page_title: Kotoōshū Katsunori
section_title: Naruto Stable
hierarchical_section_title: Kotoōshū Katsunori / Naruto Stable
caption_attribution_description: 日本語: 部屋前で集合写真。 English: Group photo of sumo wrestlers of Naruto stable with Naruto elder Andō Karoyan (Kotoōshū Katsunori).
context_page_description: Kotoōshū Katsunori is a former professional sumo wrestler or rikishi. He made his debut in 2002, reaching the top division just two years later. In 2005, he reached the rank of ōzeki or 'champion', the second-highest level in the sumo ranking system behind only yokozuna. On May 24, 2008, Kotoōshū made history by becoming the first European sumo wrestler to win an Emperor's Cup. He was one of the longest serving ōzeki in sumo history, holding the rank for 47 consecutive tournaments until November 2013. In January 2014 Kotoōshū obtained Japanese citizenship, a requirement of becoming an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, and he announced his retirement during the following tournament in March. In April 2017 he opened his own training stable, Naruto.
context_section_description: Andō Karoyan (Kotoōshū) opened his own stable of wrestlers, Naruto stable (鳴戸部屋 Naruto-beya) in April 2017. He is the first European-born sumo wrestler to run his own stable and the third wrestler born outside Japan. His title is sumo elder Naruto Katsunori. The stable started with three wrestlers, including a 20-year-old Bulgarian junior wrestling champion. Having studied training theory at Nippon Sport Science University following his retirement, he was keen to develop his own training methods based on his sumo experience and studies at both Bulgarian and Japanese universities.
caption: Kotoōshū (Andō Karoyan) with wrestlers from Naruto stable
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