Kotoshōgiku Kazuhiro
Kotoshōgiku Kazuhiro (Japanese: 琴奨菊 和弘, born 30 January 1984 as Kazuhiro Kikutsugi (菊次 一弘, Kikutsugi Kazuhiro) in Yanagawa, Fukuoka) is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler. Wrestling for Sadogatake stable, he made his professional debut in 2002, and reached the top division in 2005. In 2011 he achieved the standard for promotion to the second highest rank of ōzeki by winning 33 bouts over three tournaments, and was formally promoted by the Japan Sumo Association on 28 September.
| Kotoshōgiku Kazuhiro | |
|---|---|
| 琴奨菊 和弘 | |
Kotoshōgiku in 2013 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Kazuhiro Kikutsugi 30 January 1984 Yanagawa, Fukuoka, Japan |
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 186 kg (410 lb; 29 st 4 lb) |
| Web presence | website |
| Career | |
| Stable | Sadogatake |
| Record | 828-676-41 |
| Debut | January, 2002 |
| Highest rank | Ōzeki (November, 2011) |
| Retired | November 2020 |
| Elder name | Hidenoyama |
| Championships | 1 Makuuchi 1 Jūryō |
| Special Prizes | Technique (4), Outstanding Performance (3) |
| Gold Stars | 3 Harumafuji Kisenosato Hakuho |
| * Up to date as of October 25, 2020. | |
On 24 January 2016 he became the first Japanese-born wrestler in ten years to win a top-division tournament. He had a long-standing rivalry with Kisenosato against whom he fought a record 66 times, the most between two wrestlers in sumo history. He continued to fight after losing his ōzeki rank in January 2017, and in March 2020 became the oldest active sekitori. He announced his retirement from active competition on 14 November 2020. Kotoshōgiku earned seven special prizes in his career, won one top division tournament, and was runner-up in three others.