Kotooshu to Form Own Stable

Kotooshu, the retired Bulgarian ozeki, will be leaving the Sadogatake stable in order to form one of his own, according to a source from the Japan Sumo Association.

The Japan Times reports that the association’s executive board is looking to approve this measure, which would allow Kotooshu to officially start his own sumo stable in April. Kotooshu, the now sumo elder naruto, would be the first European-born sumo wrestler to end up forming his own stable. He would be the third from outside Japan to do so.

Kotooshu debuted at the 2002 Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, and became the first European to achieve the ozeki ranking when he was promoted in 2006. Winning a championship in 2008, he retired following the Haru Basho in March 2008.