10 Facts About Kotozakura Masakatsu

Kotozakura Masakatsu was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kurayoshi, Tottori.

Kotozakura Masakatsu made his professional debut in 1959, reaching the top division in 1963.

Kotozakura Masakatsu reached the juryo division in July 1962 and the top makuuchi division in March 1963.

Kotozakura Masakatsu won two tournament championships in July 1968 and March 1969, but by the early 1970s he had begun to be regarded as something of a "perpetual ozeki", often struggling with injuries and finding it difficult to come up with the necessary wins to maintain his rank.

Kotozakura Masakatsu was kadoban, or in danger of demotion from ozeki, three times during this period.

Kotozakura Masakatsu made an appearance in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice, seen fighting Fujinishiki.

Kotozakura Masakatsu produced many top division wrestlers over the years, such as ozeki Kotokaze, Kotooshu, Kotomitsuki and Kotoshogiku and sekiwake Kotogaume, Kotofuji, Kotonishiki, and Kotonowaka.

When yokozuna Asashoryu was criticized for his behaviour in 2003, Kotozakura Masakatsu defended the Mongolian by pointing out the lack of emotional strength in young Japanese sumo wrestlers at the time.

Shortly after attending the ozeki promotion ceremony of Kotomitsuki, Kotozakura Masakatsu died on August 14,2007.

Kotozakura Masakatsu had battled diabetes for several years and had suffered the trauma of a leg amputation.