Kotoshogiku was formally promoted Wednesday to sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki after the decision was made at an executive board meeting held by the Japan Sumo Association.
Kotoshogiku, whose promotion was approved during a conference to decide the rankings for the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in November and at the executive meeting, will become the first Japanese wrestler to assume the ozeki rank in four years.
Former ozeki Kotomitsuki was the last Japanese wrestler to gain promotion to the rank after the 2007 Nagoya basho. Kotoshogiku will also fill the void left by Kaio, who was the last remaining Japanese ozeki before retiring at the Nagoya meet in July.
Kotoshogiku won 12 bouts at the recently concluded autumn basho, meeting the JSA's loosely defined guidelines of posting a total of 33 wins over three consecutive tournaments.