“Long before Kotooshu became the center of attention, back when he was still in the second-tier Juryo Division, I noticed how flexible his body was, and said to myself, ‘He’s going to be a fantastic wrestler.’ He practices hard, and I suppose if he maintains this pace, he’ll be a grand champion before long.”
Yoshio Ishibashi, a member of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, tells Asahi Geino (Oct 6) why he thinks Kotooshu, 22, has the makings of greatness. Referred to as the “Beckham of Sumo “by the media, the handsome Bulgarian, whose real name is Mahlyanov Kaloyan Stefanov, is also charming his female fans.
By winning 12 consecutive matches in his first time at the sekiwake (junior champion) ranking, Kotooshu eclipsed a record set in the 1930s by the late grand champion Futabayama, who, along with Taiho in the 1960s, stood out as one of the greatest grapplers of all time.
“Usually, tall wrestlers tend to be susceptible to ‘morozashi’ holds (a disadvantageous situation in which one’s opponent gets both hands on the inside of the belt), “says sumo authority Mitsuru Miyake. “At 204 centimeters, Kotooshu’s height does give him an advantage in helping him secure a hold on his opponent quickly. But he’s also got the flexibility to defend against ‘morozashi’ holds. I see some of the greatness in him that Taiho had.”
“He hates to lose, even more than (Mongolian yokozuna) Asashoryu, “says a veteran sumo journalist. “If he shows bad form in a bout, back in the dressing room he’ll have a tantrum, punching the wall of the shower. During the July tournament in Nagoya, his stablemaster Sadogatake invited him out to dinner, but he declined.”
Actually, although he denies it, Kotooshu still hasn’t adjusted to Japanese foods such as chanko-nabe (wrestler’s customary stew) and is said to wolf down hamburgers on the sly.
He is also said to be fond of a potent (40% alcohol) Bulgarian beverage. Downing an entire bottle in one sitting gives him a pleasant buzz. While having no shortage of adoring female fans, he is known to favor slender, petite gals of the Julia Roberts variety.
His father, a coach of Greco-Roman wrestling in Bulgaria, initiated him into sport from age nine, and by 14 he had already won a European championship. He had set his sights on participating in the 2000 Olympics, but ironically it was his weight ” over 120 kilograms ” that eliminated him from taking part. Now at 142 kilograms, he is at a suitable weight for professional sumo’s top division. His initial motive for coming to Japan in 2002, incidentally, was to pay for medical costs incurred after his father suffered a serious accident. Afterwards he used his earnings to buy his parents a red Ford.
Despite their belonging to rival stables, he is said to be close friends with 20-year-old Mongolian grappler Hakuho, often exchanging calls via mobile phone.
According to Miyake, the “uwate-nage “(outside the belt arm throw) used by Kotooshu in his victory over Hokutoriki on the 12th day of the just-ended autumn tournament was actually a rarely seen technique called “tsukami-nage.”
“It’s a special skill that hasn’t been seen since before the war, when such greats as Futabayama and Hitachiyama would use it, “he says. “Kotooshu can do this because of his overpowering 120-kilogram grip in both hands, which is so strong that he can crush an apple with his fingers.”
Asahi Geino predicts that stablemaster Sadogatake’s high expectations for Kotooshu may soon result in a change in the young Bulgarian’s “shiko-na, “or professional name, with the “o “in “oshu “to be changed from the kanji meaning “Europe “to one meaning “cherry blossom. “This would be an exceptional honor, since Sadogatake’s own name when he competed as a grand champion was Kotozakura, which used the same character for cherry blossom ” “o “being an alternate reading for “sakura.”
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