Bio

Kotoshōgiku Kazuhiro (Japanese: 琴奨菊 和弘, born 30 January 1984 as Kazuhiro Kikutsugi (菊次 一弘, Kikutsugi Kazuhiro) in Yanagawa, Fukuoka) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler. He made his professional debut in 2002, reaching the top division in 2005. He has earned seven special prizes in his career and been runner-up in three tournaments. He wrestles for the Sadogatake stable. In 2011 he achieved the standard for promotion to the second highest rank of ōzeki by winning 33 bouts over three tournaments, and he was formally promoted by the Japan Sumo Association on 28 September. On 24 January 2016 he became the first Japanese-born wrestler in ten years to win a top-division tournament. He had a long-standing rivalry with Kisenosato against whom he fought a record 66 times. He has continued to fight since losing his ōzeki rank in January 2017, and in March 2020 became the oldest active sekitori. He announced his retirement from active duty on November 14th, 2020.