Kotofuji Takaya

Kotofuji Takaya - 琴富士孝也 (born October 28, 1964) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Chiba City, Chiba. He made his debut in March 1980 and wrestled for Sadogatake stable. He reached the makuuchi division in September 1988 and has two special prizes, two kinboshi and one top division championship. His highest rank was sekiwake and he retired in September 1995.

Early Life[]

Kobayashi was born in Hanamigawa Ward in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture. He attended Makuhari Junior High School and inches third year, he was recruited by Sadogatake oyakata (the 53rd yokozuna Kotozakura). Upon graduating junior high school, he joined Sadogatake stable.

Career[]

Early Career[]

He made his debut in March 1980 and wrestled under the shikona "Kotoosugi" (琴大杉). He was promoted to sandanme in July 1981 and makushita in November 1982. He initially could not establish himself in makushita, and it was not until September 1983, when he won the sandanme yusho, that he became a makushita regular. He changed his shikona to "Kotofuji" (琴富士) in November 1986 and four tournaments later he was promoted to juryo in November 1986.

Juryo Career[]

Kotofuji struggled in his juryo debut and finished with a 6-9 record and was demoted back down to makushita. He immediately returned to juryo in March 1987 and posted a 9-6 record. In May 1988 he finished with an 11-4 record, but missed out on the juryo yusho after losing to Hidenohana in a playoff. Nevertheless, he followed with a 9-6 record in July which earned him a promotion to makuuchi.

Makuuchi Career[]

He reached the top makuuchi division in September 1988, scoring 11 wins in his top division debut and receiving a share of the Fighting Spirit prize. He made his san'yaku debut at sekiwake in July 1990 but held the rank for only one tournament. He earned his first gold star in January 1991 with a win over Onokuni.

Screen Shot 2021-04-27 at 4.32.52 PM — Kotofuji celebrates after winning the July 1991 championship

Kotofuji is best remembered for his extraordinary performance in the Nagoya tournament of July 1991, where he became the first maegashira to win the tournament championship in nearly six years. After a poor 5-10 record at maegashira 7 the previous tournament he was ranked at maegashira 13, and fought only his fellow maegashira for the first nine days. Winning all those bouts, he was paired against ozeki Kirishima, yokozuna Asahifuji and ozeki Konishiki on days 10 to 12 - and won all of those matches too. It was the first time he had defeated either Asahifuji or Konishiki. His yusho was confirmed the following day when he defeated sekiwake Takatoriki to go to 13–0, with no else scoring better than ten. He became the first wrestler ranked below ozeki to win the championship by Day 13 since the introduction of 15-day tournaments. Although he was beaten by Takahanada on Day 14, he defeated Akebono on the final day to finish with an outstanding 14–1 record, two wins clear of runner-up Konishiki on 12–3. Both yokozuna, Asahifuji and Hokutoumi had poor tournaments, turning in scores of 8-7 and 9–6, the worst ever for a tournament with two yokozuna. Kotofuji received his second Fighting Spirit prize as well as the Emperor's Cup. He was as surprised as anyone else at his win, telling an interviewer for Channel 4 that he had just wanted the tournament to be over as soon as possible as he felt sure he wouldn't make it.

Later Career[]

Kotofuji never approached anything like those heights again. He scored only 4-11 at komusubi in the following tournament and never made san'yaku again. After a series of poor results he was demoted to the second juryo division in 1994 and announced his retirement from sumo in September 1995.

Retirement from Sumo[]

583d8993875bd1e5c5edb7b75635a3c3 — Kotofuji after retirement (c. 2019)

He became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, under the name of Kumegawa Oyakata, but he had to leave the sumo world in July 1999 when his toshiyori name was needed by his retiring former stablemate Kotoinazuma. Because his career as an oyakata had lasted less than four years, he was not entitled to any retirement money. Kotofuji then launched a new career as a television personality, doing reporting and sportscasting. He was a member of Konishiki's talent agency. He also worked as a manager of one of ex-sekiwake Takatoriki's yakiniku restaurants.

In February 2014 he was arrested for engaging in a fake marriage to a Korean national so she could receive permanent resident status. He was sentenced to one year and six months and three years probation. After he was released, he was worked jobs on construction sites and restaurants. He is now employed at a rehabilitation center where he teaches children suffering from developmental disabilities and autism.

Personal Life[]

During the short stay of Canadian wrestler Kototenzan at Sadogatake stable, Kotofuji was one of the few wrestlers who attempted to communicate with him in English.

Kotofuji currently operates a YouTube channel called "琴富士チャンネル" which as of 2020 has over four thousand subscribers.

Fighting Style[]

Kotofuji was a yotsu-sumo wrestler, preferring a hidari-yotsu, (right hand outside, left hand inside) grip on his opponent's mawashi. His most common winning kimarite was yori-kiri, a straightforward force out, which accounted for half his victories at sekitori level, but he was also fond of using his right hand grip to win by uwatenage, or overarm throw. His height of 192 cm made him amongst the tallest wrestlers but his weight of 145 kg was not much more than most of his competitors.