Kotokuzan Taro - 荒篤山 太郎 (born March 11, 1994) is a Filipino-Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Yokohama, Kanagawa. He made his debut in September 2009 and currently wrestles for Arashio stable. He reached the makuuchi division in March 2022. His highest rank as of 2025 is maegashira 16.
Early Life[]
Jasper Kenneth Arboladura Terai was born on March 11, 1994, and is half-Japanese (paternal) and half-Filipino (maternal). He was born in Makati, Philippines, and raised in Santa Rosa, Laguna, by his grandmother, Malod, because his mother, Catherine, was working in Japan at the time.[1]
He watched sumo on TV from a young age and was inspired to become a sumo wrestler. He never knew his biological father, and was adopted by his Japanese step-father Yasunori. He subsequently moved to Japan at the age of 11. He attended Tokaichiba Junior High School in Yokohama for three years, but struggled because he had trouble reading kanji. Because of this, he was worried he could not get into a good high school, so his step-father, Yasunori, recommended he join sumo as an alternative.[1]
Career[]
Early Career[]
He joined Arashio stable in September 2009 and was the youngest new recruit at the age of 15 and was given the shikona "Kotokuzan" (荒篤山). He was promoted to the sandanme division in September 2011 and remained in the division for four years until reaching makushita in November 2014. He did not establish himself in makushita until November 2016. He gradually rose through the ranks and in January 2018 he reached past the top quartile of makushita and was wrestling in the sekitori-promotion-zone for the first time in his career.[2]
Kotokuzan prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2020)
In January 2019, Kotokuzan produced a strong 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 8 and was promoted to makushita 2 in March. In this tournament he wrestled against juryo-level wrestler Takanosho, but lost. He struggled throughout this tournament and lost his first six matches. In January 2021 he was promoted to the rank of makushita 3, but was forced to sit out of the tournament after his stable had a COVID-19 outbreak prior to the start of the tournament. Luckily he did not suffer a lost in rank and in the following tournament he defeated juryo-ranked wrestler Nishikigi on the 3rd day. He later defeated juryo-ranked Bushozan on the eighth day to clinch his fourth win. He finished the March 2021 tournament with a 4-3 record and was promoted to the top of makushita in May 2021. There, he finished with a strong 5-2 record and was promoted to juryo in July 2021, after twelve years in the unsalaried ranks.[2]
Juryo Career[]
Kotokuzan struggled in his first tournament as a sekitori and finished with a poor 4-11 which resulted in a fall back down to makushita for the September 2021 tournament. Nevertheless, he immediately returned to juryo in November 2021. He finished with a strong 11-4 record in his return to the salaried ranks and followed with a 10-5 record in January 2022 which earned him a promotion to makuuchi in March 2022.[2]
Makuuchi Career[]
In his top division debut, Kotokuzan finished with a 7-8 record, but remained in makuuchi for the May 2022 tournament. He produced a disastrous 2-13 record in May 2022 and was demoted back down to juryo for the July 2022 tournament. For the remainder of 2022, Kotokuzan posted modest results. At the start of 2023, he finished with two consecutive 4-11 records, and was demoted back down to makushita for the May 2023 tournament.[2]
Later Career[]
While in makushita, Kotokuzan fell into a slump, producing three consecutive losing records and was demoted to the rank of makushita 14 by the November 2023 tournament. He rebounded with four consecutive 4-3 records and was promoted to the rank of makushita 3 in July 2024. During the July 2024 tournament, Kotokuzan was unable to capitalize on a promotion back to juryo after losing his exchange match to Chiyosakae on the final day to finish with a 3-4 record. In January 2025, Kotokuzan returned to the rank of makushita 2, but failed to return to juryo again after losing his exchange match to Shimazuumi. Nevertheless, in the May 2025 tournament, while ranked at makushita 4, Kotokuzan secured his fifth win by defeating juryo-ranked Miyanokaze on the final day, earning a promotion back to the juryo division after 14 tournaments away.[3]
Personal Life[]
- Aside from Japanese, Kotokuzan speaks fluent Tagalog.[1]
- Prior to tournaments, Kotokuzan's mother, Catherine, prepares him and his stablemates Filipino food. His favorite food is sinigang (a Filipino stew characterized by its sour and savory taste) and he claims it fuels him for the upcoming tournament.[1]
- Kotokuzan's favorite movie series is Fast and Furious and his favorite artist is AK-69.[4]
Fighting Style[]
Kotokuzan defeats Daishomaru by tsukidashi (thrust out)
Kotokuzan is an oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common kimarite used was a straightforward oshidashi, or push out.[5]
Record[]
Division Results[]
- Total: 364-348-12/712 (93 basho)
- Makuuchi: 9-21/30 (2 basho)
- Juryo: 56-64/120 (8 basho)
- Makushita: 163-147-12/310 (46 basho)
- Sandanme: 100-82/182 (26 basho)
- Jonidan: 32-31/63 (9 basho)
- Jonokuchi: 4-3/7 (1 basho)
Shikona History[]
- Terai Taro (2009.09 - 2009.09)
- Kotokuzan Taro (2009.11 - 2021.03)
Gallery[]
JSA Profile Pictures and Tegata[]
Career Overview[]
See Also[]
External Links[]
- Kotokuzan Taro Japanese Wikipedia Article
- Kotokuzan Taro Rikishi Information
- Kotokuzan Taro JSA Profile Page