About Aoiyama Kōsuke
Aoiyama Kōsuke (Japanese: 碧山 亘右; born 19 June 1986 as Daniel Ivanov (Bulgarian: Даниел Иванов)) is a Japanese former 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 was twice runner-up in a tournament. His highest rank was sekiwake. Aoiyama was 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 Aoiyama, meaning "blue mountain".
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.