Kotoeko Mitsunori - 琴恵光 充憲 (born November 20, 1991) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Nobeoka, Miyazaki. He made his debut in March 2007 and wrestled for Sadogatake stable. He reached the makuuchi division in July 2018. His highest rank was maegashira 4 and he retired in May 2024.
Early Life[]
A young Kashiwadani with his grandfather, Matsueyama
Born the grandson of former juryo rikishi Matsueyama, Mitsutaka Kashiwadani was introduced to sumo at an early age. He was also attracted to judo at a young age as well participating in it from primary school on up. He led his primary school to the top 8 in judo, and his junior high school team to the Miyazaki prefecture championship.[1][2]
In addition to judo, Kashiwadani also actively participated in sumo competitions. During his time in elementary school, he trained at the local Matsueyama Sumo Dojo, and in his sixth year of elementary school, he made it to the top 8 at the National Wanpaku Sumo Tournament.[2]
Originally, he intended on going to high school as a judo player and wanted to become a cook, joining the family restaurant with his father and grandfather after graduation. However he was inspired instead to join professional sumo after observing a practice session held by Sadogatake stable at their Kyushu lodgings.[2]
Career[]
Early Career[]
He would join Sadogatake stable in March 2007 at the age of 15. He weighed just 94 kg (207 lb) and was only 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) tall, and his stablemaster was concerned about whether he would be able to gain enough weight.[3] He originally took the shikona "Kotokashiwadani Mitsutaka" (琴柏谷 充隆) by simply adding the stable's traditional prefix "Koto" to his family name.[4]
Kotokashiwadani prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2009)
Kotokashiwadani struggled in his first couple tournaments and even posted a make-koshi, or losing record, in his jonokuchi debut. It would take him over a year until he made his sandanme debut in July 2008. Kotokashiwadani struggled to put on weight which affected the outcome of his results. He produced mixed results for around three years in sandanme, before reaching the makushita division in September 2011. He would then take the shikona "Kotoeko" (琴恵光) borrowing the second kanji 恵 from his grandfather's name.[5]
Kotoeko would bounce back between makushita and sandanme for around a year before becoming a makushita mainstay in March 2013. After becoming a fixture in makushita, Kotoeko produced mainly kachi-koshi, or winning records. In September 2014, Kotoeko defeated former komusubi and juryo-ranked wrestler Wakakoyu to finish with a 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 3. This performance resulted in Kotoeko's promotion to juryo for the November 2014 tournament.[4]
Juryo Career[]
Kotoeko was the first sekitori from Miyazaki Prefecture in 32 years, the last being Kusatake who spent just one tournament in juryo in January 1982.[6] He lasted only one tournament after producing a 5-10 record at the rank of juryo 12.[4]
Kotoeko prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2014)
He was demoted back to makushita for the following January 2015 tournament and produced a 4-3 record and was promoted back to juryo for the March 2015 tournament. Kotoeko produced a 4-11 record and was again demoted back down to makushita for the May 2015 tournament.[4]
Kotoeko would remain in makushita for over a year and produce a variety of results. After producing three straight winning records, Kotoeko was promoted back to juryo for the July 2016 tournament. Kotoeko became a juryo mainstay and was promoted to juryo 2 for the November 2016 tournament. He would stay in juryo for around two years. After producing three straight winning records, Kotoeko earned promotion to the makuuchi division for the July 2018 tournament. He was the first wrestler from Miyazaki Prefecture to reach the top division in 44 years (Kaneshiro being the last in September 1974).[3] His promotion meant Kotoeko had achieved a goal he had set of exceeding his grandfather's highest rank.[7]
Makuuchi Career[]
In his first tournament in the top division he would perform rather poorly, managing only a 3–12 record and being demoted back to the juryo division. Two winning tournaments in September and November 2018 saw him promoted back to the top division. Even after two 7–8 losing records in January and March 2019 he remained at the same rank of maegashira 15 West, and in May he finally got his first winning record in the top division with an 8–7 winning record. He reached the rank of maegashira 7 in September 2019 but faced demotion to juryo after only two wins against thirteen losses in the January 2020 tournament. With a good performance of 11-4 in the March tournament, he secured his return to makuuchi, where he posted a respectable 10 wins in July. He finished the 2020 season with records of 8-7 and 6-9 in September and November.[4]
To begin 2021 he was ranked maegashira 11. That year he posted three losing records and three winning records. After going 9-6 in the May tournament, he was rewarded with the rank of maegashira 4, his highest yet. A 2-13 record in July meant he was demoted to back to maegashira 11. He went 3-12 in the last tournament of the year, leading to a rank of maegashira 17 to start 2022.[4]
Kotoeko defeats Ichiyamamoto (c. 2022)
He started 2022 with back-to-back kachi-koshi, or winning record, in the January and March tournaments. These performances saw him rise to the rank of maegashira 7 for the May tournament. However, a 6-9 record in May, followed a 5-6-4 (with absence due to a COVID-19 outbreak in his stable) record in July and 6-9 record in September saw him demoted to the rank of maegashira 12 ahead of the November tournament. Kotoeko ended the last tournament of 2022 with a 7-8 record, losing to Nishikigi on the final day.[4]
Kotoeko began his 2023 campaign with a ranking of maegashira 13 in the January banzuke. In the first tournament of the year he finished with a 7-8 record, this time losing to Tobizaru on the final day. Later in the year, during the November tournament, he withdrew from the competition after suffering a knee joint injury requiring approximately two weeks of treatment.[8] Since many comments drew attention to the fact that he would a priori not rejoin the competition, it is expected that Kotoeko will lose his maegashira rank and be relegated to juryo for the first time since March 2020. His absence also marks the end of his continuous presence in tournaments, which ranked him seventh among the wrestlers with a streak of consecutive matches.[9]
Kotoeko was forced to withdraw during the November 2023 tournament due to an injury to his left MCL. His withdrawal ended his streak of 1,043 consecutive matches since beginning his career in 2007, not including absences due to unavoidable circumstances such as COVID protocols.[10]
Retirement from Sumo[]
After posting a disastrous 1-14 record In March 2024 which saw him demoted back down to the unsalaried makushita division for the first time since May 2016, Kotoeko announced his retirement in May 2024. He inherited the Oguruma stock in order to remain an elder with the Japan Sumo Association.[11] At his retirement press conference he shared his thanks with those gathered, adding that he had been a sumo wrestler for a long time and so felt a sense of sadness, but had really done his best with his body.[12]
Kotoeko's retirement ceremony was held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on 31 May 2025.[13]
Personal Life[]
- In September 2023, the Japan Sumo Association announced Kotoeko had become engaged.[14]
- Kotoeko was sponsored by the Hirata Higashi Kyushu Hospital (平田東九州病院), which is located in his hometown of Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture.[15]
- Kotoeko's favorite artist is Sukima Switch, his favorite food is chicken nanban (a Nobeoka specialty), his hobby is sleeping, and his favorite manga is Slam Dunk.[16]
- Kotoeko's grandfather Matsueyama was a juryo rikishi.[1]
Fighting Style[]
Kotoeko defeats Akua by yorikiri (force out)
Kotoeko favors a migi-yotsu (right hand inside, left hand outside grip on his opponent's mawashi).[16] His favorite winning kimarite is a straightforward yorikiri, or force out. He also regularly employs oshidashi, or push out, and tsukiotoshi, or the thrust down.[17]
Record[]
Division Results[]
- Total: 531-542-11/1070 (101 basho)
- Makuuchi: 188-238-9/424 (29 basho)
- Juryo: 138-145-2/282 (19 basho)
- Makushita: 84-63/147 (21 basho)
- Sandanme: 87-74/161 (23 basho)
- Jonidan: 26-16/42 (6 basho)
- Jonokuchi: 8-6/14 (2 basho)
Shikona History[]
- Kotokashiwadani Mitsutaka (2007.03 - 2011.01)
- Kotoeko Mitsunori (2011.05 - 2024.05)
Gallery[]
JSA Profile Pictures and Tegata[]
Career Overview[]
(c. 2015)
(c. 2017)
(c. 2018)
(c. 2021)
(c. 2022)
(c. 2025)
External Links[]
- Kotoeko Mitsunori Japanese Wikipedia Article
- Kotoeko Mitsunori Rikishi Information
- Kotoeko Mitsunori JSA Profile Page
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 BBM Sumo September 2014 Issue p. 77
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 BBM Sumo October 2014 Issue p. 83
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Asahi: Kotoeko to become first newcomer to the top division in 44 years from Miyazaki
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Kotoeko Rikishi Information
- ↑ Matsueyama Rikishi Information
- ↑ Nikkan Sports: New juryo Kotoeko: "I can proudly report this to my grandfather"
- ↑ Nikkan Sports: Kotoeko promoted to the makuuchi division
- ↑ Sponichi Annex: Kotoeko will be out of action from the 10th day due to an injury
- ↑ Sponichi Annex: Kotoeko has been absent since the 10th day
- ↑ Nikkan Sports: Kotoeko withdraws from tournament due to left knee injury
- ↑ Sports Hochi: Kotoeko retires, assumes the elder name Oguruma
- ↑ Nikkan Sports: Kotoeko in tears at retirement press conference
- ↑ Sankei Shimbun: Stablemaster Oguruma to hold retirement tournament in May next year
- ↑ Sankei Sports: Makuuchi wrestler Kotoeko engaged, Sumo Association announces
- ↑ Miyanichi: Kotoeko presented with mawashi by Nobeoka supporters' association
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Kotoeko JSA Profile (archived)
- ↑ Kotoeko Kimarite Information