[5] Kotonowaka had married the daughter of his stablemaster the previous year, an old custom in the sumo world to secure the ownership of a stable.

[10] As a student, he decided to enter Saitama Sakae High School (well-known for its sumo club) where he also trained with future professional wrestlers Ōhō and Gōnoyama, both his juniors.

[13] Despite his podium at the Hakuhō Cup, it was noted that Kamatani struggled to gain momentum during his student years, achieving little success at first.

Upon his return to makuuchi Kotonowaka only managed a 7–8 record (this time losing his last three matches) although it was enough to keep him in the top division as he fell just one place from maegashira 14 to 15.

[29] In March Kotonowaka was in contention for the championship on the final day for the second straight tournament, but lost to Hōshōryū when victory would have given him a chance of a playoff with the other two contenders, Wakatakakage and Takayasu.

This promotion makes Kotozakura and Kotonowaka father and son the first wrestling family to produce three consecutive san'yaku-ranked wrestlers in sumo history.

[41] For his performances during the tournament, Kotonowaka was promised a fourth sanshō award for Fighting Spirit, which was nonetheless conditional on an eleventh victory.

He also commented on his ambition to be promoted to ōzeki, in order to revive and inherit the shikona, or ring name, of his maternal grandfather, former yokozuna Kotozakura, to whom he had made this promise.

[45] Since Kotonowaka has obtained a solid base to start a run towards the rank of ōzeki, it was announced before the September tournament that his matches would be sponsored by the management and entertainment company LDH.

[46][47] During the November 2023 tournament, Kotonowaka made his mark with a third consecutive victory on the third day of the championship, using the rare kimarite ōsakate ('backward twisting overarm throw'); a technique that had not been used in the makuuchi division for 13 years.

[50] Despite having been knocked out of the title race, Kotonowaka played a part in the final outcome of the tournament with a victory over Atamifuji, who needed a win to possibly trigger a playoff for the championship.

His father Sadogatake, speaking as the head of the Sumo Association's judging department, added that ōzeki promotion is at stake for Kotonowaka at the tournament in January 2024.

[56] On Day 13, however, he suffered a defeat from Terunofuji, reportedly leaving him in a state of extreme frustration after the match and placing him ex-aequo with the yokozuna and Ōzeki Kirishima for the title race.

[66] In his customary acceptance speech, Kotonowaka said: "With a feeling of gratitude I will devote myself to the way of sumo in order to live up to the title of ōzeki."

His father Sadogatake shared his expectations that his son would ultimately reach sumo's top rank of yokozuna, saying that he had "one more step to climb.

[69] After the conclusion of the March tournament Kotonowaka, who secured 10 wins in his ōzeki debut, submitted his official paperwork to change his ring name to Kotozakura starting in May.

Kotozakura won 13 of his first 14 matches and entered the final day of top-division competition to face fellow ōzeki Hōshōryū, who also had 13 wins.

In the final and deciding match Kotozakura countered Hōshōryū's overarm throw attempt, winning by hatakikomi (slap down) to take his first career Emperor's Cup and second overall professional sumo championship.

[75] Commenting on his first Emperor's Cup, Kotozakura said: "I had experienced losses, but I was able to persevere and became convinced that I really could grab the championship," adding that he could not remember how the deciding match went because he was concentrating so much.

[75] Kotozakura's bid for yokozuna promotion at the January 2025 tournament ended early, with the ōzeki losing five straight matches from the second day.

[77] On Day 13 he lost to then-tournament leader Kinbōzan for his eighth defeat, which meant that the former yokozuna candidate would need a winning record at the next tournament to retain his ōzeki rank.

[78] In February Kotozakura made visits to nearby Tokitsukaze stable for training sessions, in what was reported to be a rare move for him to do prior to the release of the March tournament rankings.

[81] Kotozakura's fighting style, which allows him to stretch to nullify his opponents' strength, has been compared by former yokozuna Hakuhō and Wakanohana III to that of a mochi, a rice cake that is elastic when fresh.

[82][83] Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi Terunofuji (retired) Kotozakura Hōshōryū Ōnosato Wakamotoharu Daieishō Abi Wakatakakage Takanoshō Kirishima Tobizaru Atamifuji Gōnoyama Ōhō Shōdai Ura Hiradoumi Chiyoshōma Takayasu Ichiyamamoto Endō Mitakeumi Rōga Takarafuji Churanoumi Ōshōma Tamawashi Meisei Midorifuji Takerufuji Nishikigi Ōnokatsu Shōnannoumi Kotoshōhō Hokutofuji Kinbōzan Hakuōhō Kitanowaka Tamashōhō Kagayaki Nishikifuji Tokihayate