Brothers in Sumo –
part one
Brian Lewin
Brothers no longer active on the dohyo come under the SFM microscope

NHK & the Ozumo
English Broadcast
Mark Buckton
A visit to NHK, years of watching the show and the opinions of our Ed-in-Chief

Hanging With the Rikishi
Barbara Ann Klein
Barbara Ann Klein recounts her experiences with the “boys” in a pictorial diary series

Rikishi of Old
Joe Kuroda
A look at a rikishi of yesteryear with Chiyonoyama – our man for December

Sumo Exhibit at the
Edo-Tokyo Museum
Barbara Ann Klein
SFM’s Editor takes in the exhibit celebrating 80 years of the Japan Sumo Association at this famous Tokyo museum

Heya Peek
John Gunning
John’s early morning trip to Hakkaku – a visit that almost didn’t happen

SFM Interview
Dave Wiggins sits down
with SFM’s Mark Buckton to discuss the broadcast scene – and maple syrup

Photo Bonanza
What a collection – All-Japan Sumo Tournament, Hakkaku-
beya visit and sumo exhibits at the Edo-Tokyo Museum

Kyushu Basho Review
Lon Howard
Lon gives us his Kyushu Basho summary, along with the henka sightings results, and his take on the year in brief

Lower Division Rikishi
Mikko Mattila
Mikko Mattila covers lower division ups and downs

Hatsu Basho Forecast
Pierre Wohlleben & Mark
Buckton
Pierre predicts the Hatsu Basho banzuke while Mark previews the ones to watch for in January

Sumo 101
Eric Blair
Eric explains all you need to know and then some about the Kokugikan building – the mecca of sumo

Kimarite Focus
Mikko Mattila
Mikko walks us through his chosen kimarite in expert fashion

Minusha
John McTague
John’s unique bimonthly view of news from outside the dohyo

Online Gaming
Eric Blair
For the lowdown on Guess the Kotomitsuki – baby of SFM’s John Gunning

Kokugi Connections
Todd Lambert
Todd’s bimonthly focus on 3 of the most interesting sumo sites today

Fan Debate
Intra heya bouts –
OK or not? See what our debaters had to say

SFM Cartoons
Stephen Thompson
In the second of our cartoon bonanzas, sit back and enjoy ST’s offerings

Let’s Hear From You
What was it that made you a sumo fan? American Todd Defoe tells all

Readers’ Letters
See what SFM readers had to say since our last issue

Sumo Quiz
The Quizmaster
Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.

 
Tochinohana
 
 triumphant return to the top division in November after nearly three years of toiling in the minors. I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see him follow up on his stunning (and kanto-sho-decorated) 11-4 performance in November with another excellent result.

Moving on to the mid-maegashira ranks, M6 looks to be an all-Ajigawa affair with the undersized duo of Ama and Aminishiki occupying the two slots. Below them, the real fun starts for all Guess The Banzuke players. The elevator dumps six high maegashira with big losing records here, right on top of another four 		rikishi with small make-koshi results. Jumonji and Kasugao who went 9-6 and 8-7, respectively, at the bottom of the division also demand space in the M7-M12 area of the banzuke. My banzuke guess (which as always can be found at the end of the column) is but one possible solution out of many, and it will be interesting to see which way the banzuke makers go.

Things becomes a little clearer again at M13 which (barring a lower-than-expected placement of Wakanosato) will be filled with two promotees from juryo. Toyozakura and Tochisakae both return to the top ranks after a one-basho stint in the second division, as does Tokitsuumi. They are joined by the 2002 amateur yokozuna Yoshikaze who makes his debut in makuuchi after only 12
 
Aminishiki
 professional tournaments, and oldie Kitazakura who will now be the oldest top division rikishi due to the retirement of Kotonowaka (the new Sadogatake-oyakata) on day 14 of Kyushu Basho. Kitazakura and Toyozakura are making a bit of history by being the first brothers to be promoted to makuuchi in the same tournament.

On the flip side, we have four demotions, and for a change to previous tournaments, they are all completely clear. After staving off demotion with a win on the final day of Aki Basho, Tochinonada wasn’t so lucky this time. The senshuraku loss that dropped him to 7-8 means the former sekiwake will find himself in juryo for the first time in almost nine years. Given his new rank as J1, at least it will only take eight wins for him to return straight away. Two more former sanyaku rikishi are following him along on the way down, with Takanowaka and Shimotori, plus newcomer Tamaasuka. All three were stricken by injuries, and it remains to be seen if any of them are capable of a speedy return to makuuchi. At any rate, only Takanowaka is likely to be ranked high enough that an immediate return for March even looks feasible.

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