Can we get back on track in September? (Photo: Manami Takahashi)
2022,Kotonowaka(24)’s rapid advance does not stop.
The January place won 11 wins and 4 losses, and won the second Fighting Spirit Award. The March place defeated 2 Ozeki and fought for the championship until Chiakiraku with 11 wins and 4 losses. He won the Fighting Spirit Award for the second time in a row. In May, he defeated Ozeki for three consecutive days from the first day, winning 9 wins and 6 losses.
From the first day in July, he defeated Shodai and Mitakeumi in succession. He had to take a break in the middle of the match because someone infected with the new coronavirus appeared in his room, but by the 10th day, he was 7 wins and 3 losses, and he was able to boil the ring once more.
[Related article: Kisenosato, a word from the former “Takanohana” master broke my heart]
His father is former sekiwake Kotonowaka (54). His maternal grandfather is Kotosakura, the 53rd yokozuna of the previous Sadogatake master. In addition to this bloodline, he has a blessed physique. The big organs are awakening.
However, it has not been an easy road from the introduction seven years ago until now. From Saitama Sakae High School, he entered the Sadogatake stable where his father was a teacher, and he raised the ranking to the makushita in the 5th place, but slumped from there.
“After all, people around me talk regarding my predecessor and my master.
However, by changing my thinking, I grabbed the opportunity to make a leap.
“Shortly before I moved up to jūryō, I felt like I had to think regarding my birth in a positive light. I came to be able to take
SekitoriWhen that happened, I was supposed to be given the name ‘Kotonowaka’ by my master, so I decided that I had to make that name my own.
About four years following starting, he was promoted to Juryo. He passed the juryo in four places and entered the tournament in March 2020.then left kneeinjuryEven though he fell to Juryo, he returned to the Makuuchi in one place. For the next two years, he has maintained his makuuchi position.
This year’s May place is the second position in the west front with 9 wins and 6 losses. Normally, it wouldn’t be strange for him to be promoted to three roles, but he wasn’t blessed with “ranking luck” here. And even in the July tournament, which was the second East Maegashira match, the tournament was forced to be closed as it was the last to win. Even though he is close to the third role, he is still out of reach.
“Of course, it was frustrating that the first place was closed. I wanted to win the match, and I wanted to join the fight for the championship. Besides, if I had been able to reach the top or second rank, I would have been promoted to Sanyaku.
It means that you should build up your strength and get a sumo wrestling that can be decided exactly. Of course, I want to go up to sanyaku and catch up with my (former sekiwake) master.”
It is said that there was a certain trigger for the rapid advance this year.
“My left knee, which I injured in the September tournament last year, was so serious that I might have had an operation. So I asked Director Yamada of Saitama Sakae High School to introduce me to a good teacher. I managed to get up to the ring in November.
After that injury, I became afraid to fall behind. Until then, there was a lot of sumo wrestling where you would step back and try to pull back, hit a throw, or “handle” the wrestler. But if I was to do sumo wrestling like that, I would get seriously injured once more.
From there, I started to go forward and attack. The more aggressive you are, the less strain on your knees. I don’t think it’s because of my injuries, but I think my sumo has changed a lot.”
It is said that the presence of juniors in the same room is also important. Kotokatsuho, the eleventh east maegashira who is two years younger than him, has been training with Saitama Sakae High School from the Kashiwa Sumo Boys’ Club for a long time.
“It’s someone who lights the fire. He joined the room two years following me, and Katsumine got promoted to sekitori right following I was promoted. It makes me feel like I can’t lose.”
When asked regarding his hobbies,
“I don’t really have anything to say regarding it. I just watch dramas. I watch NHK’s morning drama ‘Chimu Dondon.’
When asked regarding her favorite female talent, she hesitated for regarding two minutes,
“… Hmmm. All the actresses are pretty, so it’s difficult. When I was asked before, Mio Imada was… But is this really going to be an article?”
Sumo wrestling is my top priority right now. The destination is “Kotozakura”. With his grandfather, who passed away 15 years ago, he has a promise to succeed to the name “Kotozakura” by being promoted to Ozeki.
“First of all, it’s three roles, isn’t it? That’s when we can finally stand on the starting line for inheriting the name of the predecessor. Of course, I hope to fulfill my promise as soon as possible and give a good report to the predecessor.”
A child of sumo, who has sat on his grandfather’s lap since he was a child and watched the training, and tightened the mawashi at the age of two. The day when the cherry blossoms will be in full bloom is near.
Masahiro Kotonowaka
Born November 19, 1997 Born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture 189 cm, 167 kg Sadogatake stable Became a student in October 2015 while attending Saitama Sakae High School. He is the first ring in the November place. New Juryo in July 2019. New curtain at March 2020 place. He won the Fighting Spirit Award three times.The September place is the same as the previous place, the highest rank in the east front
Coordinated by Mitsuhiro Kanemoto
( Weekly FLASH September 27th and October 4th combined issue
)
