Bushozan Kotaro

Bushozan Kotaro - 武将山 虎太郎 (born December 6, 1995) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaraki. He made his debut in January 2014 and currently wrestles for Fujishima stable. He reached the juryo division in March 2021 and the makuuchi division in March 2023. His highest rank as of 2023 is maegashira 14.

## **Early Life**

Kotaro Fujiwara began wrestling in the second year of elementary school at a local dojo where ozeki Musoyama (his future stablemaster) trained at also. He participated in national competitions since elementary school and finished 3rd in the All Japan Elementary School Sumo Championship in his 6th year of elementary school.

After graduating from junior high school, he went on to attend Saitama Sakae High School which was known for its strong sumo program. He won the group championship during the National High School Sumo Tournament and he made the top 5 in the individual competition during his third year. He also served as the captain of the Saitama Sakae sumo club. After graduating from high school he joined Fujishima stable on December 19th, 2013, because Fujishima Oyakata was also from Mito, Ibaraki.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He initially wrestled under his surname "Kotaro" (虎太郎) and he breezed through the bottom three divisions. He spent only one tournament in jonokuchi and jonidan and two tournaments in sandanme. He was promoted to makushita in November 2014. In July 2015 he went winless and briefly fell back down to sandanme before returning back to makushita. In January 2016 he participated in an eight-man playoff for the makushita yusho after producing a strong 6-1 record, but he lost in the first round to Tochimaru.

In May 2018, he changed his shikona from his family name to "Bushozan" (武将山). After the shikona change he began producing more consistent results and spent more time in the top quarter of makushita. In September 2019 he withdrew from the tournament on the fourth day due to cellulitis, but returned on the eleventh day. In November 2020 he was ranked at makushita 4 and he defeated juryo-ranked Ikioi on the last day to finish with a 4-3 record. As a result he was promoted to makushita 2 in January 2021 where he defeated juryo-ranked Ryuko on the last day to finish with another 4-3 record. He was promoted to juryo for the following March 2021 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

Bushozan was the first sekitori produced by Fujishima oyakata (former ozeki Musoyama) and the first sekitori from Fujishima stable in five years. In his juryo debut, Bushozan finished with a 7-8 record. He followed with a 10-5 record and was promoted to juryo 8 in July 2021. He followed with three consecutive 8-7 records and was promoted to the top of juryo for the January 2022 tournament, but he finished with a disastrous 2-13 record, his worst record since Match 2018. In January 2023, he was promoted back to the top of juryo and this time finished with a 9-6 record which earned him a promotion to the top division.

### **Makuuchi Career**

In March 2023 he was promoted to the top makuuchi division for the first time. He is the first wrestler from Fujishima stable to reach the top division since Tsurugidake in November 2011. However, he finished with a poor 5-10 record in his makuuchi debut and was demoted back down to juryo. He returned back to makuuchi in July 2023 but could only muster out three wins in the tournament and was regulated back down to juryo again.

## **Fighting Style**

Bushozan is a oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common kimarite used was a straightforward oshidashi, or push out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 287-252-3/538 (59 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 8-22/30 (2 basho)
* **Juryo:** 120-105/225 (15 basho)
* **Makushita:** 131-118-3/248 (36 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 17-4/21 (3 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Kotaro Masamichi (2014.01 - 2018.03)
* Bushozan Kotaro (2018.05 - )

## **Gallery**

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

Bushozan Kotaro - 2023 (Retrieved from the JSA)Bushozan Kotaro - 2022 (Retrieved from the JSA)Bushozan Kotaro - 2021 (Retrieved from the JSA)Bushozan Kotaro - 2021 (Retrieved from the JSA)Bushozan's Tegata
### **Career Overview**

Bushozan gets recruited into Fujishima stable (c. 2014)Bushozan gets measured upon joining professional sumo (c. 2014)Bushozan defeats Ryuko to ensure promotion to Juryo (c. 2021)Bushozan after promotion to Juryo (c. 2021)Bushozan gifted with his new kesho mawashi (c. 2021)Bushozan pushes out Oho (c. 2021)Bushozan defeats Kagayaki (c. 2022)Bushozan prepares for his upcoming match (c. 2023)Bushozan defeats Takarafuji (c. 2023)Bushozan after promotion to Makuuchi (c. 2023)
## **Sources**

* Bushozan Kotaro Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Bushozan Kotaro Rikishi Information