Kotokaze Kōki

{{short description|Japanese sumo wrestler (born 1957)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox sumo wrestler | image = File:Yokoduna Keiko Soken-2 (cropped).jpg | caption = Kotokaze in May 2017 | native_name = 琴風豪規 | name = Kotokaze Kōki | birth_name = Koichi Nakayama | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1957|4|26}} | birth_place = Mie, Japan | height = {{height|meters=1.84}} | weight = {{convert|173|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | heya = Sadogatake | rank = | record = 561-352-102 | debut = July, 1971 | highestrank = Ōzeki (November, 1981) | retireddate = November, 1985 | eldername = Oguruma | yushos = 2 (Makuuchi) 1 (Jūryō) 1 (Makushita) | prizes = Outstanding Performance (3) Fighting Spirit (2) Technique(1) | goldstars = 6 Kitanoumi (3) Mienoumi Wajima Wakanohana II | update = August 2012 }}

'''Kotokaze Kōki''' (born 26 April 1957 as '''Koichi Nakayama''') is a former sumo wrestler from Tsu, Mie, Japan. Beginning his career in 1971, he reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in 1977 but after a serious injury in 1979 he fell greatly in rank before staging a comeback. His highest rank was ''ōzeki,'' which he reached in 1981. He won two tournament championships and was a runner-up in two others. He won six special prizes and six gold stars for defeating yokozuna. He retired in 1985 and became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association and the head coach of Oguruma stable.

==Career== Scouted by the 53rd ''Yokozuna'' Kotozakura, he joined Sadogatake stable in July 1971. He was only 14 years old and still at junior high school, and in his early days in the ''jonidan'' division he was excused from fighting some matches to attend school, not travelling to the regional tournaments and fighting only on Sunday in the Tokyo ones. He reached the ''sekitori'' level in November 1975 upon promotion to the second highest ''jūryō'' division and in January 1977 he made his debut in the top ''makuuchi'' division. He got as far as ''sekiwake'' before suffering a severe injury to his left knee joint which forced him to miss several tournaments and plunge all the way down to the unsalaried ''makushita'' division. He made his way back to the top division in just one year. By March 1981 he had returned to sekiwake and in September 1981 he captured his first tournament championship with a 12–3 record, finishing one win ahead of ''yokozuna'' Wakanohana II. He was immediately promoted to sumo's second highest rank of ''ōzeki''. For a brief period in January 1982 he was the only ''ōzeki'' on the ''banzuke'', a rare occurrence not seen again until 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/852/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209161442/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/852/|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 February 2022|title=Expecting the unexpected at the 2020 New Year Tournament|date=30 Jan 2020|work=NHK World|access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref> He took his second championship in January 1983 with a 14–1 score, beating Asashio in a playoff. In September 1984 he defeated a newcomer to the division who was in contention for the tournament title, the gigantic Konishiki, in a mammoth two-minute struggle on the final day. Kotokaze later recalled this bout as his most memorable ever. In May 1985 he suffered another serious injury, this time to his right knee, and he decided to retire in November 1985 at the age of twenty eight.

==After retirement== Kotokaze became an elder of the Sumo Association under the name Oguruma-''oyakata''. In 1987 he left Sadogatake to set up his own Oguruma stable. He gives all of his new recruits ''shikona'' with the suffix "kaze" (wind), taken from his own fighting name. The first wrestler from the stable to achieve ''sekitori'' status was {{ill|Tomikaze Satoru|lt=Tomikaze|ja|富風悟}} in July 2000. As of March 2019, Oguruma stable has produced six wrestlers with top division experience, Takekaze, Yoshikaze, Kimikaze, Amakaze, Yago and Tomokaze. Another, Wakakirin, (who originally came from a different stable) was dismissed from the Sumo Association because of cannabis use in February 2009. Oguruma was demoted from his post in the Sumo Association as a result. In despair he briefly considered closing his stable, but was told by Yoshikaze that he would retire if Oguruma was no longer his stablemaster.<ref name="hochi">{{cite web|url=https://hochi.news/articles/20190912-OHT1T50331.html?page=1|title=【尾車親方・特別寄稿】引退・嘉風、小さな体で頭から立ち向かう相撲自慢の弟子一番のファン|date=13 September 2019|work=Hochi|access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref> In September 2010, two men were arrested for attempting to blackmail Kotokaze, sending him a letter threatening to reveal his connections to a "violent criminal gang" (usually a euphemism for yakuza) in his younger years.<ref>{{cite web | title=尾車親方に「あの時の金返せ」脅迫容疑で男ら逮捕| publisher=テレ朝News| url=http://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news/web/html/200910056.html| archive-url=https://archive.today/20110722100312/http://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news/web/html/200910056.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=2011-07-22| accessdate=2010-09-11}}</ref> In April 2011 he was hit with another demotion after a ''jūryō'' division wrestler from his stable, {{ill|Hoshikaze Yoshihiro|lt=Hoshikaze|ja|星風芳宏}}, was forced to retire after a match-fixing scandal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Two more wrestlers forced to quit sumo|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ss20110412a1.html|publisher=Japan Times|accessdate=30 January 2012|date=12 April 2011}}</ref> However, in February 2012 he was elected to the Sumo Association board of directors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2017/12/harumafujis-resignation-is-just-the-latest-in-a-long-line-of-sumo-scandals/|title=Harumafuji's Resignation Is Just the Latest in a Long Line of Sumo Scandals|date=13 December 2017|work=Tokyo Weekender|access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref> In April 2012 he was hospitalized after injuring his cervical spine in a fall at Obama, Fukui.<ref name="hochi"/> In 2019 he instructed wrestlers that they would no longer be allowed to grow five o'clock shadows during tournaments for superstitious reasons, in order to maintain a suitable appearance on the ''dohyō''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13054606|title=Wrestlers must shave beards to prevent audience discomfort|date=27 February 2019|work=Asahi Shimbun|access-date=9 February 2022|archive-date=9 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209155759/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13054606|url-status=dead}}</ref> As head of the Sumo Association's legal compliance committee, he announced the one-year suspension for Asanoyama in June 2021 for breaking COVID-19 protocols.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14371571|title=Asanoyama gets 1-year ban for breaking COVID-19 rules|date=12 June 2021|work=Asashi Shimbun|access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref> Earlier in the same year he had warned that tournaments could be cancelled due to rising COVID-19 infections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/01/f165b23ea406-sumo-5-wrestlers-test-positive-2-more-stables-to-miss-new-year-meet.html|title=Further sumo infections could mean tournament cancellation|date=9 January 2021|work=Kyodo News|access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref>

Kotokaze is also a regular commentator on NHK's sumo tournament broadcasts.

Kotokaze announced on 25 December 2021 that his stable would close following the January 2022 sumo tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202112250000327.html|title=尾車親方が１月初場所後に部屋閉鎖を表明「悔いはない。やりきったと」|language=ja|work=Nikkan Sports|date=25 December 2021|access-date=26 December 2021}}</ref> He reached the standard retirement age for an elder of 65 years in April 2022, but was employed for a further five years on a reduced salary as a ''sanyo'' or consultant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202206260001379.html|title=Nagoya New Banzuke|date=26 June 2022|work=Nikkan Sports|language=Japanese|access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref> In May 2024, however, he decided not to make use of his full period of re-employment, and took his final retirement at the age of 67. He entrusted the management of the elder share Oguruma to his original stable,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hochi.news/articles/20240507-OHT1T51187.html?page=1|title=「老兵は消え去るのみ」尾車親方が相撲協会退職へ元大関・琴風７０歳任期満了待たず６７歳で|date=8 May 2024|publisher=Sports Hochi|access-date=8 May 2024|language=ja}}</ref> where it was inherited by former ''maegashira'' Kotoekō.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hochi.news/articles/20240517-OHT1T51192.html?page=1|title=元幕内で幕下の琴恵光が引退年寄・尾車を襲名最高位は東前頭４枚目…日本相撲協会発表|date=17 May 2024|publisher=Sports Hochi|access-date=17 May 2024|language=ja}}</ref>

In November 2024, he made his debut as a tournament commentator on NHK.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hochi.news/articles/20241110-OHT1T51217.html?page=1|title=元大関の琴風浩一氏、ＮＨＫ専属解説者"デビュー"「生の迫力に改めて相撲は楽しいし、面白いと思った」|date=10 November 2024|publisher=Sports Hochi|access-date=10 November 2024|language=ja}}</ref>

==Fighting style== Kotokaze's most common winning ''kimarite'' or technique was overwhelmingly a straightforward ''yori-kiri'' or force out, which accounted for over half his wins at ''sekitori'' level. He favoured ''hidari-yotsu'', or a right hand outside, left hand inside grip on his opponent's ''mawashi''. He very rarely employed throwing moves.

==Career record== {{Sumo record box start|Kotokaze Koki<ref>{{cite web | author= | title=Kotokaze Koki Rikishi Information| publisher=Sumo Reference| url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=4112| date= | accessdate=3 March 2016}}</ref> }} {{Sumo record year start|1971}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho|maezumou}} {{Basho|jk|9|w|3|4}} {{Basho|jo|97|e|3|1}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1972}} {{Basho|jo|59|w|1|2}} {{Basho|jo|77|w|}} {{Basho|jo|77|w|2|1}} {{Basho|jo|47|e|}} {{Basho|jo|46|e|1|2}} {{Basho|jo|54|e|}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1973}} {{Basho|jo|54|e|3|0}} {{Basho|jo|19|w|3|4}} {{Basho|JO|32|e|6|1}} {{Basho|sa|69|e|4|3}} {{Basho|sa|52|w|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|24|e|5|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1974}} {{Basho|sa|1|e|3|4}} {{Basho|sa|10|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|57|e|3|4}} {{Basho|sa|8|w|3|4}} {{Basho|sa|18|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|54|e|5|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1975}} {{Basho|ma|31|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|25|e|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|8|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|2|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|1|w|5|2}} {{Basho|j|12|w|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1976}} {{Basho|j|9|e|8|7}} {{Basho|j|7|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|2|w|5|10}} {{Basho|j|7|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|7|e|9|6}} {{Basho|j|1|e|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1977}} {{Basho|m|11|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|6|e|9|6}} {{Basho|m|1|e|5|10}} {{Basho|m|7|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|5|w|8|7}} {{Basho|m|1|e|10|5|||o|*}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1978}} {{Basho|s|1|w|5|10}} {{Basho|m|3|e|6|9|||*}} {{Basho|m|6|w|12|3|||O|*}} {{Basho|s|1|w|7|8}} {{Basho|k|1|w|7|8}} {{Basho|m|1|w|0|3|12}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1979}} {{Basho|m|13|e|3|2|10}} {{Basho|kyujo|rank=j|r-no=7|tozai=w}} {{Basho|kyujo|rank=MA|r-no=5|tozai=w}} {{Basho|MA|30|w|6|1}} {{Basho|MA|8|w|7|0|P Champion}} {{Basho|j|11|w|14|1 Champion}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1980}} {{Basho|m|14|w|12|3||j|F}} {{Basho|m|1|e|10|5|||f}} {{Basho|s|1|w|10|5|||o}} {{Basho|s|1|e|6|4|5}} {{Basho|kyujo|rank=m|r-no=2|tozai=w}} {{Basho|m|2|w|7|8|||*}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1981}} {{Basho|m|3|w|10|5|||*|*}} {{Basho|s|1|w|9|6}} {{Basho|k|1|w|9|6}} {{Basho|s|1|e|10|5}} {{Basho|s|1|e|12|3||y|t}} {{Basho|o||e|11|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1982}} {{Basho|o|1|e|10|5}} {{Basho|o|1|e|9|6}} {{Basho|o|1|w|9|6}} {{Basho|o|1|w|11|4||j}} {{Basho|o|1|e|9|6}} {{Basho|o|1|w|10|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1983}} {{Basho|o|1|w|14|1|P|y}} {{Basho|o|1|e|11|4}} {{Basho|o|1|w|11|4}} {{Basho|o|2|w|12|3}} {{Basho|o|1|e|11|4}} {{Basho|o|1|w|11|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1984}} {{Basho|o|1|w|11|4}} {{Basho|o|1|w|9|6}} {{Basho|o|2|e|9|6}} {{Basho|o|2|w|8|7}} {{Basho|o|2|w|10|5}} {{Basho|o|2|e|10|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start|1985}} {{Basho|o|2|e|8|7}} {{Basho|o|2|w|5|10}} {{Basho|o|2|w|3|4|8}} {{Basho|kyujo|rank=s|r-no=2|tozai=w}} {{Basho|kyujo|rank=s|r-no=2|tozai=e}} {{Basho|intai|rank=m|r-no=10|tozai=e|win=0|loss=4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070820075354/http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_meikan/sumo_beya/oguruma.html Oguruma stable profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kotokaze Koki}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers Category:Ōzeki Category:Sportspeople from Tsu, Mie Category:Sumo wrestlers from Mie Prefecture Category:Sadogatake stable sumo wrestlers