Kotomisen Koki

Kotomisen Koki - 琴弥山 幸基 (born July 14, 1983) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Izumo, Shimane. He made his debut in March 1999 and wrestled for Sadogatake stable. He reached the juryo division in July 2013. His highest rank was juryo 12 and he retired in March 2018.

## **Early Life**

Koki Yumura was born in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture. He became interested in sumo during his elementary school days when he observed Mainoumi training during a jungyo tour (regional tour). He attended Izumo City Municipal Daisan Junior High School and after graduating from junior high school, he was solicited by Sadogatake Oyakata (former 53rd yokozuna Kotozakura). At first his parents wanted him to continue his high school education, but they were later persuaded by Sadogatake Oyakata and agreed.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

Yumura made his debut in March 1999 alongside Takamisakari, Hamanishiki, Wakakoyu, Chiyohakuho, and Kirinowaka. In his jonokuchi debut, he changed his shikona from his family name to Kotomisen. He gradually worked his way up the ranks and earned promotion to sandanme in January 2002. It would be another two years before Kotomisen would be a sandanme regular and he spent most of his time in the jonidan division for the 2003 and 2004 tournaments. After becoming a sandanme regular, Kotomisen remained in sandanme for around three years before earning promotion to the third highest division of makushita in May 2007.

Kotomisen scored a 2-5 in his makushita debut and wouldn't return back to makushita until May 2008. Even then, Kotomisen produced another 2-5 record and was demoted back down to sandanme. It wasn't until May 2010 when Kotomisen would finally produce consistent scores which kept him in the third highest division. After four consecutive winning records, Kotomisen was promoted to makushita 6 for the September 2011 tournament. This was the first time Kotomisen was placed in the top 15 of the makushita division, which is widely regarded as the most competitive area of sumo. With Kotomisen's lack of experience in the upper makushita level, he produced a 1-6 record and was regulated back to the upper-mid makushita level. After five consecutive winning records Kotomisen was promoted to makushita 2 for the May 2013 tournament. On the fourteenth day, Kotomisen's record was 3-3 and was put to the test with juryo-ranked wrestler Kitaharima. He defeated Kitaharima by hikiotoshi (pull down) which was his 300th career win and also secured promotion to juryo for the July 2013 tournament.

### **Juryo Career**

It took Kotomisen 85 tournaments (over 14 years) to reach Juryo which was the fourth longest rise to juryo promotion. In Kotomisen's juryo debut, he lost his first three matches and struggled throughout the tournament. He finished with a 6-9 record which is not as disappointing as other juryo debuts, but since he was ranked at the bottom of juryo (juryo 14 west), demotion back to the unsalaried makushita division was guaranteed.

Kotomisen immediately secured promotion back to juryo after producing a 4-3 record at the rank of makushita 2 in the September 2019 tournament. In his return, Kotomisen struggled immensely and lost his first eight matches. He finished with a disastrous 4-11 record and fell back down to the unsalaried makushita division. This would be his last time fighting as a sekitori.

### **Later Career**

After demotion from juryo, Kotomisen suffered three straight losing records and became a makushita regular for the majority of his later career. Kotomisen remained in the upper-half of makushita for around three years before falling to the lower echelon of makushita in 2017. In November 2017, Kotomisen fell down to sandanme for the first time since March 2010. He was on the verge of winning his first divison championship until he lost to new up-and-comer Tomokaze on the final day. In his return to makushita, Kotomisen lost his first five bouts and pulled out of the tournament. He was demoted to sandanme for the following tournament and produced a lackluster 2-5 record.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

After producing a losing record in sandanme for the March 2018 tournament, Kotomisen announced his retirement on March 25th, 2018. "I learned the importance of patience in the sumo world" was the words that Kotomisen used when describing his sumo career. He cited that he was struggling with neck and ankle injuries and that he had reached his limit in his 19 year sumo career. His favourite memory is of fighting Wakakoyu (now Shiranui-oyakata) each time, because they both made their debut in the same basho, 1999 Haru. His danpatsu-shiki, or hair-cutting ceremony, was held on June 3rd in the local Lapita Wedding Palace located in his hometown of Izumo.

Kotomisen lives in Izumo now: "I want to become a bridge to heya for people who want to do sumo." Furthermore, he works in the "daily life"-department of the Izumo headquarters of JA Shimane, which also runs the Lapita Wedding Palace.

## **Personal Life**

* Kotomisen is a local celebrity in his hometown of Izumo, Shimane Prefecture. He is supported by the local Izumo koenkai, or support group, and they supplemented him with a kesho-mawashi. Furthermore, Kotomisen personally knows the mayor of Izumo, Hideto Nagaoka, and visited him on May 22nd, 2018, to directly address his retirement decision.
* In the September 2012 tournament, Kotomisen defeated Wakaryusei by oshidashi (force-out) and while he was walking down the dohyo, he accidentally slipped and fell on Sanoyama Oyakata (ex-ozeki Chiyotaikai). He suffered no injury and after apologizing to the Oyakata, he preceded as usual.
* Kotomisen's hobbies include going to the amusement park.

## **Fighting Style**

Kotomisen is a oshi-sumo specialist and prefers to thrusting and slap down attacks rather than fighting on the mawashi. Most of Kotomisen's wins come from oshidashi (front push-out), hatakikomi (slap-down), and yorikiri (force-out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 397-403-7/799 (114 basho)
* **Juryo:** 10-20/30 (2 basho)
* **Makushita:** 171-184-2/355 (51 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 124-107/231 (33 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 77-84/161 (23 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 15-8-5/22 (4 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **Record: 4th** Slowest progress to the juryo division (85)

## **Shikona History**

* Yumura Koki (1999.03 - 1999.03)
* Kotomisen Koki (1999.05 - 2018.03)

## **Gallery**

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

Kotomisen Koki - 2013 (Retrieved from the Nihon Sumo Kyokai)Kotomisen Koki - 2013 (Retrieved from the Nihon Sumo Kyokai)Kotomisen's tegata
### **Career Overview**

Kotomisen after promotion to Juryo (c. 2013)Kotomisen returns to his hometown (c. 2013)Kotomisen presented with his kesho-mawashi (c. 2013)Kotomisen defeats Nionoumi (c. 2013)Kotomisen during the Juryo dohyo-iri (c. 2013)Kotomisen informs his hometown mayor of his retirement (c. 2018)Kotomisen's retirement ceremony (c. 2018)Kotomisen donates his kesho-mawashi to his hometown (c. 2018)
## **Sources**

* Kotomisen Koki Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Kotomisen Koki Rikishi Information