He did it! Kotooshu has become the first European sumo wrestler to win the Emperor’s Cup:

“I’m at a loss for words, but I’m glad I finally won a title,” Kotooshu told NHK. “I forgot all about yesterday and just concentrated on today. Winning leaves me full of emotions.”

Winning the title, besides also making him the seventh foreign-born champion, marks a miraculous turnaround for the 25-year-old, who until this basho failed to live up to the promise he displayed in 2005 when he earned the fastest-ever promotion to ozeki (only 19 tournaments) on the back of three runnerup performances.

Kotooshu, whose real name is Kaloyan Stefanov Mahlyanov, suffered a series of knee injuries that limited his mobility and repeatedly took him out of contention. He entered this tournament with his rank in doubt for the second time this year and had not had more than 10 wins since his promotion to ozeki.

But instead of demotion, Kotooshu went on a 12-day rampage that included consecutive victories over the yokozuna. There was a wobble on Friday when he lost to No. 4 maegashira Aminishiki, but the ozeki put that behind him on Saturday by crushing out Ama (9-5).

With his father Stefan watching pensively from a box seat, Kotooshu showed the decisiveness he had lacked against Aminishiki. Leading off with a right-hand slap to Ama’s head, he followed up with a double-armed embrace of the sekiwake. Ama tried a neck throw that sent both slamming to the ground outside the ring, but it was Kotooshu who landed last.

The ozeki managed to contain his emotions long enough to take his winnings, serve the water to the next man up and walk down the aisle to his waiting stablemaster, Sadogatake.

His father was less stoic, waving a small Bulgarian flag, taking a bow from the roaring crowd and shaking every hand he saw.

“I wasn’t too concerned about [my his presence],” said Kotooshu, who had time while he waited ringside to spot his father playing to the crowd. “I just wanted to win.

“It’s taken me 5-1/2 years [since joining sumo]. Looking back, I can’t believe I’ve been here in Japan so long. I’ve had my ups and downs and lots of knee injuries, but this tournament I’ve been in great condition.”

Below are a few video clips of the victory and the interviews that followed it.

Video of the match that decided it:

Extended NHK post-victory interview/commentary:

Some post-victory interviewing and a meeting between father and son: