Kotogatake Koichi

Kotogatake Koichi - 琴ヶ嶽 綱一 (born September 24, 1952) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Teshikaga, Hokkaido. He made his debut in November 1967 and wrestled for Sadogatake stable. He reached the makuuchi division in July 1976. His highest rank was maegashira 1 and he retired in March 1984.

## **Early Life**

Takeuchi was born in the town of Teshikaga in Hokkaido to farmers. He did manual labor from a young age such as delivering milk which gave him a solid foundation for sumo. He began sumo wrestling during his third year at junior high school. After graduating, he moved to Tokyo and joined Sadogatake stable to become a professional sumo wrestler.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He made his professional debut in November 1967 at the age of 15 and was given the shikona Kotomidori. He was promoted to sandanme in May 1969 and makushita in July 1970. In May 1973, Kotomidori won the makushita yusho and was promoted to the upper ranks of makushita. He was promoted to juryo in Janaury 1974.

### **Juryo Career**

Kotomidori's first stint in juryo only lasted two tournaments and he was demoted back down to makushita in May 1974. He changed his shikona to Kotogatake in May 1975 and was promoted back to juryo in November 1975. There, he posted four consecutive winning records and was promoted to makuuchi in July 1976.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Kotogatake's first juryo run only lasted two tournaments and he was demoted back down to juryo in November 1976. He returned to makuuchi in January 1977 after winning the juryo yusho in the previous tournament. In his return, Kotogatake produced a career-best 11-4 record and was promoted to the rank of maegashira 1. However, he followed with two consecutive 3-12 records and was demoted back down to juryo in September 1977. He managed to return to makuuchi for one tournament in March 1978 where he produced a 6-9 record.

### **Later Career**

He remained in juryo for another two years before falling down to makushita in March 1980. After losing his elite sekitori status, he reverted his shikona back to Kotomidori. He returned to juryo in January 1982 and changed his shikona back to Kotogatake. His last juryo appearance was in March 1983 and he announced his retirement after the March 1984 tournament. He never withdrew from a tournament and wrestled 965 consecutive matches.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Shiratama. He left the Sumo Association in March 1995. After leaving, he returned back to his hometown of Teshikaga, Hokkaido, and became a staff member at the town hall.

## **Fighting Style**

Kotogatake was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favored a hidari-yotsu (right hand outside, left hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). His most common kimarite was yorikiri, or force out. He was also fond of employing uwatenage, or overarm throw, and tsuridashi, or lift out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 493-472-1/965 (99 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 36-54/90 (6 basho)
* **Juryo:** 208-227/435 (29 basho)
* **Makushita:** 172-135-1/307 (44 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 45-32/77 (11 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 27-22/49 (7 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Juryo** Championship (January 1977)
* 1 **Makushita** Championship (May 1973)

## **Shikona History**

* Takeuchi (1967.11 - 1967.11)
* Kotomidori (1968.01 - 1971.05)
* Kotomidori Koichi (1971.07 - 1975.03)
* Kotogatake Koichi (1975.05 - 1980.01)
* Kotomidori Chikao (1980.03 - 1981.11)
* Kotogatake Koichi (1982.01 - 1984.03)

## **Gallery**

Kotogatake (right) after re-promotion to Juryo (c. 1975)Kotogatake poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1976)Kotogatake poses with his kesho-mawashi (c. 1979)Kotogatake serves as Ozeki Kotokaze's flag bearer (c. 1983)Kotogatake cartoonKotogatake after retirement as Shiratama Oyakata (c. 1986)
## **Sources**

* Kotogatake Koichi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Kotogatake Koichi Rikishi Information