Kotoekō Mitsunori

is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Nobeoka, Miyazaki. He is a member of the Sadogatake stable and made his professional debut in March 2007. He reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in July 2018. He retired in May 2024 and inherited the name Oguruma to work as a coach within the Japan Sumo Association.

Early life and sumo background

Born the grandson of former ''juryo'' ''rikishi'' he was introduced to sumo at an early age. He was also attracted to judo at a young age as well participating in it from primary school on up. He led his elementary school to the best eight in judo, and his junior high school team to the Miyazaki prefecture championship. Originally he intended on going to high school as a judo player and wanted to become a cook joining the family restaurant with his father and grandfather after graduation. However he was inspired instead to join professional sumo after observing a practice session held by Sadogatake stable at their Kyushu lodgings.

Career

He would join Sadogatake stable in March 2007 at the age of 15. He weighed just 94 kg and was only 175 cm tall, and his stablemaster was concerned about whether he would be able to gain enough weight. He originally took the ''shikona'' by simply adding the stable's traditional prefix "Koto" to his family name. He took a year from his debut to reach the fourth ''sandanme'' division but there he would hit his first road block. He would spend three years going up and down the ''sandanme'' division before finally reaching the third ''makushita'' division. He would then take the ''shikona'' Kotoekō borrowing the second kanji from his grandfather's name. After another three years bouncing back and forth between the fourth and third divisions and on the back of five straight winning records he was promoted to the second ''juryo'' division. He was the first ''sekitori'' from Miyazaki Prefecture in 32 years, the last being who spent just one tournament in ''juryo'' in January 1982.

He lasted only one tournament in the division, managing only a 5–10 record and being demoted back down to the third division. After a 4–3 winning record at ''makushita'' 1 he was immediately promoted back to the ''juryo'' division. However a 4–11 record saw him again demoted back to the third division. After a year in the ''makushita'' division he got a third chance as a ''sekitori'' in the ''juryo'' division and this time he did get his first winning record of 9–6 to remain in ''juryo''. He became a ''juryo'' mainstay for a year and a half before an 11–4 record gained him promotion to the top ''makuuchi'' division. He was the first wrestler from Miyazaki Prefecture to reach the top division in 44 years (Kaneshiro being the last in September 1974). His promotion meant Kotoekō had achieved a goal he had set of exceeding his grandfather's highest rank.

In his first tournament in the top division he would perform rather poorly, managing only a 3–12 record and being demoted back to the ''juryo'' division. Two winning tournaments in September and November 2018 saw him promoted back to the top division. Even after two 7–8 losing records in January and March 2019 he remained at the same rank of ''maegashira'' 15 West, and in May he finally got his first winning record in the top division with an 8–7 winning record. He reached the rank of ''maegashira'' 7 in September 2019 but faced demotion to ''jūryō'' after only two wins against thirteen losses in the January 2020 tournament. With a good performance of 11-4 in the March tournament, he secured his return to ''makuuchi'', where he posted a respectable 10 wins in July. He finished the 2020 season with records of 8-7 and 6-9 in September and November.

To begin 2021 he was ranked ''maegashira'' 11. That year he posted three losing records and three winning records. After going 9-6 in the May tournament, he was rewarded with the rank of ''maegashira'' 4, his highest yet. A 2-13 record in July meant he was demoted to back to ''maegashira'' 11. He went 3-12 in the last tournament of the year, leading to a rank of ''maegashira'' 17 to start 2022.

Kotoekō started 2022 with back-to-back ''kachi-koshi'' in the January and March tournaments. These performances saw him rise to the rank of ''maegashira'' 7 for the May tournament. However, a 6-9 record in May, followed a 5-6-4 (with absence due to a COVID-19 infection) record in July and 6-9 record in September saw him demoted to ''maegashira'' 12 ahead of the November tournament. He ended the last tournament of 2022 with a 7-8 record, losing to Nishikigi on the final day.

Kotoekō began his 2023 campaign with a ranking of ''maegashira'' 13 in the January ''banzuke.'' In the first tournament of the year he finished with a 7-8 record, this time losing to Tobizaru on the final day. Later in the year, during the November tournament, he withdrew from the competition after suffering a knee joint injury requiring approximately two weeks of treatment. Since many comments drew attention to the fact that he would ''a priori'' not rejoin the competition, it is expected that Kotoekō will lose his ''maegashira'' rank and be relegated to ''jūryō'' for the first time since March 2020. His absence also marks the end of his continuous presence in tournaments, which ranked him seventh among the wrestlers with a streak of consecutive matches.

Kotoekō was forced to withdraw during the November 2023 tournament due to an injury to his left MCL. His withdrawal ended his streak of 1,043 consecutive matches since beginning his career in 2007, not including absences due to unavoidable circumstances such as COVID protocols.

In May 2024 Kotoekō announced his retirement, however inheriting the name Oguruma in order to remain a trainer with the Japan Sumo Association. At his retirement press conference he shared his thanks with those gathered, adding that he had been a sumo wrestler for a long time and so felt a sense of sadness, but had really done his best with his body.

Kotoekō's retirement ceremony was held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan on 31 May 2025.

Fighting style

Kotoekō favoured a ''migiyotsu'' (right hand inside, left hand outside grip on his opponent's ''mawashi''). His favourite winning ''kimarite'' was a straightforward ''oshidashi'', or push out. He also regularly employed ''yorikiri'', or force-out, and ''tsukiotoshi'', or the thrust down.

Personal life

In September 2023, the Japan Sumo Association announced Kotoekō had become engaged.

Career record

See also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of past sumo wrestlers

References

External links

*

Supporters Association website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kotoeko, Mitsunori
1991 births
Living people
Japanese sumo wrestlers
Sumo people from Miyazaki Prefecture
Sadogatake stable sumo wrestlers