Kotonowaka Ozeki Promotion

[Godango 983]

NSK Instagram Post confirming the promotion officially. 

Translation via Deepl:

"Today, 31 January, a banzuke organisation meeting and a special board meeting for the March tournament was held, at which the promotion of Kotonowaka to ozeki was decided.

The ozeki promotion ceremony will take place later."

[Kintamayama 45,099]

The Kotozakura name will be implemented in May. "I want to be Kotonowaka as an Ozeki at least for one basho," he exclaimed.  ""I peaked as Kotonowaka at Sekiwake, so as a father and as the shisho, I am very grateful for this," said Sadogatake Oyakata. 

Edited January 31, 2024 by Kintamayama

[Jakusotsu 5,965]

14 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

The Kotozakura name will be implemented in May.

He better not be kadoban then.

[sahaven111 176]

Seems like a rather strange decision... has an Ozeki ever changed their name like that before?

[Kintamayama 45,099]

[yorikiried by fate 2,027]

This is a weird idea and from a Graph keeper perspective I don't approve.

[Yamanashi 3,840]

43 minutes ago, sahaven111 said:

Seems like a rather strange decision... has an Ozeki ever changed their name like that before?

I dunno, let's see if Oho gets to Ozeki and we can ask him.

[Morning 79]

That's a nice gesture.

[Godango 983]

 

 

Video of the ceremony on NSK's YouTube channel. 

[Akinomaki 40,440]

6 months younger and 4 basho earlier promoted to ozeki than grandad. He will stick to the teachings of granddad, injuries to be cured by keiko. Messengers Nishonoseki outgoing riji Hanakago with ani-deshi Kotooshu (Naruto), acceptance phrase "With the feeling of gratitude, I'll endeavour on the path of ozumo" 感謝の気持ちをもって、相撲道に励んでまいります

o

Edited January 31, 2024 by Akinomaki

[Seiyashi 4,082]

2 hours ago, yorikiried by fate said:

This is a weird idea and from a Graph keeper perspective I don't approve.

I think it's sweet. He wants his dad's shikona to be associated with the rank of ōzeki at least once. 

[dingo 1,263]

50 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

injuries to be cured by keiko.

First reaction: 

Second reaction : I really hope that's just words to please the traditionalists and not his real intent. 

[Akinomaki 40,440]

Mainichi was a bit hasty and they haven't hidden all errors - the caption for this: Kotozakura and with ozeki promotion confirmed from Kotonowaka changed to Kotozakura - the pic is not displayed on the page, but was still in the code

o

in the published version on another page, it is correct - he has shown the intention to change

o

[RabidJohn 1,779]

12 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

He will stick to the teachings of granddad, injuries to be cured by keiko.

That's not the same as 'gambarizing', which I take to mean carrying on regardless (à la Endo).

My dad suffered a 'slipped disc' around about the time Kotozakura was active. I remember him being practically immobilised with a plaster cast around his waste.

When I had the same thing in the late 90s, they sent me to a physiotherapist, who gave me exercises to do.

Physiotherapy boils down to 'treating an injury through training', so maybe Kotozakura was actually way ahead of his time.

Or maybe I'm just huffing the copium...

Edited January 31, 2024 by RabidJohn

[Asashosakari 19,309]

The short list of modern-era ozeki who changed their shikona at the rank (given-name-only changes not included):

Onogawa 小野川 -> Toyokuni 豊國 after his second tournament as ozeki
Wakanohana 若ノ花 -> 若乃花 after his seventh
Sadanoyama 佐田の山 -> 佐田乃山 after his sixth, back again after his tenth
Kitanofuji 北の冨士 -> 北の富士 after his sixth
Maenoyama 前乃山 -> 前の山 after his second
Takanohana 貴ノ花 -> 貴乃花 after his 30th, 貴乃花 -> 貴ノ花 after his 34th
Wakashimazu 若島津 -> 若嶋津 after his fourth
Takanohana 貴ノ花 -> 貴乃花 after his tenth
Wakanohana 若ノ花 -> 若乃花 after his seventh
Kotooshu 琴欧州 -> 琴欧洲 after his fifth
 

[Sokkenaiyama 81]

35 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

The short list of modern-era ozeki who changed their shikona at the rank (given-name-only changes not included):

Onogawa 小野川 -> Toyokuni 豊國 after his second tournament as ozeki
Wakanohana 若ノ花 -> 若乃花 after his seventh
Sadanoyama 佐田の山 -> 佐田乃山 after his sixth, back again after his tenth
Kitanofuji 北の冨士 -> 北の富士 after his sixth
Maenoyama 前乃山 -> 前の山 after his second
Takanohana 貴ノ花 -> 貴乃花 after his 30th, 貴乃花 -> 貴ノ花 after his 34th
Wakashimazu 若島津 -> 若嶋津 after his fourth
Takanohana 貴ノ花 -> 貴乃花 after his tenth
Wakanohana 若ノ花 -> 若乃花 after his seventh
Kotooshu 琴欧州 -> 琴欧洲 after his fifth
 

These are for the most part cosmetic, and very superficially so, i.e. there's not even a kanji meaning change, just replacing it with a slightly different or more obscure variant. The only remotely similar case, I suspect, is the first one, but the rationale is probably not the same (the Doitsubase doesn't yield any previous Toyokuni).

That being said, I agree with Jakusotsu above, i. e. that Koto-the-younger is possibly exposing his granddad's great name to kadoban from the get-go (even though I think he's good enough to at least get 8, injury notwithstanding). Overall, still a nice story, I guess.

Also, the resemblance between Koto the 3rd and the young Zakura is uncanny. At least from that angle.

[Tsuchinoninjin 1,269]

Kitanofuji 北の冨士 -> 北の富士 

I thought that 冨→富 was a weird one but there seems to be a somewhat standard if not well known saying for this.

If you have some wealth (冨 wealth) it will compound over time and finally bloom into a great estate (家　house) so they take the top of 家 and put it there 富

So going from 冨 to 富 means a maturation of something great, even if it is just the addition of the smallest mark.

It makes me feel like current oyakata are lacking in their kanji lore :D

[dingo 1,263]

I guess if he goes kadoban the he can still delay the name change for one basho, just to be sure he's not bringing shame on granddad...

[Kintamayama 45,099]

Hey, how about some positivity here? The nice guy makes a major move upwards (with the Yokozuna actually participating, and even taking the yusho..) and we're speculating on what happens if he is kado-bound? Let's send him some good vibes and discuss the bad things if and when they happen. Peace and love.

Edited January 31, 2024 by Kintamayama

[Fashiritētā 181]

Kotonowaka has never been in trouble (Abi  , Asanoyama , Ryuden).

Let’s enjoy that fact and support him , there doesn’t always have to be drama/issues in Sumo.

Looking forward to another great Basho in March with a nice size sanyaku.

[dingo 1,263]

You're both right, and I am totally happy for him. We have a new exciting ozeki and it seems like he hasn't hit the peak of his potential yet, so it's good times! I sincerely hope he has a long tenure at the top ranks and provides challenging competition for the other ozeki and yokozuna. 

[Hoshotakamoto 258]

Good for him. 25 years is a long time to work on that Sekiwake to Ozeki promotion.

[Akinomaki 40,440]

NiTele news had a live broadcast from the press conference at the heya, but not on their international YT channel. Bilibili has it: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1jK42117MZ/

Also on the Fuji TV Mezamashi8 YT channel - for a while, it seems - I can't find anything even with a VPN for Japan

Edited January 31, 2024 by Akinomaki

[Benihana 1,929]

14 hours ago, yorikiried by fate said:

This is a weird idea and from a Graph keeper perspective I don't approve.

Looks like you've been *insertyournamehere*.

[serge_gva 52]

On 31/01/2024 at 16:06, dingo said:

I guess if he goes kadoban the he can still delay the name change for one basho, just to be sure he's not bringing shame on granddad...

Reasonably speaking, is tarnishing the name of a rikishi who has never won a single tournament and never reached the rank of Ozeki really something to be feared?