<DATE> Contents

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.


 		 revealing the innermost workings of the heya when the blinds aren’t drawn against the sun, and you have reached Oitekaze – stable of the one time maegashira 2, Daishoyama – the leader of a mixed bag totaling 15 active rikishi.


Only upon approaching the doors does the weather beaten door sign come into focus, although the tell tale sign of black mawashi hung on a fence to the right of this large detached building, plus the standard collection of beaten up rikishi bicycles is an easy one to spot for the trained eye.

The heya itself is a detached concrete facility, and of the 35 or so heya I have had the privilege to visit thus far, is by far the most open – in terms of fan / observer viewing access.  Actually entering may well be an option limited to a select few


Daishoyama (makushita 8) -
Carolyn Todd
however, as I never saw another non-heya individual made welcome in the main viewing area bar yours truly - although a few older men did hang around the windows peering in, unchallenged but highly visible - to see what was going on during asageiko.  The majority of the rikishi

Shrine above the dohyo - Mark Buckton



live at the head of a flight of stairs leading from the main entrance area to the rear of the viewing area, with the lone sekitori at present housed in a small 8-mat or so room adjacent to the communal room – within shouting distance – as he proved several times during a visit last year to secure an SFM interview.
 
The floor above is reserved for the family of the oyakata.



space.  The almost obligatory Shinto shrine is mounted on the ‘rear’ wall breaking up the wall lining drop down windows as the oyakata and visitors look, with the main rikishi entrance / exit point off to the right, behind the kitchen doorway in the far right corner – emerging at the end of the alleyway running down the side of the house – the one decorated in mawashi and long suffering bikes mentioned above.


Kokkai at home - note the teddybear curtains! - Mark Buckton
The keikoba itself is comparable in size to the setup at Tamanoi-beya – a couple of kilometers to the southwest – with plenty of walk around, stretching and ‘other exercise / shiko’ 




Set back from the street to provide ample parking space for the cars, the heya is in effect easy to miss, and

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