4 days ago
SUMO/ Kotoshoho wins 1st championship at Nagoya basho in new arena
Kotoshoho defeats Aonishiki to win his first championship on July 27 at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament held at IG Arena. (Masaaki Kobayashi)
Rank-and-filer Kotoshoho stole the spotlight in the first tournament featuring two yokozuna in four years, capturing his first top-division championship on July 27 at the newly relocated Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament held at IG Arena.
The 25-year-old Chiba Prefecture-born wrestler, whose real name is Toshiki Tebakari, defeated Aonishiki, a maegashira No. 1, on the final day to seal the Emperor's Cup with an impressive 13-2 record.
Kotoshoho's triumph marks the first time a maegashira wrestler has won a makuuchi division tournament since Takerufuji's surprise victory in the spring tournament last year.
Takerufuji was a maegashira No. 17, the lowest among all wrestlers in the makuuchi division.
Kotoshoho, a maegashira No. 15, enjoyed a championship run notable for his victories over opponents from the top ranks, including yokozuna, sekiwake and komusubi. He defeated newly minted yokozuna Onosato on Day 13 in a stirring showdown.
The 190-centimeter, 167-kilogram rikishi utilized his favored migi-yotsu (right-hand inside grip) and yori (driving) techniques to overpower opponents throughout the 15-day tournament.
Having made his professional debut in the November 2017 Kyushu tournament while still a third-year student at Saitama Sakae High School, Kotoshoho entered the top division in July 2020.
Adding to his family accomplishments, Kotoshoho's younger brother, Kotoeiho, made his top-division debut at this same tournament.
The two wrestlers, both from the Sadogatake stable, became the 13th pair of brothers in history to compete together in the makuuchi division.
