Kotomitsuki
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Real name | Keiji Tamiya | |
| Date of birth | April 11th 1976 | |
| Place of birth | Aichi, Japan | |
| Height | 182.0cm (6'0") | |
| Weight | 158.0kg (348lb) | |
| Career* | ||
| Heya | Sadogatake | |
| Rank | Sekiwake | |
| Record | 405-258-40 | |
| Debut | March 1999 | |
| Highest rank | Sekiwake (January, 2001) | |
| Yushos | 1(Makuuchi) 1(Juryo) 1(Makushita) |
|
| Special Prizes | Outstanding Performance (2) Fighting Spirit (3) Technique (6) |
|
| Gold stars | 3 | |
|
* Career information is correct as of March 2007. |
||
Kotomitsuki Keiji (born April 11, 1976 as Keiji Tamiya) is a Japanese sumo wrestler from Okazaki City in Aichi Prefecture. His highest rank has been sekiwake. He has long been seen as a potential ozeki.
Kotomitsuki made his professional debut in March 1999. As a former amateur champion at university, he was allowed to leapfrog the lower divisions. He was promoted to the top makuuchi division in May 2000 but missed the entire tournament through injury. On his proper debut three tournaments later, he was runner-up to yokozuna Akebono with an outstanding 13-2 record. He was awarded all three special prizes on offer; a rare achievement. He was immediately promoted to sekiwake.
Kotomitsuki took his first, and so far only, top division title in September 2001, whilst ranked as a maegashira. He won with a 13-2 record in a tournament that saw only one ozeki and one yokozuna complete the whole 15 days. He has since been runner-up in four further tournaments.
Although he could only manage four wins at his first attempt at sekiwake, Kotomitsuki has become a regular in the sanyaku (komusubi or sekiwake) ranks. His 27 tournaments there place him fifth on the all-time list. Kotomitsuki has been ranked in sanyaku in every tournament (with one exception) since March 2004. He has been consistent rather than spectacular, posting a succession of 8-7 scores. He has been ranked at sekiwake for eight tournaments in a row, but with five ozeki above him, he may well have to bide his time if he wants further promotion.
Kotomitsuki is affectionately nicknamed "Mickey" by some English-speaking sumo fans.
