Former ozeki Kotoshogiku, the oldest active sumo wrestler at 36, has decided to retire, it was learned Saturday.
He is expected to submit his retirement documents to the Japan Sumo Association, and his succession to the toshiyori (status as an elder) name Hidenoyama is likely to be approved in the coming days.
Kotoshogiku, who made his first appearance in the ring at the 2002 New Year tourney, generated forceful pushes from a low center of gravity to earn a promotion to ozeki after the 2011 autumn basho.
He competed against former yokozuna Kisenosato (now stable master Araiso), whose first appearance in the ring would come one tournament later the same year, and brought life to the dohyo in the Heisei era (1989 -2019).
While foreign-born wrestlers such as those from Mongolia were thriving, Kotoshogiku didn't notch his first tournament championship until 2016 at 31 years 11 months, when he captured the title as an ozeki. That title run made him the first Japanese wrestler to win the Emperor's Cup in 10 years.
He subsequently suffered a knee injury that ended his 32-basho run at the ozeki rank at the close of the New Year tourney in 2017.
After dropping down to the hiramaku ranks, he continued to be active and amassed 718 wins in the makuuchi division, placing him sixth on the all-time list.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
.png?w=600)
