Kotoryu Hiroo

Kotoryu Hiroo - 琴龍 宏央 (born March 2, 1972) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Takasago, Hyogo. He made his debut in March 1987 and last wrestled for Sadogatake stable. He reached the makuuchi division in July 1996 and has 1 special prize as well as 3 kinboshi. His highest rank was maegashira 1 and he retired in May 2005.

## **Early Life**

Katsumi Nakano was born in Takasago, Hyogo, but he later moved to Ishikawa, Chiba, as a child. He came from a family of sumo wrestlers and decided to join Sadogatake stable after graduating junior high school in March 1987.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He initially wrestled under the shikona "Kotonakano" (琴中野) before switching to "Kotoryu" (琴龍) in March 1993. After several years in jonidan he was promoted to sandanme in January 1990 and makushita in March 1991. In March 1992 he produced a 6-1 record and participated in an eight-man playoff for the makushita yusho, but he lost in the last round to Narimatsu. In May 1994 he produced a strong 5-2 record at the rank of makushita 1 which earned him a promotion to juryo in the following May tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Kotoryu could only manage 6 wins in his juryo debut and was demoted back down to makushita. After four tournaments in the unsalaried ranks he returned to the juryo division in May 1995. He produced three winning records in his return to juryo after a series of strong performances he was promoted to makuuchi in July 1996.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Kotoryu was ranked in the top division for 51 tournaments over a period of nine years, earning three kinboshi, or gold stars, for defeating yokozuna. He also received one sansho for Fighting Spirit. He was a regular in the upper maegashira ranks but he was never able to earn promotion to san'yaku. He came back from a number of injuries that sent him down to the juryo division, winning the only yusho or tournament championship of his career in that division March 2002 with a 12–3 record which earned him promotion back to makuuchi. He finally retired in May 2005 at the age of 33.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He had been suffering from liver problems and diabetes and lost some 20 kg (44 lb) in weight, and felt he had reached his physical limit. At his retirement press conference he said the most memorable bout of his career was his upset of yokozuna Musashimaru in January 2000. In a match lasting two minutes he won by yorikiri or force out despite being outweighed by 80 kg (180 lb).

After retirement Kotoryu stayed on as a coach at his stable for a short time under his fighting name, but he was unable to acquire permanent toshiyori, or elder status and so left the sumo world in April 2006, to help with his father's business.

## **Personal Life**

* Kotoryu's hobbies are baseball, surfing, computers, collecting sneakers and watches, and playing the guitar.

### **Family**

Kotoryu comes from a family with a long background in sumo. His father, Junichi Nakano, was a sumo wrestler who wrestled in Izutsu stable from 1966 to 1970. His shikona was "Tendo" (天童) and his highest rank was makushita 16. His great grandfather wrestled under the shikona "Chidorigawa" (千鳥川) for Osaka sumo. Kotoryu's grandfather participated in amateur sumo.

## **Fighting Style**

Kotoryu used both tsuki/oshi (pushing and thrusting) and yotsu (grappling) techniques. His preferred grip on the mawashi was hidari-yotsu, with his right hand outside and left hand inside his opponent's arms. Among his favorite kimarite were uwatenage (overarm throw) and tsuridashi (the lift out). However, he most often won with yorikiri (the force out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 591-576-77/1164 (109 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 325-378-62/700 (51 basho)
* **Juryo:** 80-55-15/135 (10 basho)
* **Makushita:** 86-61/147 (21 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 34-29/63 (9 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 54-44/98 (14 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 12-9/21 (3 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **Special Prizes:** Fighting Spirit Prize (1)
* **Kinboshi:** 3: (2) Takanohana, (1) Musashimaru

## **Shikona History**

* Kotonakano Katsumi (1987.03 - 1993.01)
* Kotoryu Hiroo (1993.03 - 2005.05)

## **Gallery**

### **JSA Profile Pictures and Tegata**

Kotoryu Hiroo - 1997 (Retrieved from the JSA)Kotoryu's tegata
### **Career Overview**

Kotoryu after promotion to Makuuchi (c. 1996)Kotoryu (center) wins a sansho prize (c. 1997)Kotoryu battles his opponent (c. 1998)Kotoryu awaits his upcoming matchKotoryu battles stablemate Kotonishiki in Canada (c. 1998)Kotoryu announces his retirement (c. 2005)Kotoryu's retirement ceremony (c. 2005)
## **Sources**

* Kotoryu Hiroo Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Kotoryu Hiroo Rikishi Information