Sumo Souvenirs   Mark Buckton Second of a two parter on sumo souvenirs - some hints on avoiding the fluff. Konishiki Chris Gould Takamiyama's 60s / 70s successes notwithstanding Konishiki was sumo's first full-on mover and shaker from lands afar leaving Chris G to take an in-depth look at the ripples the big guy left behind when exiting the sumo pool. Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda's looks back at the life and times of former yokozuna Shiranui. Eric Evaluates Eric Blair Eric IDs the true winners of the henkafest that was the Haru Basho senshuraku. Rikishi Diary Mark Kent Mark Kent - English pro-wrestler and amateur heavyweight sumotori - takes his training a step further on his road to European and World sumo glory. Heya Peek Mark Buckton Oitekaze Beya just to the north of Tokyo and not far from the abode of SFM's Ed-i-C falls under the microscope. SFM Interview Carolyn Todd Carolyn interviews Riho Rannikmaa during his recent trip to Osaka - head of all things sumo in Estonia, friend and mentor of Baruto, this is a man with something to announce. Sumo à la LA Alisdair Davey SFM's man in the shadows reports on his recent jaunt in LA, as guest of the Californian Sumo Association and SFM reporter at large. Photo Bonanzas Hot on the heels of the recent Ise bonanza - Haru up close and very very personal - some of our best pics to date. Haru Basho Summary Lon Howard Lon wraps the Haru Basho and chucks in a few bits on the henka issues the top dogs are suffering from at present. Sumo Menko Ryan Laughton Sumo cards of old brought to life once again by expert collector Ryan Laughton. None of your BBM offerings here - Pt II of III. Natsu Ones To Watch Carolyn Todd Carolyn ponders the ones to watch come May and Natsu when sumo comes home to Tokyo. Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila Mikko's latest look at sumo's kimarite offers unequalled analysis and in depth explanations. Amateur Angles Howard Gilbert On your marks, get set, go - Howard Gilbert walks us through the months ahead on the amateur calendar. Kokugi Konnections Todd Lambert Click on Todd's latest selection of the best sumo sites the WWW has to offer. Fan Debate Facilitator - Carolyn Todd Should it or shouldn't it? Honbasho go on the overseas road that is. See what SFM's Chris Gould and James Hawkins have to say. SFM Cartoons Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson In this issue's cartoon bonanza, sit back and sample ST's latest artistic offerings. Sumo Odds & Ends SFM's interactive elements - as always includes Henka Sightings, Elevator Rikishi and Eternal Banzuke! Let's Hear From You What was it that made you a sumo fan - A. S. - the face in the crowd reveals almost all - to see everything you'll have to close your eyes. 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 a genuine banzuke.

He is back in action and will join his brother Andrew to spearhead the New Zealand team this year.  These two popular athletes will be looking to give direction to the New Zealand junior team that performed so successfully in Rakvere, Estonia.  The challenge now for Sumo New Zealand, and the junior athletes themselves, is to build on the second and third placings they gained in the heavyweight and open weight divisions, respectively.  It is vital that such athletes, and other promising ones, continue in the sport and are brought through into senior competition in the future.  Indeed, this is a challenge facing each national federation in amateur sumo. In Osaka last year Tonga sent an adult team for the first time in a number of years.  Prior to that they concentrated on sending a team to the Junior World Championships in Tokyo each year, but with the 2006 Junior World Championships being held in Estonia, it was easier and cheaper to send a team to Osaka.  With Lausanne hosting this year, it will be a struggle for Tonga to send a team that far. This would be a shame as their two-man team performed admirably in 2006.  Unfortunately, Tonga will not be present at the Oceania tournament, as they have a shortage of suitable athletes at this point. In Europe, while one or two tournaments have already been held during late winter, the spring thaw also means that sumo athletes come out of hibernation.  Top athletes

will be training towards June’s European Championships in Budapest.  In the meantime there are a handful of tournaments, in Austria and Bulgaria for example, in which they can tune up.  However, most of their work will be done in the gymnasiums and sports halls of their home country and against their teammates.  In August there will be a new sumo competition on the European calendar in Ukraine.  Kiev will play host to the inaugural European Games, an event that will bring together a number of non-Olympic sports in a week-long event.  The sumo competition will be an invitation-only event for European athletes, but details beyond that are sketchy at this time.  I hope to report more in future columns. As I have mentioned throughout this column, the biggest event in European amateur sumo this year will be the Sumo World Championships in Lausanne.  This Swiss city is also home to the Olympic Museum, so this year’s tournament will see the embodiment of amateur sumo’s Olympic aspirations for the future in the place where the Olympic movement is based.  As such, this may be seen as a symbolically important event for this sport’s future.  Perhaps of equal importance is the expected combination of the 8th Junior World Sumo Championships, the 15th World Sumo Championships and the 6th Shinsumō World Championships into one tournament in one venue from 2007 onwards.

This is also the usual format for the European Championships.   The advantages of combining all the World Championships in one place are many.  For starters, it offers some economies of scale for the national federations (both those attending and those hosting the event).  Secondly, it provides the junior athletes with exposure to the senior level events, with the benefit of moving them more seamlessly from one level to the next when they are ready.  Thirdly, for most national federations, junior athletes are coached by senior athletes or the senior level coaches.  By combining the Championships, the coaches of junior athletes do not need to make two international trips each year, thus making the cost of attending more affordable.  Lastly, by having the junior boys’ tournament alongside the men’s and women’s competition, it may hasten the inclusion of a girls’ competition in the Junior Sumo World Championships.  Several countries and delegates, including myself, have been urging the International Sumo Federation to consider this move.  Although this is unlikely to happen in 2007 (the ISF has suggested it may happen after the 10th Junior World Sumo Championships), it would be fitting if the home of the Olympic movement had some impact on creating greater equality in the sport. Home Print version