Bushōzan Kotarō (Japanese: 武将山 虎太郎, born 6 December 1995 as Kotaro Fujiwara (藤原 虎太郎, Fujiwara Kotarō)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Mito, Ibaraki. His debut in maezumō was in January 2014. His highest rank has been maegashira 12.
| Bushōzan Kotarō | |
|---|---|
| 武将山 虎太郎 | |
 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Kotaro Fujiwara 6 December 1995 Mito, Ibaraki |
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Weight | 170 kg (370 lb; 27 st) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Fujishima |
| Current rank | see below |
| Debut | January 2014 |
| Highest rank | Maegashira 12 (September 2024) |
| * Up to date as of 26 November 2023. | |
Early life
editFujiwara was an accomplished sumo wrestler from a young age. He would first start sumo in his second year of elementary school after joining a sumo club run by the father of ōzeki Musōyama.[1] In the fourth year he would even be involved in the retirement ceremony for the ōzeki.[2] In his sixth year of elementary he would progress to the point of getting third in the All-Japan Elementary School Sumo Tournament. After middle school Fujiwara would attend the prestigious high school sumo program of Saitama Sakae High School. In his second year there he would win the National high school selection sumo tournament, and in his third year while captaining the team would finish top 5 in the same competition.
Career
editAfter high school in January 2014, he would join Fujishima stable to be under the guidance of his mentor Musoyama. He would make his debut under the name Kotaro (虎太郎) alongside the likes of Ichinojō, Tsurugishō, and Takakentō. He would make a quick work of the three lowest division and would debut in makushita by the end of the year. In July 2015 he would suffer a 0-7 make-koshi record that would see him demoted back to sandanme but, after finishing with a 5–2 record would immediately be promoted back up. In January 2016 he participated in an eight-man playoff for the makushita yūshō 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 Bushōzan (武将山). After the shikona change he began producing more consistent results and spent more time in the top quarter of makushita. After 4-3 kachi-koshi in January 2021 at makushita 2 would see him promoted to the sekitori ranks of jūryō. His promotion made him the first sekitori produced by his stablemaster Musōyama and the first for his stable in five years. He would record a 7-8 make-koshi record in his debut in jūryō but would retain his same rank for the following basho. He would follow this up with a 10-5 kachi-koshi record and from there steadily rise up the ranks. In January 2022 at a career high rank of jūryō 1 he would start the basho with ten straight losses before finally getting a win on day 11, he would then lose three more bouts before winning on the final day to finish 2–13, his worst record since March 2018.
In March 2023 he was promoted to the top makuuchi division for the first time.[3] He is the first wrestler from Fujishima stable to reach the top division since Tsurugidake in November 2011.[4]
Fighting style
editBushōzan is an oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. His most common kimarite used was a straightforward oshi-dashi, or push out.
Career record
edit| Year | January Hatsu basho, Tokyo |
March Haru basho, Osaka |
May Natsu basho, Tokyo |
July Nagoya basho, Nagoya |
September Aki basho, Tokyo |
November Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | (Maezumo) | West Jonokuchi #15 6–1 |
East Jonidan #25 5–2 |
East Sandanme #87 6–1 |
West Sandanme #27 6–1 |
West Makushita #45 4–3 |
| 2015 | West Makushita #36 3–4 |
East Makushita #45 3–4 |
West Makushita #55 4–3 |
West Makushita #45 0–7 |
West Sandanme #20 5–2 |
West Makushita #56 4–3 |
| 2016 | East Makushita #47 6–1–P |
East Makushita #20 4–3 |
West Makushita #14 3–4 |
West Makushita #19 3–4 |
West Makushita #28 4–3 |
East Makushita #23 3–4 |
| 2017 | East Makushita #29 4–3 |
West Makushita #25 4–3 |
West Makushita #19 4–3 |
West Makushita #15 2–5 |
East Makushita #30 4–3 |
West Makushita #24 4–3 |
| 2018 | East Makushita #19 3–4 |
East Makushita #26 1–6 |
East Makushita #56 4–3 |
East Makushita #46 5–2 |
West Makushita #29 5–2 |
East Makushita #19 4–3 |
| 2019 | East Makushita #15 3–4 |
East Makushita #21 4–3 |
West Makushita #15 5–2 |
East Makushita #9 3–4 |
East Makushita #13 1–3–3 |
East Makushita #35 5–2 |
| 2020 | West Makushita #23 4–3 |
East Makushita #18 3–4 |
West Makushita #22 Tournament Cancelled 0–0–0 |
West Makushita #22 5–2 |
West Makushita #10 5–2 |
East Makushita #4 4–3 |
| 2021 | East Makushita #2 4–3 |
East Jūryō #14 7–8 |
East Jūryō #14 10–5 |
East Jūryō #8 8–7 |
West Jūryō #5 8–7 |
West Jūryō #3 8–7 |
| 2022 | West Jūryō #1 2–13 |
West Jūryō #9 6–9 |
West Jūryō #10 9–6 |
West Jūryō #6 8–7 |
West Jūryō #4 8–7 |
West Jūryō #2 8–7 |
| 2023 | West Jūryō #1 9–6 |
West Maegashira #14 5–10 |
East Jūryō #3 10–5 |
West Maegashira #16 3–12 |
West Jūryō #5 9–6 |
East Jūryō #2 10–5 |
| 2024 | West Maegashira #16 4–11 |
East Jūryō #5 9–6 |
East Jūryō #2 9–6 |
West Maegashira #16 8–7 |
East Maegashira #12 4–11 |
West Maegashira #17 1–6–8 |
| Record given as wins–losses–absences Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) |
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "埼玉栄・藤原、藤島部屋に入門！親方「不器用だが魅力がある」". SANSPO.COM. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "平成26年初場所 全新弟子名鑑". 相撲 (雑誌) (2014年2月号). ベースボール・マガジン社: 115.
- ^ Bissell, Tim (27 February 2023). "Sumo's latest rankings: Big promotions for Tobizaru and Daieisho, Tochinoshin relegated to Juryo". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
- ^ "2023 March Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics". Japan Sumo Association. 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Bushōzan Kotarō Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
External links
edit- Bushōzan Kotarō's official biography (English) at the Grand Sumo Homepage