Kototsubaki Katsuyuki

Kototsubaki Katsuyuki
琴椿 克之
Personal information
BornKatsuyuki Tokashiki
(1960-12-06) 6 December 1960
Naha, Okinawa, Japan
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight145 kg (320 lb)
Career
StableSadogatake
Record530-481-51
DebutMarch, 1976
Highest rankMaegashira 3 (July, 1992)
RetiredMarch, 1995
Elder nameShiratama
Last updated: Sep. 2012

Kototsubaki Katsuyuki (琴椿 克之) (born 6 December 1960 as Katsuyuki Tokashiki) is a former sumo wrestler from Naha, Okinawa, Japan.

Early life

Katsuyuki was born in Naha, Okinawa on 6 December, 1960. He practiced judo in junior high school, and by the time he was a third year junior high school student, he was 180cm tall, and being scouted by high schools outside the prefecture, including Kokushikan High School.[1]

Katsuyuki was scouted for sumo by stablemaster Sadogatake (former 53rd Yokozuna Kotozakura), who was visiting Okinawa and was originally interested in Katsuyuki’s older brother. His brother turned down the opportunity, but recommended Katsuyuki to Sadogatake instead.[1]

In 1976, at the age of 15, Katsuyuki chose to join the Sadogatake sumo stable, rather than entering high school.[1]

Sumo career

As a wrestler

He made his professional debut in March 1976, and reached the top division in January 1991. His highest rank was maegashira 3. His favourite techniques were tsuki/oshi (pushing and thrusting).[2]

When Katsuyuki was promoted to Sekitori, he was only the second wrestler from Okinawa to have reached that rank.[3]

As an elder

He retired in March 1995, and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Shiratama (白玉).[4] He joined the Sumo Association's special executive group, below the 10 directors and 3 deputy directors, on 30 March 2022.[5]

Legacy

Katsuyuki has worked to promote sumo in Okinawa, and develop more wrestlers from the prefecture. The Okinawa Prefectural Sumo Championship has named the trophy given to the winner the Kototsubaki Cup Okinawa Prefecture Sumo Championship, after Katsuyuki’s wrestling name.[6]

Career record

Kototsubaki Katsuyuki[7]
Year January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo		 March
Haru basho, Osaka		 May
Natsu basho, Tokyo		 July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya		 September
Aki basho, Tokyo		 November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1976 x (Maezumo) West Jonokuchi #9
6–1
 		 East Jonidan #53
2–5
 		 West Jonidan #80
4–3
 		 East Jonidan #57
4–3
 
1977 East Jonidan #33
3–4
 		 West Jonidan #41
3–4
 		 East Jonidan #53
5–2
 		 West Jonidan #5
1–6
 		 East Jonidan #44
3–4
 		 East Jonidan #52
3–4
 
1978 East Jonidan #62
6–1
 		 East Jonidan #3
1–6
 		 East Jonidan #38
6–1
 		 West Sandanme #73
2–5
 		 East Jonidan #13
2–1–4
 		 East Jonidan #33
6–1–P
 
1979 East Sandanme #66
5–2
 		 West Sandanme #38
4–3
 		 East Sandanme #25
2–5
 		 East Sandanme #49
4–3
 		 West Sandanme #34
3–4
 		 East Sandanme #47
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7
1980 West Jonidan #2
6–1
 		 East Sandanme #35
5–2
 		 East Sandanme #11
3–4
 		 West Sandanme #25
6–1
 		 East Makushita #48
2–5
 		 West Sandanme #8
0–1–6
 
1981 East Sandanme #43
0–1–6
 		 East Sandanme #43
4–3
 		 West Sandanme #30
5–2
 		 West Sandanme #3
4–3
 		 West Makushita #51
5–2
 		 West Makushita #33
4–3
 
1982 West Makushita #20
2–5
 		 East Makushita #37
4–3
 		 West Makushita #26
4–3
 		 East Makushita #21
3–4
 		 East Makushita #30
3–4
 		 East Makushita #44
6–1–P
 
1983 East Makushita #19
2–5
 		 East Makushita #38
5–2
 		 East Makushita #21
4–3
 		 East Makushita #14
3–4
 		 West Makushita #22
4–3
 		 East Makushita #16
4–3
 
1984 East Makushita #8
5–2
 		 East Makushita #2
2–5
 		 West Makushita #17
4–3
 		 East Makushita #11
3–4
 		 West Makushita #18
2–5
 		 East Makushita #41
6–1
 
1985 East Makushita #18
3–4
 		 West Makushita #28
5–2
 		 West Makushita #13
4–3
 		 East Makushita #9
6–1
 		 West Makushita #1
5–2
 		 East Jūryō #13
5–10
 
1986 East Makushita #5
2–5
 		 West Makushita #22
3–4
 		 East Makushita #35
4–3
 		 East Makushita #23
4–3
 		 East Makushita #15
4–3
 		 East Makushita #12
4–3
 
1987 East Makushita #8
4–3
 		 East Makushita #5
2–5
 		 West Makushita #22
5–2
 		 East Makushita #11
5–2
 		 East Makushita #3
3–4
 		 East Makushita #7
2–5
 
1988 East Makushita #22
3–4
 		 West Makushita #30
6–1
 		 West Makushita #13
5–2
 		 West Makushita #7
3–4
 		 East Makushita #13
2–5
 		 East Makushita #30
4–3
 
1989 West Makushita #24
5–2
 		 West Makushita #13
4–3
 		 East Makushita #9
6–1
 		 East Makushita #2
6–1
 		 West Jūryō #11
9–6
 		 East Jūryō #9
8–7
 
1990 East Jūryō #5
6–9
 		 West Jūryō #8
8–7
 		 East Jūryō #4
6–9
 		 East Jūryō #9
9–6
 		 West Jūryō #3
8–7
 		 West Jūryō #1
8–7
 
1991 West Maegashira #13
9–6
 		 East Maegashira #6
7–8
 		 West Maegashira #9
7–8
 		 East Maegashira #12
9–6
 		 West Maegashira #8
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #5
4–11
 
1992 West Maegashira #13
7–8
 		 West Maegashira #14
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #9
10–5
 		 West Maegashira #3
5–5–5
 		 East Maegashira #10
5–10
 		 East Maegashira #14
10–4–1
 
1993 East Maegashira #9
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15		 East Maegashira #9
4–11
 		 West Jūryō #1
5–10
 		 West Jūryō #7
8–7
 		 East Jūryō #7
10–5
 		 East Jūryō #3
11–4–P
 
1994 East Maegashira #16
7–8
 		 East Jūryō #3
7–8
 		 West Jūryō #4
6–9
 		 East Jūryō #8
11–4
 		 East Jūryō #3
5–10
 		 West Jūryō #8
3–10–2
 
1995 East Makushita #6
3–4
 		 East Makushita #10
Retired
0–2–5		 x x x x
Record given as wins–losses–absences    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c 峻, 古川 (8 March 2024). "元琴椿「勝たなくていい」転機に 県勢唯一の年寄株・白玉親方として育成に情熱＜土俵に懸ける 沖縄力士の歩み＞3". 琉球新報デジタル (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Sumo World Magazine". Sumo World. July 1993. p. 30. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  3. ^ 琉球新報社 (13 May 2022). "「沖縄県出身」に大拍手 復帰の日、アナウンスに入った「県」の文字 50年前の大相撲". 琉球新報デジタル (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Oyakata (Coaches)". Nihon Sumo Kyokai. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Why is Michinoku a director and Kokonoe a special executive? Deciphering the duties of the elders of the Japan Sumo Association". Nikkan Sports. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  6. ^ "琴椿杯沖縄県相撲選手権大会 小学生から大人まで熱戦 (Koto Tsubaki Cup Okinawa Prefecture Sumo Championship, heated competition from elementary school students to adults)".
  7. ^ "Kototsubaki Katsuyuki Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
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