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SOS - Shinjinrui on Sumo |
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Chris Gould
Wrapping up his look at increasing the popularity of sumo, Chris Gould caps a series the NSK would do well to refer to.
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Sumo Souvenirs |
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Mark Buckton
Souvenirs are a part of every sport and sumo is no different - or is
it? A look at collectibles and the downright trashy, the bona fide
versus the unproven.
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Rikishi of Old |
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Joe Kuroda
Joe Kuroda's latest look at times past focuses on former makunouchi man Dewagatake.
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Eric Evaluates |
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Eric Blair
Eric takes a no-nonsense look at the claims of fixed bouts in the Japanese media.
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Rikishi Diary |
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Mark Kent
Mark Kent - English pro-wrestler and amateur heavyweight sumotori -
takes us through the first month or so of his training and preparation
for the various European events lined up in in 2007.
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Heya Peek |
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Chris Gould
SFM's Chris Gould was in Japan for the Hatsu Basho and popped along to
the new Shikoroyama Beya to give SFM an online exclusive peek into
sumo's newest heya.
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SFM Interview |
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Mark Buckton
Mark interviews Mark - Buckton on Kent that is as Mark Kent, the UK's
only active heavyweight amateur answers a few questions on his own
recent entry into the sport.
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Photo Bonanzas |
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Sumo Forum stepped in to take the weight off the shoulders of SFM as
far as Hatsu went so we could sit back, relax, enjoy the sumo and take
a few more select pics you won't see anywhere else.
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Hatsu Basho Summary |
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Lon Howard
Lon wraps the Hatsu Basho and chucks in a few bits on the rush of henka
that threatens to sully the good name of at least one foreign ozeki.
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Sumo Menko |
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Ryan Laughton
Sumo cards of old brought to life by expert collector Ryan Laughton. None of your BBM here.
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Haru Ones To Watch |
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Carolyn Todd
Carolyn ponders and puts fingers to keys on the ones to watch come March and the Haru Basho.
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Kimarite Focus |
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Mikko Mattila
Mikko's latest look at sumo's kimarite offers unequalled analysis and in depth explanations.
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Amateur Angles |
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Howard Gilbert
Howard looks at the 'sumo factory' of lore - Nichidai.
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Kokugi Konnections |
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Todd Lambert
Click on Todd's bimonthly focus on three of the best the WWW has to offer.
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Fan Debate |
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Facilitator - Carolyn Todd
Moti Dichne comes back for more and takes on Bradley Sutton on the subject of 'Modernize the heya - yea or nay?'
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SFM Cartoons |
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Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson
In this issue's cartoon bonanza, sit back and sample Benny's artistic offerings.
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Sumo Odds & Ends |
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SFM's interactive elements - as always includes Henka Sightings, Elevator Rikishi and Eternal Banzuke!
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Let's Hear From You |
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What was it that made you a sumo fan? Ryan Laughton - sumo fan and menko expert reveals all.
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Readers' Letters |
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See what our readers had to say since we last hit your screens.
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Sumo Quiz |
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The Quizmaster
Answer the Qs and win yourself a genuine banzuke.
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prevented
from getting his favored left mae-mitsu at the tachiai. Also,
this time he fought through ring rust after sitting out the Kyusho
basho with his injured toe, and that too may impede him for a
while. None of the other four ozeki appear capable of posting
eleven wins anymore so in a way it seems almost pointless to talk about
them individually, but they do get their 9-10 wins most of the time,
which those below them can’t do, so in that sense, they are still
ozeki-like.
Kotooshu continues to frustrate his fans. Sometimes he appears
dispassionate to a fault on the dohyo by neither fighting for a
position nor defending against one, but then shows unbridled
frustration after a defeat. The wrap is off his knee now but is
he really healed? The five wins this time by tachiai henka
suggest possibly not, but whatever, the in toto image right now is of
an unfocused and unconfident malcontent – a hard guy to root for.
Chiyotaikai was off to his usual fast start at 8-2, but again faded to
10-5 as soon as he hit the other top-rankers. It appears his
thrust-pull drill can bring in 9-10 wins for yet many moons, setting a
slew of ozeki records in the process – but that’s all. Kaio can
still muscle anyone out if they’ll let him into his position of choice,
but that doesn’t happen often now. It was reported that he gained
six kilo since Kyushu, which shows that he can no longer put in the
practice time he needs, or that he no longer has the will to prepare –
perhaps both. Tochiazuma had arthroscopic surgery on his left
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knee
about two weeks before Hatsu began and amazed most observers by doing
all 15 days, but was in no shape to compete. He could move only
in a forward direction and not for very long at that, but his
ozeki-sense and skill did add five wins, and here’s hoping they didn’t
cost him many more in the future. He’ll be kadoban in March for
the eighth time.
For the first time in a year, the Haru banzuke will show a new name at
sekiwake, as Miyabiyama just couldn’t stay motivated. While on
the way to 5-10, he remarked that he didn’t have the drive he had
during his recent ozeki run. Turning 30 in July, he’ll be hard
pressed to ever regain it. The other sekiwake, Kotomitsuki,
turned in his seventh 8-7 mark in his last eight basho, sinking fast
again after another 5-1 start. Despite his awesome power and
ample skill-set, turning 31 later this year, it’s hard to think he can
ever be more than he is right now.
Both komusubi were also huge disappointments. Most observers
thought that since Kisenosato had rung up three straight
8-7 records at komusubi, he was primed to continue up the
banzuke. But by beating only two higher -rankers, he again had
little wiggle room and this time his senshuraku luck ran out with a 7-8
fizzle, so now he’ll have to prove himself again. Roho remains a
mystery man, sinking to 3-12. Rumor was that he hurt his back
during the basho, which might explain it. Personally, I wasn’t
looking for a lot from him anyway
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because
the tachai henka he used to get five of his eight wins in Kyushu were
signs that he is not confident in sanyaku to begin with.
Miyabiyama’s sekiwake slot will be filled by the youthful M1
Kotoshogiku, who many thought was ‘cheated’ out of a komusubi position
in January. He surprised me, showing more stability and raw power
than ever before, posting a solid 9-6. The other top-rankers will
now surely counter his reliance on gaburi-yori with ottsuke and
movement, which could be successful due to his short arms – so he’ll
need to widen his range of attack to hold on there. His quest is
easier though because he doesn’t have to face his Sadogatake
stable-mates, Kotooshu and Kotomitsuki.
Kotoshogiku
Next
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