Kotozakura Returns, Onosato Makes Historic Rise in Sumo Rankings

Kotozakura Returns to the Sumo Ring

After a 50-year absence, the esteemed name of Kotozakura has reappeared on the ranking list for a grand sumo tournament. Ozeki Kotonowaka has taken on the name of his renowned grandfather and yokozuna, Kotozakura, for this month's Summer tournament. The new characters boldly fill the ozeki slot on the west side of the rankings released on Tuesday.

"It's an odd feeling," Kotozakura said at a press conference while clad in a pink kimono, a homage to the "sakura" in his new name. "I'm determined to go ahead with the notion that this is my sumo name."

When Kotozakura was in elementary school, his grandfather set the condition that he could take the name if he reached the rank of ozeki.

"I'm glad I could fulfill the criteria," Kotozakura said. "Regardless of the name, I want to catch up to my grand predecessor," a reference to reaching the top rank of yokozuna.

The original Kotozakura was the previous Sadogatake stablemaster, and his son, the former sekiwake Kotonowaka and the new Kotozakura's father, is the current stablemaster.

Onosato's Meteoric Rise

In other ranking news for the Summer tourney that starts May 12 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, Onosato got promoted to komusubi, reaching the sanyaku – the three ranks below yokozuna – in just his sixth tournament since turning pro, the second fastest pace since the Showa era.

The 23-year-old's hair has finally grown long enough to be tied in a top knot, which he sported at a press conference. "I'm happy I reached my goal of making it [into the sanyaku] at an early stage of my career," Onosato said.

New Faces in Makuuchi

Two wrestlers will be making their debuts in the uppermost makuuchi division. Tokihayate, at maegashira No. 15, is the first debutant from Miyagi Prefecture in 27 years, while Mongolian No. 14 maegashira Oshoma is the first out of the Naruto stable established in 2017.