SOS - Shinjinrui on Sumo Chris Gould Chris sinks his teeth deeper into how sumo can go about pulling in the younger fans in part two of a three-part series. Azumazeki up close and personal Steven Pascal-Joiner / William Titus A wiz with a pen and a wiz with a lens get together with SFM to share their time with Azumazeki Oyakata - Takamiyama as was - with the wider sumo following world. Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda takes a detailed look at the life and times of a former yokozuna forgotten by many - Maedayama. Eric Evaluates Eric Blair Eric calls the musubi-no-ichiban kimarite call on nakabi in Kyushu as perhaps only he could. Heya Peek Jeff Kennel First time heya visitor Jeff Kennel wrote about, photographed and even made a video of his time spent at Arashio Beya prior to the Kyushu Basho. All to be found within. SFM Interview Mark Buckton Mark interviews Russian up and comer Wakanoho of Magaki Beya. Photo Bonanzas See behind the scenes at the Kyushu Basho, morning training in Arashio Beya through the eyes of an artist and exactly what the Azumazeki lads had to eat halfway though the July Nagoya Basho. All originals, all seen here and nowhere else, and all for you. Kyushu Basho Summary Lon Howard Lon wraps the Kyushu Basho in Fukuoka and throws in some henka sighting results for good measure. Lower Division Rikishi Mikko Mattila The lower divisions, their members and results get the once over thanks to Mikko's eyeing of life down below the salaried ranks. Hatsu Ones To Watch Carolyn Todd Carolyn ponders and puts fingers to keys on the ones to watch come January and the Hatsu Basho. Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila Mikko's latest clarification of a handful of sumo's kimarite offers unequalled analysis and in depth explanations. Amateur Angles Howard Gilbert Howard looks at makushita tsukedashi and what it means in real terms. Kokugi Konnections Todd Lambert Click on Todd's bimonthly focus on three of the best sumo sites online. Fan Debate Facilitators - Lon Howard / Carolyn Todd Two SFMers talk over the yokozuna benefiting from weak opposition - or not as the case may be. SFM Cartoons Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson In this issue's cartoon bonanza, sit back and sample Stephen's artistic offerings. Sumo Odds ’n’ Ends SFM's interactive elements including Henka Sightings, Elevator Rikishi and Eternal Banzuke! Lets Hear From You What was it that made you a sumo fan? Starting with issue #10, the SFM staff will reveal a little of their own routes into sumo fandom - starting with Benny Loh. Readers' Letters See what our readers had to say since we last hit your screens. Sumo Quiz The Quizmaster Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.

Heya Peek - Arashio-beya Text, Photos and Video by Jeff Kennel

Hamacho station on the Shinjuku Line out in East Tokyo. First lesson about sumo practice: It starts early. When we got to the actual street that the sumo stable (Arashio- beya) was on I thought my friend got the directions wrong. It was a very typical Tokyo street full of

You know how when you meet people from say, Hawaii and you say, “Wow, that must be great. I’d love to be able to go to the beach everyday,” and then they tell you that they haven’t been to the beach in like 5 years? Substitute me, Gaikokujin in Japan for the Hawaiian dude and any contact with sumo for the beach and there you have it. It's like living in Spain and never going to a bullfight. Or living in Brazil and never going to see a professional soccer game. Yes, I'm ashamed. I’ve lived in Tokyo on and off now for about 5 years and I have to say that I’m pretty disgusted with myself for not taking advantage of my proximity to such an amazing sport. So when a friend of mine asked me if I’d like to join him to go to a sumo stable and see them practice I jumped at the chance. I have to admit I did have some limited exposure to sumo. I’d seen a few sumo matches on TV

Sokokurai checking his strapping

and I grew up kicking E.Honda’s ass in Street Fighter on my Super Nintendo (remember E. Honda and the Hundred Hand Slap?). Anyway, neither sumo on TV nor on the Super Nintendo was to prepare me for the awesomeness of seeing it live just 6 feet away. Up at 5:30 and out the door at 6 so I could meet my friend at

very typical Tokyo buildings. One beautiful thing about Tokyo is you find the weirdest things where you least expect them. If you lived on this street and never walked past the front of the stable you’d have no clue it was there. But there it was inside a boring modern looking grey building. Next