TOKYO — Japan crowned a new king of sumo today, officially etching Bulgarian Kotooshu's place in the record books as the first European to capture a coveted Emperor's Cup.

During the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, the 25-year-old ozeki steamrolled opponents to a 14-1 record, toppling both yokozuna along the way and unhinging the two Mongolians' monopoly on tournament titles since March 2006.

Kotooshu, who had clinched the title Saturday, tackled fellow ozeki Chiyotaikai from behind in his final bout before stepping into the winner's circle at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena.

It was a storybook ending for sumo fans as well as the Bulgarian heartthrob, who has struggled with a right leg injury over the past two years. He came into the tournament precariously perched on the verge of demotion from the second-highest rank of ozeki.

He needed at least eight wins. He ended up rewriting history and re-igniting his confidence, which had withered after multiple mediocre performances.

"I still can't believe it," said a beaming Kotooshu to the roaring crowd. "After I moved up to ozeki, I got hurt, and my spirit wasn't well. It's because of my supporters and fans that I was able to win."

He also credited a strict pre-meet routine of training, sleeping and plenty of eating that helped him bulk up. Now five kilograms (11 pounds) heavier at 157 kilograms (346 pounds), the 2.02-meter (6-foot-7) grappler said in a televised interview later Sunday that the extra weight made him sturdier against opponents.

Kotooshu's breakthrough also represents a victory for sumo itself, which finally had a reason to smile following a year of scandal and controversy.

The death last summer of a 17-year-old novice wrestler, who had apparently been hazed during training, set off a public outcry. In February police arrested a former sumo stablemaster and three apprentices in connection with the incident.

Fans were appalled as well by the antics of Asashoryu, who was suspended last year for behavior contrary to the high standards set for grand champions — claiming an injury and skipping out on summer tour events, only to be shown later on television playing soccer in his native Mongolia. The stress of the resulting firestorm proved too much for him and he left Japan for three months to recuperate at home.

At least for one day, however, Kotooshu's victory took center stage.

On hand for his coronation Sunday were envoys from several European countries, including Bulgarian ambassador to Japan Blagovest Sendov, who handed Kotooshu a citation from the government and a gold trophy of roses, the country's national flower. His father Stefanov — who traveled thousands of miles to watch his son live in Tokyo for the first time — waved a Bulgarian flag from the stands as he shook hands with a stream of well-wishers.

Kotooshu, whose real name is Kaloyan Mahlyanov, was an accomplished Greco-Roman wrestler in Bulgaria before switching to sumo six years ago. Popular for his good looks, he has been referred to as the "David Beckham of sumo" and appears regularly in commercials for "Bulgaria Yogurt."

Kotooshu's star had waned a bit after his injury but is now likely to re-emerge, said Lee Thompson, a professor of sport sociology at Tokyo's Waseda University.

"Now that he's winning, people are realizing how cute he is again," said Thompson, a sumo researcher.

Overall, Kotooshu is the seventh foreign wrestler to win a tournament title, after retired Hawaiian grand champions Akebono and Musashimaru, as well as Asashoryu and Hakuho. He is among a new wave of foreign wrestlers from the former Soviet bloc who have been rising through the sumo ranks.

But even as Kotooshu cradled his first Emperor's Cup, sumo analysts were already speculating whether he could achieve consistency or if he'd turn out to be a one-hit wonder. A back-to-back victory at the July Grand Tournament in Nagoya would almost certainly guarantee his rise to the top yokozuna ranking.

While many Japanese fans may be rooting for Kotooshu, those troubled by the dominance of foreign sumo wrestlers are unlikely to embrace the Bulgarian's success, Thompson said.

"I think sumo is first and foremost a business, so the people who run sumo are always looking for something that's going to interest the fans and bring in the customers," he said. "That's the bottom line. But I don't think the traditionalists are necessarily going to be happy with Kotooshu."

In other major final-day bouts, Asashoryu prevailed over Hakuho in a faceoff for bragging rights more than anything else.

Hakuho, who finished the tournament with an 11-4 record, had been seeking his seventh tournament title and a chance to avenge a final-day loss to his archrival in March. Asashoryu, also 11-4, had been aiming his 23rd Emperor's Cup.

Kotomitsuki defeated fellow ozeki Kaio with a rear push down. Both wrestlers finish the meet at 8-7. With the loss to Kotooshu, Chiyotaikai dropped to a disappointing 5-10.