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Kotomisen Koki

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Kotomisen Koki - 琴弥山 幸基 (born July 14, 1983) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Izumo, Shimane. He made his debut in March 1999 and wrestled for Sadogatake stable. He reached the juryo division in July 2013. His highest rank was juryo 12 and he retired in March 2018.

Early Life[]

Koki Yumura was born on July 14, 1983, in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture. He became interested in sumo during in elementary school when he observed Mainoumi training during a regional tour. After graduating from Izumo City Municipal Daisan Junior High School, he was solicited by Sadogatake Oyakata (the 53rd yokozuna Kotozakura). At first, his parents wanted him to continue his high school education, but were eventually persuaded by Sadogatake and agreed to let him pursue sumo.[1]

Career[]

Early Career[]

He made his debut in March 1999 alongside Takamisakari, Hamanishiki, Wakakoyu, Chiyohakuho, and Kirinowaka. In his jonokuchi debut, he changed his shikona from his family name to "Kotomisen" (琴弥山). He gradually worked his way up the ranks and earned promotion to sandanme in January 2002. It would be another two years before Kotomisen would be a sandanme regular as he spent most of his time in the jonidan division during 2002 and 2003. After becoming a sandanme regular, Kotomisen remained in sandanme for around three years before earning promotion to the third highest division of makushita in May 2007.[2]

Kotomisen 2008

Kotomisen prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2008)

Kotomisen scored a 2-5 in his makushita debut and would not return back to makushita until May 2008. Even then, Kotomisen produced another 2-5 record and was demoted back down to sandanme. It was not until May 2010 when Kotomisen would finally produce consistent scores which kept him in the third highest division. After four consecutive winning records, Kotomisen was promoted to makushita 6 for the September 2011 tournament. This was the first time Kotomisen was placed in the top 10 of the makushita division, which is widely regarded as the most competitive area of the lower divisions. With Kotomisen's lack of experience in the upper makushita level, he produced a 1-6 record and was relegated back to the upper-mid makushita level. After five consecutive winning records Kotomisen was promoted to makushita 2 for the May 2013 tournament. On the fourteenth day, Kotomisen's record was 3-3 and was put to the test with juryo-ranked wrestler Kitaharima. He defeated Kitaharima by hikiotoshi (pull down) which was his 300th career win and also secured promotion to juryo for the July 2013 tournament.[2]

Juryo Career[]

It took Kotomisen 85 tournaments—over 14 years—to reach juryo, making it the fourth-longest time to achieve a juryo promotion, tying him with his former stablemate Kotonomine.[3] In Kotomisen's juryo debut, he lost his first three matches and struggled throughout the tournament. He finished with a 6-9 record and was demoted back down to makushita for the September 2013 tournament.[2]

Kotomisen immediately secured promotion back to juryo for the November 2013 tournament after producing a 4-3 record at the rank of makushita 2 in the previous September 2013 tournament. In his return, Kotomisen struggled immensely and lost his first eight matches. He finished with a poor 4-11 record and fell back down to the unsalaried makushita division for the January 2014 tournament. This would be his last time fighting as a sekitori.[2]

Later Career[]

After demotion from juryo, Kotomisen suffered three straight losing records and became a makushita regular for the majority of his later career. Kotomisen remained in the upper-half of makushita for around three years before falling to the lower echelon of makushita by 2017. In November 2017, Kotomisen fell down to sandanme for the first time since March 2010. During the November 2017 tournament, he was on the verge of winning his first division championship until he lost to new up-and-comer Tomokaze on the final day. In his return to makushita, Kotomisen lost his first five bouts and pulled out of the tournament. He was demoted to sandanme for the following March 2018 tournament where he produced a lackluster 2-5 record.[2]

Retirement from Sumo[]

Kotomisen and Izumo Mayor

Kotomisen meets with the mayor of Izumo to discuss his retirement decision (c. 2018)

After finishing with a make-koshi, or losing record, in sandanme for the March 2018 tournament, Kotomisen announced his retirement on March 24, 2018.[4] "I learned the importance of patience in the sumo world" was the words that Kotomisen used when describing his sumo career. He cited that he was struggling with neck and ankle injuries and that he had reached his limit in his 19 year sumo career.[5] His favourite memory was of fighting Wakakoyu (now Shiranui-oyakata) each time, because they both made their debut in the same basho, 1999 Haru.[6]

His danpatsu-shiki, or retirement ceremony, was held on June 3 at the Lapita Wedding Palace in his hometown of Izumo, with around 250 people in attendance.[7] After retiring, Kotomisen returned to his hometown of Izumo, saying, “I want to become a bridge to the heya for people who want to do sumo.”[8] Furthermore, he works in the "daily life"-department of the Izumo headquarters of JA Shimane, which also runs the Lapita Wedding Palace.[6]

Personal Life[]

  • Kotomisen is a local celebrity in his hometown of Izumo, Shimane Prefecture. He was supported by the local Izumo koenkai, or support group, and they supplemented him with a kesho-mawashi.[9] Furthermore, Kotomisen personally knows the mayor of Izumo, Hideto Nagaoka, and visited him on May 22, 2018, to directly address his retirement decision.[8]
  • In the September 2012 tournament, Kotomisen defeated Wakaryusei by oshidashi (force-out) and while he was walking down the dohyo, he accidentally slipped and fell on Sanoyama Oyakata (former ozeki Chiyotaikai). He suffered no injury and after apologizing to the Oyakata, he preceded as usual.[10]

Fighting Style[]

Kotomisen Fighting Style 2

Kotomisen defeats Takanoyama by oshidashi (push out)

Kotomisen was an oshi-sumo specialist and preferred thrusting and slap down attacks rather than fighting on the mawashi. Most of Kotomisen's wins came from oshidashi (front push out), hatakikomi (slap down), and yorikiri (force out).[11]

Record[]

Division Results[]

  • Total: 397-403-7/799 (114 basho)
  • Juryo: 10-20/30 (2 basho)
  • Makushita: 171-184-2/355 (51 basho)
  • Sandanme: 124-107/231 (33 basho)
  • Jonidan: 77-84/161 (23 basho)
  • Jonokuchi: 15-8-5/22 (4 basho)

Achievements[]

  • Record: 4th Slowest progress to the juryo division (85)

Shikona History[]

  • Yumura Koki (1999.03 - 1999.03)
  • Kotomisen Koki (1999.05 - 2018.03)

Gallery[]

JSA Profile Pictures and Tegata[]

Career Overview[]

External Links[]

References[]

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