JAPAN: Towering Bulgarian rises to second highest rank in the traditional Japanese world of sumo

Bulgarian wrestler Kotooshu accepted the promotion to "ozeki" (pronounced OH-ZEH-KEE) on Wednesday (November 30), making him the first European to reach the sport's second-highest rank. 22-year old Kotooshu, (pronounced KOH-TOH-OH-SHOO) whose ring name means "European harp", is also the first sumo wrestler to be promoted to the rank since 2002 and is the fifth foreign born person to receive the title. Kotooshu, whose real name is Kaloyan Mahlyanov, has appeared in 19 tournaments since his debut in November 2002, and according to Japanese media, has become the quickest to occupy a spot in the ozeki rank since 1958 when sumo switched to the current system of having six tournaments a year. Mongolian Asashoryu (pronounced AH-SAH-SHO-RYU), currently wrestling in the highest rank of "yokozuna" (YOH-KOH-ZOO-NAH), held the previous record of 22 tournaments. Kotooshu was virtually assured of his place in the ozeki rank after finishing the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday (November 27) with an 11-4 record following his impressive showings of 12-3 and 13-2 in the previous two tournaments. Kotooshu also received the Outstanding Performance Prize and the Fighting Spirit Prize for his strong showing in Fukuoka. Kotooshu captivated sumo fans in the September tournament where he knocked out higher-ranking wrestlers and looked set to capture the championship, only to lose it to Asashoryu in the final bout. The Bulgarian -- called the "Beckham of sumo" by Japanese media -- has since become a national sensation, with TV shows running specials programmes on him and even interviewing his parents in Bulgaria. Foreign wrestlers wearing traditional Japanese loin cloths with their hair in samurai-like top knots battling it out on the professional sumo ring are nothing new, but their countries of origin have diversified recently. Sumo may even soon witness its first wrestler with a blond top knot, when Baruto - meaning "Baltic" in Japanese - from Estonia, grows his hair long enough. Professional sumo has a total of 58 foreign-born wrestlers from 12 countries, ranging from nearby South Korea to as far as Brazil, and the latest additions are mostly from Eastern Europe. The pioneer was American Jesse Kuhaulua, who entered the sumo world in 1964 and fought under the name Takamiyama (TAH-KAH-MEE-YAH-MAH), opening the way for fellow Hawaiians in the first wave of foreign invasions in the 1980s. Mongolians have since replaced the Americans as the leading foreign presence with 34 wrestlers, followed by six Chinese and five Russians. Many young Japanese are reluctant to enter the rigid world of sumo and officials said they expected more Europeans, especially those from countries were wrestling is popular, to be knocking on sumo's door for a chance to rise to fame and make a fortune. Kotooshu was a Bulgarian wrestling champion aspiring to compete in the Olympics, but had to give up his dream after rule changes limited wrestlers to be under 120 kg (265 lb). At a towering 2.04 metres (6 ft 8 in), he now weighs 143 kg. While sumo watchers agree that the allergy to foreign wrestlers has worn off, the sport's professional body still has limits on the number of grapplers from abroad, which it says is aimed at maintaining the traditions of the "national sport". Sumo stables, where wrestlers live and train under a master, can only have one foreign wrestler.

ITN Source | December 2, 2005

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