Sumo Fan Magazine

Sumo's Foreign Invasion Mark Buckton Sumo - still Japanese or truly International? Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda A look at a rikishi of yesteryear with Umegatani II our man for June Heya Peek John Gunning John attends asageiko at Takasago-beya to give us the first of his bimonthly looks at sumo's stables Photo Bonanza Kurt Easterwood & Quinlan Faris Kurt & Quin treat us to some of the best sumo pics around - and seen nowhere else May Basho Review Lon Howard & John Gunning Lon gives us his Natsu Basho summary and his take on upset of the tournament while John chips in with his 'gem' of the basho Lower Division Rikishi Mikko Mattila Mikko provides his round up of the boys in Makushita and below at the Natsu Basho July Basho Forecast Pierre Wohlleben & Mark Buckton Pierre predicts the Nagoya Basho banzuke while Mark previews the ones to watch next time out Sumo 101 Barbara Ann Klein Rhyme and reason behind the pre-tachiai rituals that mystified us all as beginners Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila Mikko walks us through A, B & C Minusha John McTague John's unique view of news from outside the dohyo Las Vegas Jungyo Teaser Ngozi Robinson Months away but like kids at Christmas we are still too excited not to mention it Online Gaming Moti Dichne Hear from the founder of Guess the Banzuke (GTB) on exactly what makes it tick Le Monde Du Sumo The original team at MDS tells us how it all started Sumo Mouse Todd Lambert Heya Links Galore and a focus on 3 Fan Debate JR & EB square off: Right or Left - which should Asashoryu use when receiving kensho? Let's Hear from You What was it that made you a sumo fan? Ngozi Asks Question of the month - What is Sumo? Sumo Quiz The Quizmaster Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho's banzuke	limited signs of letting up on their assault on the upper divisions. For the fiercely proud domestic fans though, a break in the storm and what appears to be a natural lull in the large numbers making the grade could well be on the horizon for late 2005 and early 2006. In the senior divisions, with 12 sekitori born outside Japan now firmly entrenched, indications are that only a couple of additional foreign rikishi, if that, will be in any position to challenge for sekitori status	by the end of the year. But, due to the relatively advanced ages of the aforementioned Oshima-beya rikishi, Kyokutenho and Kyokushuzan, they could well be seen as replacements, as opposed to additional foreign sekitori. Granted, the 197cm Estonian Baruto (Mihogaseki-beya) looks a shoe-in for the juryo division by September or November at the latest, if he keeps on track, but following his ascension, the cupboard appears somewhat bare.	Talented Mongolians, Chinese and particularly a Brazilian - Takaazuma of Tamanoi-beya - come to mind as possible future sekitori if they get their games together, yet in the lower ranks it is to the domestically bred rikishi that the attention of fans Next Home