Kotooshu promoted to ozeki

The Japan Sumo Association approved the promotion of Bulgarian wrestler Kotooshu to ozeki on Wednesday, making him the first European to reach the sport's second-highest rank.

Kotooshu's promotion was finalized at a meeting of JSA executives and officials who worked on the rankings for the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in January. The 22-year-old is the first ozeki since Asashoryu was promoted in July 2002 and the fifth foreign-born ozeki, according to Kyodo.

I wish him well, and can't help to look forward to the New Year basho.