Kotooshu Resumes Training

[Cammy]

The KKan with no dohyo-

Kotooshu needs to stop looking at the sun it is bad for the eyes (Punk rocker...)

[hoshidango]

Boy his dad looks quite tall, too! Mom does't look very short either...

[Odoriou]

Boy his dad looks quite tall, too! Mom does't look very short either...

Especially on this photo...

(On the banzuke...)

[Guest Takanohanakoji]

There was a 2 minutes report of Kotooshu this morning on CNN International. As always they characterize him as the "Beckham of Sumo". They mention his success in this sport of Japanese tradition and his ambition to become the first European Yokozuna. In addition, they explain how this traditional sport is loosing its momentum in Japan and that Koto and Asa are the rising foreign stars against the Japanese rikishi. Two interesting things:1/ the embassador of Bulgaria says that he is now no2 embassador in japan behind Koto. 2/ The CEO of Daimler Chrysler in Japan says that they will probably advertise Sumo because of Koto and the new European rikishi who are coming.

[Guest Takanohanakoji]

There also was an article on Yahoo News about Kotooshu on Yahoo News on his new ability to find GirlFriends since his quick promotion in the sumo arena:

"Sumo is rarely known for its sex appeal, but for Kotooshu, a Bulgarian-born superstar in Japan, the women never came after him until he took up the sport.

"I wasn't popular at all," the boyish-looking 22-year-old confided with a smile Tuesday when asked if he had female admirers before.

Kotooshu, whose real name is Mahlyanov Kaloyan Stefanov, made sumo history last month by becoming the first European to reach the second-highest rank of "ozeki" in the sport with a more than 2,000-year history.

A towering 204 centimeters (six foot, eight inches) tall but weighing an unusually lean 145 kilograms (319 pounds), he raced up the ranks deploying his comparatively lean physique against the famously plump sumo wrestlers.

Despite being dubbed by Japanese media the David Beckham of sumo, the wrestler said he never thought he looked like the glam boy of English football.

"I am an ordinary guy," he told reporters, while conceding his popularity could be because of the "smile on my face".

The Sadogatake stable to which Kotooshu belongs says practice sessions are booked with fans until the end of January.

"There are lots of inquiries from women. Judging from their voices, many of them are in their 20s," a stable official said.

Kotooshu has also been called Bulgaria's best-known export after yoghurt -- and held the news conference Tuesday to promote a yoghurt by Meiji Dairies.

Kotooshu, who made his debut in Japan in November 2002, has reached the rank of ozeki quicker than anyone since 1958 when the sport introduced the current tournament style".

We shall all try to become celebrities!

[Fay]

There also was an article on Yahoo News about Kotooshu on Yahoo News on his new ability to find GirlFriends since his quick promotion in the sumo arena:

"Sumo is rarely known for its sex appeal, but for Kotooshu, a Bulgarian-born superstar in Japan, the women never came after him until he took up the sport.

"I wasn't popular at all," the boyish-looking 22-year-old confided with a smile Tuesday when asked if he had female admirers before.

Kotooshu, whose real name is Mahlyanov Kaloyan Stefanov, made sumo history last month by becoming the first European to reach the second-highest rank of "ozeki" in the sport with a more than 2,000-year history.

A towering 204 centimeters (six foot, eight inches) tall but weighing an unusually lean 145 kilograms (319 pounds), he raced up the ranks deploying his comparatively lean physique against the famously plump sumo wrestlers.

Despite being dubbed by Japanese media the David Beckham of sumo, the wrestler said he never thought he looked like the glam boy of English football.

"I am an ordinary guy," he told reporters, while conceding his popularity could be because of the "smile on my face".

The Sadogatake stable to which Kotooshu belongs says practice sessions are booked with fans until the end of January.

"There are lots of inquiries from women. Judging from their voices, many of them are in their 20s," a stable official said.

Kotooshu has also been called Bulgaria's best-known export after yoghurt -- and held the news conference Tuesday to promote a yoghurt by Meiji Dairies.

Kotooshu, who made his debut in Japan in November 2002, has reached the rank of ozeki quicker than anyone since 1958 when the sport introduced the current tournament style".

We shall all try to become celebrities!

Hmmmmm, nobody was there when I went to Sadogatake a few months ago, but perhaps I only had eyes for Kotonowaka (I am not worthy...)

[Avitohol]

Yesterday Kotooshu was elected fourth by the bulgarian sports journalists in the annual top ten of the "Best Sportsman of Bulgaria" survey. (Scratching chin...)

In front of him were only: #1 Vesselin Topalov - world chess champion - 2005, #2 Nikolay Gergov - world & european champion in greko-roman wrestling for 2005 and #3 Armen Nazaryan - twice olympic champion and 3 times world champion - the last world title won this year, again in greko-roman wrestling. (Eating...)

He was missing from the ceremony because he's preparing in Japan for the forthcoming tournament.

Placing him so high up the ranks, shows how quickly popularity of sumo has increased in Bulgaria. :-P

A year ago, almost nobody knew anything about sumo or Kotooshu. (Laughing...)

[iwokayama]

Former oyakata Sadogatake was nominated from some bulgarian journalists for koach of the year.

[Jakusotsu]

Former oyakata Sadogatake was nominated from some bulgarian journalists for koach of the year.

(Laughing...) What?! Above Stoichkov? (Scratching chin...)

[Kaikitsune Makoto]

Bulgarians visits to sumoforum have increased a lot in the last 10 months or so.

Kotooshu was scolded by Sadogatake-oyakata. Old sailor mentality was heard (Wakanohana did 100 bouts per keiko! etc.). Kotooshu had shrunk 1cm at official measurement session. He had 14 bouts with rikishi and won 12 but gave up morozashi to Kotomitsuki at least twice and was scolded. He has also been busy with ozeki life.

[Otokonoyama]

More on Koto'oshu in the Xmas eve edition of The Daily Yomiuri.

[Kintamayama]

Another pic from Keiko:

Kotooushuu's mother had a "heart desease" (doesn't say what nature) and was hospitalized two days after returning to Bulagaria. "She collapsed two days after returning. She was in the hospital during Christmas and New Years", he said. "She is better now and leaving the hospital today, " he added, relieved.

Edited January 3, 2006 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

Osh's new kesho with the sea nymph: