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.

Riho and Renata with Baruto

his years of service to sumo and for promoting Japanese culture in Estonia.) CT: Talking of the ISF, how’s the relationship between European sumo and Japan? RR: Speaking for ourselves, we’ve always had a really good relationship with Tokyo. From the very beginning, Kazuo Kurazono, related to the family of ISF President Hidetoshi Tanaka, began to teach us in 1996, on the instructions of Mr Tanaka, and encouraged us to get involved and take part in events. He also encouraged Kaido to come to Japan and join a heya. When he (Kaido) arrived, of course, he spoke no Japanese; had no idea what to do, and Mrs Tanaka was so generous, helping him with board and lodging, showing him where to go, giving him information. Now Mr Kurazono’s son, who studied and trained at Nichidai, is with Kaido at Onoe Beya. CT: We recently interviewed Francois Wahl from the Swiss Sumo Society who is concerned that the ISF has changed the date of the World Championships, causing them to lose sponsorship? Do you know anything about that?

RR: I have no idea about that. We received confirmation of the date at the end of 2006, and we didn’t hear about any date change. CT: In a few months the International Olympic Committee will be meeting to vote on the possible inclusion of sumo as an Olympic sport – is this a realistic goal for amateur sumo or are there too many internal problems and too much Japanese control of the sport? RR: As Tokyo is an Olympic candidate for 2016, and given that sumo is the national sport of Japan, we will be pushing for inclusion in 2016. If Tokyo wins the bid, it will be much easier to have it accepted into the schedule as a natural step. If Osaka had won the bid for 2008, we would have aimed for that target date, but it went to Beijing. A lot of hard work and money has been invested in supporting Championships and showing the IOC how we operate, and in Estonia we are already affiliated to the Estonian Olympic Committee and we receive limited funding, although of course not as much as official Olympic sports.

There are always internal problems in  sporting associations, but there seem to have been many misunderstandings in the problems faced by the members who went to the US last year. (SFM note: Several members of the ISF were banned from events after joining a sponsored organisation in the US in 2006, which was outside the amateur realm and therefore outside the ISF; at present, those bans are still in force.) As for too much Japanese control, when judo was first introduced in the Olympics, the Japanese tried to keep their own traditional rules and change was slow. Judo is quite difficult to understand so in international competitions, one competitor wears white, and the opponent wears blue, to easily differentiate them. The Japanese did not agree to this and, in national competitions, they continue to wear all-white in Japan, which is their decision. The same would hold true for sumo. CT: So, you think that sumo could be successful as a spectator sport Next