MATSUDO, Japan (Kyodo) -- Ozeki Kotozakura said he will try to remain his "usual self" while bidding for yokozuna promotion at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament following Monday's ranking announcement for the January meet.

After lifting his maiden Emperor's Cup at the Kyushu meet in November with a 14-1 record, the 27-year-old can match his late, namesake grandfather's rank with another title or championship-worthy performance at the Jan. 12-26 tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

"I'm not thinking of anything complicated in particular. I'm grateful to have this challenge and will just give my all," Kotozakura told a press conference at his Sadogatake stable in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, east of the capital.

"The best thing to do is be true to myself. Believing in what I've done so far as well as the abilities I have, I hope to wrestle with strong determination. I can't go up to the ring with a half-hearted mindset."

Kotozakura is looking to become the first Japanese yokozuna since Kisenosato, who won his promotion after the New Year meet in 2017.

He will not be the only one seeking to become a yokozuna next month, with fellow ozeki Hoshoryu, who finished 13-2 in Fukuoka after losing the last-day, winner-take-all battle to Kotozakura, also in the running.

The 25-year-old, one-time Emperor's Cup winner will be looking to emulate his uncle, former Mongolian great and 25-time winner Asashoryu.

Should Kotozakura and Hoshoryu reach yokozuna together, it will mark the first simultaneous promotion to the exalted rank since 1970 when Kitanofuji, who died last month at 82, and Tamanoshima, whose name later became Tamanoumi, achieved the feat.

"I can only know about the yokozuna promotion bid once I've actually taken on that challenge," Kotozakura said. "I'll concentrate on the bout in front of me and aim to wrestle well. That will lead to a positive outcome."