[sumo] Fwd: [Sumo news] - Ozeki Kotozakura-what does the future hold?

[Jeff A]

Moto

Best regards,
Jeffrey Anderson
Gaijingai
For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been.
- John Greenleaf Whittier


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Moti Dichne <niramiai at gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 19, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Subject: [Sumo news] - Ozeki Kotozakura-what does the future hold?
To: Sumo Newsletter2 <sumo-newsletter2 at googlegroups.com>


Article by Masato Shibata

An Ozeki, the second-highest rank in sumo , is expected to perform as a
serious rival for the highest-ranked Yokozuna. Double-digit wins are
generally considered a passing grade, while single-digit wins are often
mockingly referred to as "hachinana" (8 wins, 7 losses) or "kunroku" (9
wins, 6 losses). Kotozakura the lone Ozeki has recorded 8-7 in the last
three consecutive basho. He has been  the lone Ozeki since Nagoya. This
year, in his first basho of the year, where he was on a Yokozuna run, he
recorded a dismal 5-10 record, placing him in his first kadoban status. He
narrowly escaped kadoban by winning eight matches in the following Haru
basho, but he has continued to win eight matches in three consecutive basho
from that basho to Nagoya. He has barely managed to maintain a winning
record, and it's undeniable that the cheers are dwindling with each passing
tournament. He's hardly considered a favorite to win the Aki basho.
However, if he can follow the same path as his senior Ozeki who found
himself in a similar situation in the past, he may be able to recover and
pave the way to victory in the future.

Kotozakura's current record of eight wins in three consecutive tournaments
as an Ozeki is a rare feat not seen in the sumo world for around 13 years.
The previous one to do it was ex-Kotoshougiku,  - Hidenoyama Oyakata.  For
Kotozakura, he was a senior rikishi who spent time with him at Sadogatake
beya from 2015, when he joined the heya, until Kotoshougiku retired in 2020
. Kotoshougiku was promoted to Ozeki after the Aki basho in 2011 and had a
solid start, getting kachikoshi for five consecutive basho from the
following one, including three with double-digit wins. However, during the
Aki basho in 2012, his sixth basho after promotion, he suffered an injury
to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee, resulting in a
significant drop in his performance with a record of 2 wins, 2 losses, and
11 absences. Starting with the following Kyushu basho, he only managed to
win eight in three consecutive basho. Kotoshougiku was a rikishi who
excelled at using his left hand to thrust forward and then went for the
grabbing and pushing out, but the left knee injury reduced the lower body
strength that supported the power of his signature moves. In addition, the
fact that there were many talented rikishi of equal or higher rank at the
time, including two Yokozunae (Hakuhou and Harumafuji) and four Ozeki
(Kakuryuu, Kisenosato, Kotoshouhou and Kotoshougiku), also hindered his
success. However, in the May 2013 basho, he showed his presence for the
first time in a long while, winning 11 matches. It is said that his
recovery was due to the fact that he had acquired his kabu (elder stock)
before the tournament, which gave him a clear idea of what he would do
after retirement, and that he was inspired by the success of his rivals,
including Kisenosato, who competed for the yusho until the final day. Despite
suffering from numerous injuries, including a torn right pectoral muscle
and a left anterior tibialis tendon strain, Kotoshougiku maintained his
Ozeki rank and achieved his first yusho (14 wins, 1 loss) in the 2016 Hatsu
basho. While this was ultimately his only yusho of his career, the fact
that he was the first Japanese-born wrestler to win the Emperor's Cup in 10
years moved many fans.

Kotozakura and Kotoshougiku share several common points, including the fact
that they belong to the same heya. Both have a history of injuries to their
left knees, and their streak of eight wins in three tournaments began in
the seventh tournament after their promotion to Ozeki. If that's the case,
he'll likely be hoping to achieve around 11 wins in Aki, just like
Kotoshougiku, and make a comeback.

ex-Kotoshougiku also seems to be quite concerned about Kotozakura's current
situation, according to Tokyo Sports WEB. As reported by the magazine, he
said of his former heyamate, "I get the impression that he's thinking too
much and his body isn't moving. In the past, he would hit his opponent
heavily and apply pressure, and he was good at using the flexibility of his
upper body to wrap around his opponent with thrusts. Now he's too focused
on form and only uses his finesse, so he doesn't really take advantage of
his weight. Kotozakura's true strengths have disappeared." He went on to
offer his encouragement, saying, "I want him to focus on just doing his own
sumo without worrying about winning or losing or form. The audience also
comes to see sumo that is unique to Kotozakura. One good bout can be the
catalyst that changes the flow of things, as often happens in sumo. I hope
he can quickly regain the feeling he had when he was at his best."

Kotozakura achieved double-digit wins in five of the six tournaments last
year, winning his first yusho at the Kyushu tournament (14 wins, 1 loss)
and recording the most wins of the year (66 wins, 24 losses). There is no
doubt that he possesses high-level skills, so we hope to see him show off
the strength that has been absent so far in the coming Aki basho.

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