CNN's Asia Now Program- Bulgarian Sumo Wrestler, Kotoōshū Katsunori (琴欧洲 勝紀, 3/3

Bulgarian Sumo Wrestler, Kotoōshū Katsunori is featured on CNN's Talk Asia Program which aired in Japan in 2006.

Sumo is currently in the doldrums as a sport in Japan and many believe that until a homegrown Sumo wrestler becomes the Grand Champion, it will stay this way. At the time of this recording, Asashoryu was the one and only Grand Champion (you can have more than one Grand Champion in Sumo) hails from Mongolia. His flawless Japanese is a credit to first coming to Japan as a high school student.

Hawaiians were the first non-Japanese Sumo wrestlers to achieve success in the world of Sumo. The first foreigner to enter the Sumo world was Jesse Kuhaulua known in the Sumo world as Takamiyama. Saleva'a Fuauli Atisano'e followed and was not welcomed as a Grand Champion due to traditionalist claiming he lacked dignity. He is better known as Konishiki. Chad Rowan was the first foreigner to win the Grand Championship, Yokozuna. Rowan, better known as Akebono, has a bronze statue of himself in his hometown in the Aloha State. Japanese tourist frequent this statue to this very day. Kotoōshū, the first European Sumo wrestler to achieve success gives Asashoryu a run for his money at the time of this recording.

Kotoōshū discusses the adaptation of Sumo from Wrestling. He later is asked about his celebrity status and the lack of free time and not being able to go out into public due to his current status. The Japanese American interviewer comments that he is the "David Beckham" of Sumo. Kotoōshū later discusses the future of Sumo by explaining that part of the Sumo world wants to open the sport to the world and make it an Olympic sport whereas the traditionalist want to keep the sport as it currently is. He concludes his interview by giving his advice on how to reach the top of the Sumo world.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Kotoōshū
• Katsunori
• (琴欧洲
• 勝紀
• Japanese
• Sumo

[Atanassovski]

Proud to be Bulgarian !!! :) Best regards for all Japan!!! Osss!!!

[Monet57061162]

日本のインタビューと違い、大人の質問ですね。

琴欧洲も国内では言い辛いホンネを語っています。

答えがクレバーですね。

[ZANJASTEABRO]

she wants get sex with Kotooshu

[toki1221]

@Atanassovski Yes, Kotooshu is great Ozeki. Now Sumo is so international, Kotooshu from Bulgaria, Hakuho from Mongolia, Baruto from Estonia, Kokkai from Georgia, Roho from Russia, Kasugayama from Korea, Takanoyama from Czech, etc they are bringing their own wrestling techniques to Japan and Sumo is so interesting! Thank you, all!!!

[311broke]

今の彼を見てると、力士になるべきじゃなかったような気がする。­もっと違う道があったんじゃないか。

[Alos21]

what if you are bald?

[moosenator2yo]

what a humble man.  very cool to see his perspective

[T34pobeditel]

私は日本人だと私は日本に行きたい。私は本当に日本の人々と自分­たちの伝統が好きです。日本を祝福。

悪い言語して申し訳ありません。

[MusicforMe123]

The interviewer wants to screw the sumo wrestler.

[Lubimochka007]

he looks like marlon brando