Bulgarian Yoghurt Rikishi

[Mulboyne]

[floatl][/floatl] Sofia News Agency: Bulgarian Sumo Wrestler Glorified in Japan
Japan's sumo elite have turned their eyes on Bulgarian Kaloyan Mahlyanov (Kotooshu), after this week he became the first European to join the sanyaki ranks. His rise to sanyaku is one of the quickest since sumo switched to a six-tournament system in 1958, Japanese media said. Leading media channels have praised the 22-year-old wrestler, with The Daily Yomiuri even calling him "Bulgaria's most famous export after yoghurt."

Then again, as the picture shows, yoghurt is pretty central to the relationship.

[dimwit]

So what exactly is his rank? I'm too lazy to look up the term sanyaku. Sekiwake??

[GuyJean]

Sofia News Agency: Bulgarian Sumo Wrestler Glorified in Japan

I saw this guy at a Roppongi bar.. He's really tall!.. Definitely over 2 meters. He has a great smile.. Little boyish..

GJ

[Taro Toporific]

So what exactly is his rank? I'm too lazy to look up the term sanyaku. Sekiwake??

New European Ozeki ... "Crown Prince" Kotooshu

Sumo Wrestling on Yahoo! News---Reuters - Tue Nov 29,10:40 PM ET
Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kotooshu , whose real name is Kaloyan Mahlyanov, smiles as he speaks during a news conference at Sadogatake stable after the Japan Sumo Association approved promotion of him to ozeki in Fukuoka, Japan, November 30, 2005. Kotooshu became the first European to reach the sumo's second-highest rank.

[Mulboyne]

With his parents. His dad looks like a pretty big bloke too. Interestingly, it's their first time in Japan. They've been invited over by Fuji TV for a "Naruhodo Za Waarudo" Special. (Nikkei/Kyodo)

[fabulous fucking fruitbat]

i'd have the mother, though. she looks like a bit of alright to me.

[Mulboyne]

He has a great smile.. Little boyish..GJ

Kippo: Where does Kotooshu's popularity come from?

...Kotooshu's popularity may be attributed not so much to his strength and good looks as to his gentle manner...The sumo ancestors, wherever they are enshrined, must be pleased by Kotooshu's performance and the global popularity of sumo.

[Taro Toporific]

[Mulboyne]

Kotooshu has announced his engagement to a girl from Aichi prefecture who he met five years ago at the Nagoya basho. Asako Ando used to work for an airline and is three years older than the Bulgarian which is the kind of thing that always bemuses older Japanese about famous foreigners. She says that when she first met him she thought a foreigner with a topknot looked weird but she came to respect the way he was knuckling down to make his way in the sumo world.



Kotooshu is considering naturalizing and staying on in Japan after his wrestling career is over, perhaps running his own stable. The press reports note that having a good Japanese wife beside him will be a big help. Kotooshu himself says he has been lonely from time to time while in Japan and Asako has been "very supportive" over the years.

[Mulboyne]

Wedding photo:

[Greji]

Wedding photo:

Tommy, that's not one of the hooks you brought up from Nagoya, is it?

[Mulboyne]

[Greji]

The Asahi has just picked a report from Bulgaria which certainly passed me by. Rather than link to their article, here's the source which came out nearly two months ago:

Sofia News Agency: Bulgarian Sumo Boss Arrested in 'Killers' Police Operation


This later report says some suspects were released while others rearrested. It looks like "the Chieftain"might be off the hook.

At least they weren't involved in anything dastardly like betting on baseball....

[IparryU]

At least they weren't involved in anything dastardly like betting on baseball....

we'll see soon. but he seems like the type that would be in his room trying to pick up more japanese and study tapes of other fighters...

that smile just dont say baseball.

good to see he picked up a j-girl... FGs helping out with the population, join the club!