Kokkai Futoshi
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| Personal data | |
|---|---|
| real name | Lewan Merab Zaguria |
| Born | March 10, 1981 |
| place of birth | Sukhumi , Georgian SSR |
| size | 1.90 m |
| Weight | 150 kg |
| Career | |
| Heya | Oitekaze |
| Career record | 446–458–10 312–363 (Makuuchi) |
| debut | May 2001 |
| Highest rank | Komusubi (September 2006) |
| Tournament victories | 1 each in Juryo, Makushita, Sandanme and Jonidan |
| resignation | September 2012 |
Kokkai Futoshi ( Japanese黒 海 太), actually Lewan Merab Zaguria ( Georgian ლევან მერაბ ცაგურია; born March 10, 1981 in Sukhumi ) is a former Georgian sumo wrestler . His battle name ( shikona ) "Kokkai" means "black sea" and thus alludes to his origin.
Kokkai began sumo in 2001 and was able to advance to the makuuchi division in just 16 tournaments , which he reached in 2004. He earned his promotion to the top division with a 14-1 victory in a Jūryō tournament. This was his fourth tournament victory in the lower divisions. Kokkai was the first European to ever wrestle makuuchi. He was soon followed by the Russian Rohō and the Bulgarian Kotoōshū . Kokkai has so far lagged behind the latter in terms of performance. In July 2005 he surprised with a victory over yokozuna Asashōryū and was awarded for his fighting spirit ( Kanto-Shō ). After that he received a sanyaku rank for the first time with the appointment to komusubi . After 43 consecutive tournaments in the top division, Kokkai had to relegate with an elbow injury and a resulting 3-12 in January 2011; a return to makuuchi in September and November of the same year was not permanent. This was followed by a period marked by injuries in which Kokkai had to drop out of the May tournament and could not participate in regular training for months. During the Aki Basho in 2012, his oyakata announced that Kokkai was retiring due to poor physical condition. He intends to return to Georgia.
His younger brother was also active from September 2005 under the wrestling name "Tsukasaumi". But after some good results he had to resign due to an injury.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Kokkai, Futoshi |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | 黒 海 太 (Japanese); Zaguria, Lewan Merab (maiden name); ცაგურია, ლევან მერაბ (maiden name, Georgian) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Georgian sumo wrestler |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 10, 1981 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Sukhumi , Georgian SSR |