Kotonowaka, who entered the Sumo Spring Tournament as the new ozeki, has decided to inherit his former yokozuna grandfather's shiko name, ``Kotozakura,'' from the summer tournament this May.
This was announced on the 24th at a post-Chishu Raku party held in Osaka at Sadogatake stable, to which Kotonowaka belongs.
Kotonowaka's grandfather is the former yokozuna Kotonozakura's predecessor, Sadogatake, who was known as the ``Bull'' and was known for his push sumo skills and won five championships.His father is the master of former sekiwake and Kotonowaka's Sado. I grew up in a sumo family called Master Gatake.
When I was a child, I made a promise with my grandfather that if I became an ozeki, I would be able to take over the Kotozakura, but at the spring tournament I played as a new ozeki, I wanted to return the favor, so I used my father's shiko name from when he was an active wrestler. , with a record of 10 wins and 5 losses.
We have decided to take over the ``Kotozakura'' from the next summer tournament, which will be held in May this year.
Kotonowaka said, ``I don't want to feel pressured or be too conscious of taking over and be pulled too hard, so I want to go ahead with the idea that I'm going to name it after myself.''
In addition, Master Sadogatake said, ``I think my predecessor is happy in heaven because his name will be revived for the first time in half a century.I'm happy because he's going to inherit the Yokozuna name, and he's happy too.'' I think so,” he said.