Bulgarian is first Euro to rise to sumo's ozeki rank

	Making his debut in 2002, Kotooshu (left) became the quickest wrestler to reach the ozeki rank. Donald Miralle/Getty Images

TOKYO (Reuters) - A towering Bulgarian has become the first European to rise to sumo's second-highest rank, in another sign of the dominance of foreigners in the ancient Japanese sport at a time when it is suffering from a decline in popularity.

Twenty-two-year-old Kaloyan Stefanov Mahlyanov, known as Kotooshu in the circular ring, was promoted to "ozeki" status on Wednesday following a meeting of the elders of the Japan Sumo Association, the professional sport's governing body.

"I humbly accept," Kotooshu, clad in a black kimono and his hair in a sumo top-knot, said at a traditional ceremony where he received a messenger from the association bearing the news.

Kotooshu, the tallest grappler in the sport at 6-foot-8, then bowed deeply, his face nearly touching the tatami mat where he was sitting, and said: "I will work hard not to hurt the name of ozeki."

The Bulgarian, whose ring name means "European harp", has become something of a national sensation in Japan, not only due to his performance in the ring but also because of his good looks, which have earned him the nickname "Beckham of sumo".

TV shows have run specials on him, portraying the 315-pound wrestler as being strong enough to crush an apple with only one hand, but also as a shy youngster with a sensitive side.

Asked if he had practised his acceptance speech many times, Kotooshu told reporters in Japanese: "Many thousand times."

Making his debut in 2002, Kotooshu became the quickest wrestler to reach the ozeki rank. He finished a tournament that ended on Sunday with a record of 11 wins -- including a victory over grand champion Asashoryu -- and four losses.

INVASION OR BLESSING?

Sumo has been hit by waves of foreign invasions, first by the Hawaiians in the 1980s, then by the Mongolians in the 1990s and now by the Europeans.

Asashoryu, who reigns supreme at the top echelon of "yokozuna" and who has just made history by winning the last tournament -- becoming the first wrestler to win seven Emperor's Cups in a row -- is Mongolian.

The pioneer was American Jesse Kuhaulua, who entered the sumo world in 1964 and fought under the name Takamiyama.

The sport, which some historians say dates back 2,000 years, may even soon witness its first wrestler with a blond top knot.

Estonian Baruto -- meaning "Baltic" in Japanese -- just needs to grow his hair long enough.

Professional sumo now has 58 foreign-born wrestlers from 12 countries, ranging from nearby South Korea to as far away as Brazil. The latest additions are mostly from Eastern Europe.

While the participation of foreigners raised eyebrows in the conservative sumo world in the past, opposition has faded in recent years and the rivalry between Asashoryu and Kotooshu is being credited with a slight recovery in the sport's popularity.

"I think there's been a turnaround, and I think people have slowly started gaining interest," said Lynn Matsuoka, an artist who has drawn pictures of sumo wrestlers for over three decades and is also a sumo commentator.

"So everybody should feel lucky and happy that Asashoryu is there saving sumo's butt."

Many young Japanese are reluctant to enter the rigid world of sumo, and commentators say more Europeans, especially those from countries where wrestling is popular, are likely to test their skills in the sumo ring.

Kotooshu was a Bulgarian wrestling champion aiming to compete in the Olympics, but had to give up his dream after rule changes limited the weight of wrestlers to under 265 pounds.

The sumo association limits sumo stables, where wrestlers live and train under a master, to only one foreign wrestler, saying the rule is necessary to maintain the traditions of Japan's national sport.

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