Tears in the eyes of a tough two-meter giant – this is the way many people in Osaka would remember March 20, 2014, when a great sumo wrestler announced the end of his professional career. This is Kaloyan Mahlianov, born in the Bulgarian village of Djulunica. In Japan he is better known as Kotoōshū Katsunori. The name is widely respected in the land of the rising sun as sumo is not only an ancient type of wrestling. Japanese legends say that the very origin of the Japanese people is the result of a sumo battle. According to a legend, the Japanese people received control of the islands after the Takemikazuchi deity defeated his opponent. That is why sumo wrestlers even today are considered almost semi-gods.

For Kaloyan Mahlyanov everything started in 2002 when during the open championship of Germany he was presented to Yokozuna Kotodzakura, then head of the Sadogatake School. He invited him to Japan, where during the same year under the pseudonym Kotooshu, the Bulgarian debuted on the professional dohyo. His athleticism and unusual techniques brought him swift success. For just two years he joined the Makuuchi top sumo division. Mahlyanov’s debut in the division which includes the 42 best sumo wrestlers came after just 11 tournaments - a record in the sport.

In 2005 Kaloyan Mahlyanov became ozeki - great champion. This made him the first European and the fifth foreigner in the history of professional sumo to reach the prestigious title. Kotoōshū also became the first European to win the Emperor's Cup. This happened in May 2008 after victories against two yokozuna - great champions Asashōryū and Hakuho. We can only imagine the euphoria that the name Kotoōshū caused in Japan.

In the name of secular gossip we should also mention the forbidden love between Kaloyan and Asako Ando. For five years they kept it secret because sumo wrestlers are forbidden to be seen together with a woman, who is not their wife or fiancée. The strong Bulgarian and the charming Japanese had to wait for the Sadogatake sumo school in Tokyo to announce their engagement. Reports of the ceremony were breaking news in Japan and registered millions of views online. On February 14, 2010 the wedding of Mr. Mahlianov and Ms. Ando took place.

Kaloyan Mahlianov stays linked with sumo and is now focused on his coaching career. The price, however, was his Bulgarian citizenship, which he had to give up. However, Mahlianov’s Japanese passport does not make him less of a Bulgarian, the wrestler says and we can trust him.

English version: Alexander Markov