Aoiyama Kōsuke
is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler or rikishi from Elhovo, Bulgaria. He made his professional debut in 2009, reaching the top division two years later, debuting in the November 2011 tournament. Aoiyama has won four Fighting Spirit awards, one Technique award and one kinboshi for defeating a yokozuna. He has twice been runner-up in a tournament. His highest rank has been sekiwake. Aoiyama is one of the heaviest competitors in sumo, weighing around 200 kg for most tournaments. In March 2022, he obtained Japanese citizenship. Early life and sumo background After wrestling for ten years and doing amateur sumo for three, he entered the professional sumo world at the introduction of fellow countryman, ōzeki Kotoōshū, becoming only the second Bulgarian rikishi. He joined Tagonoura stable, run by former maegashira Kushimaumi. When asked by his coach whether he preferred mountains or rivers, he chose mountains and so was given the shikona of Aoiyama, meaning "blue mountain". Career Early career In his professional debut as Aoiyama Kiyohito in the September 2009 tournament, he won the jonokuchi championship with a perfect 7–0 record. He subsequently changed his name to Aoiyama Kōsuke for his jonidan debut in the following November tournament, which he also