centre of gravity and momentum.[1][36] The next most often used technique wasoshi-dashi or push out. His style was simple, aggressive and direct but could be somewhat predictable,[36] and he was not noted as a technician.[35] He was also notable for the exaggerated back stretch he performed just before thetachiai, dubbed the "Koto Bauer" after theIna Bauer figure skating move, which often generated a reaction from the audience in attendance.[37] He eventually gave up this routine, but brought it back for his final match before retirement.
| Year | January Hatsu basho,Tokyo | March Haru basho,Osaka | May Natsu basho,Tokyo | July Nagoya basho,Nagoya | September Aki basho,Tokyo | November Kyūshū basho,Fukuoka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | (Maezumo) | East Jonokuchi #32 6–1 | East Jonidan #61 7–0–P | West Sandanme #59 5–2 | West Sandanme #29 6–1 | East Makushita #46 6–1 |
| 2003 | East Makushita #20 3–4 | East Makushita #30 4–3 | West Makushita #24 4–3 | East Makushita #19 5–2 | West Makushita #10 3–4 | West Makushita #17 3–4 |
| 2004 | East Makushita #22 6–1 | West Makushita #6 4–3 | West Makushita #5 5–2 | East Jūryō #13 10–5 | West Jūryō #5 9–6 | West Jūryō #3 10–5 |
| 2005 | East Maegashira #16 5–10 | East Jūryō #4 13–2 Champion | East Maegashira #14 10–5 | East Maegashira #9 8–7 | East Maegashira #6 7–8 | East Maegashira #7 6–9 |
| 2006 | West Maegashira #10 8–7 | East Maegashira #8 9–6 | East Maegashira #3 9–6 | East Maegashira #1 3–12 | West Maegashira #7 10–5 | East Maegashira #2 10–5 T |
| 2007 | East Maegashira #1 9–6 | West Sekiwake #1 7–8 | West Komusubi #1 7–8 | East Maegashira #1 5–10 | West Maegashira #3 10–5 | West Komusubi #1 9–6 T |
| 2008 | East Komusubi #1 9–4–2 | West Sekiwake #1 8–7 O | West Sekiwake #1 8–7 | West Sekiwake #1 6–9 | East Maegashira #1 6–9 | East Maegashira #3 9–6 |
| 2009 | East Maegashira #1 6–9 | East Maegashira #2 6–9 | East Maegashira #6 10–5 | West Komusubi #1 8–7 | West Sekiwake #1 6–9 | East Maegashira #2 10–5 |
| 2010 | East Komusubi #1 6–9 | West Maegashira #3 10–5 | East Komusubi #1 9–6 | West Sekiwake #1 5–10 | East Maegashira #3 9–6 | West Maegashira #1 9–6 |
| 2011 | West Sekiwake #1 11–4 T | Tournament Cancelled 0–0–0 | East Sekiwake #1 10–5 | East Sekiwake #1 11–4 O | East Sekiwake #1 12–3 OT | West Ōzeki #2 11–4 |
| 2012 | West Ōzeki #1 8–7 | West Ōzeki #3 9–6 | West Ōzeki #2 10–5 | West Ōzeki #1 10–5 | East Ōzeki #2 2–2–11 | East Ōzeki #2 8–7 |
| 2013 | West Ōzeki #2 8–7 | West Ōzeki #2 8–7 | East Ōzeki #2 11–4 | West Ōzeki #1 9–6 | East Ōzeki #2 10–5 | West Ōzeki #1 1–2–12 |
| 2014 | East Ōzeki #2 9–6 | West Ōzeki #1 8–7 | West Ōzeki 5–10 | West Ōzeki #1 12–3 | East Ōzeki #1 9–6 | East Ōzeki #1 6–9 |
| 2015 | West Ōzeki #1 9–6 | West Ōzeki #1 8–7 | West Ōzeki #1 6–9 | East Ōzeki #2 8–7 | West Ōzeki #2 11–4 | East Ōzeki #2 8–6–1 |
| 2016 | East Ōzeki #2 14–1 | East Ōzeki #1 8–7 | East Ōzeki #2 10–5 | West Ōzeki #1 1–6–8 | West Ōzeki #2 9–6 | East Ōzeki #2 5–10 |
| 2017 | West Ōzeki #2 5–10 | East Sekiwake #2 9–6 | East Sekiwake #2 7–8 | West Komusubi #1 7–8 | West Maegashira #1 10–5 ★ | East Komusubi #1 6–9 |
| 2018 | West Maegashira #2 7–8 ★ | East Maegashira #3 6–9 | East Maegashira #5 8–7 | West Maegashira #1 3–8–4 | West Maegashira #8 7–8 | East Maegashira #9 10–5 |
| 2019 | East Maegashira #4 6–9 | West Maegashira #8 11–4 | West Maegashira #1 6–9 | East Maegashira #5 7–8 ★ | East Maegashira #7 6–9 | East Maegashira #9 6–9 |
| 2020 | East Maegashira #13 7–8 | East Maegashira #13 7–8 | East Maegashira #14 Tournament Cancelled 0–0–0 | East Maegashira #14 8–7 | West Maegashira #11 2–10–3 | West Jūryō #3 Retired 1–6 |
| Record given aswins–losses–absences Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Sanshō key:F=Fighting spirit;O=Outstanding performance;T=Technique Also shown:★=Kinboshi;P=Playoff(s) | ||||||
