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Brothers no longer active on the dohyo come under the SFM microscope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.

  just as you suggest, they WILL be remembered.

LH: I’ll ask you both now for your final thoughts. Mark, I’m especially interested to hear your opinion on whether the intra-heya matches should take place near the beginning, middle or end of a basho – or does it make any difference?

MB: Good question here, Lon. Personally I would leave such match-ups to the standard rules on ranks squaring off as and when they are in a position to do so. I wouldn’t force the matches just for the sake of it. A maegashira 15 vs. an ozeki just wouldn’t happen unless the former were really turning it on, so, in this sense, the status quo on bout scheduling should remain in place – sans intra-heya limitations of course.

To respond to EW though – Emmett, I am confused. I offer Takanohana’s yusho count and the fact that he never had to face rikishi of the caliber of Takanonami and Takatoriki on a regular basis as reasoning behind my belief that intra-heya bouts should be permitted. You attempted to show intra-heya bouts should not be allowed by way of defense of Takanohana’s ability by (wrongly it was shown) equating the ability of his aforementioned stablemates with rikishi of Musashigawa-beya. This only reinforced my point. Next, you attempted to equate a sport in which individuals go head to head during a fixed ‘season’ with 		a team sport in which the excitement peaks during the post season. Irrelevant, I’m afraid. Throughout, besides presuming wrongly what I really think in my heart, you offer mere rumors of an unproven factor (yaocho and steroid abuse) and the inability of rikishi to ignore Hideyo’s (fully flat and even) dohyo-building skills as they look to take a dive for the team – another claim based on thin air and supported by no evidence, I regret to inform readers.

Indeed, without evidence, without proof, and based on just what I don’t know, you then claim the yokozuna has thrown a match. Not being a fan of “guilty until proven innocent,” I fail to see a single, concrete reason, supported by anything more than rumor to have been raised by yourself as to why intra-heya bouts should remain on the ‘not to do’ list instead of being moved to the ‘for consideration’ list, and must therefore conclude that just one word suffices in putting to bed this old tradition – Takanohana – a man I am sure would support my comments given his liberalism of late.

EW: Let me answer Lon’s question first. At the end! The very end! And only in a playoff for the yusho. Just wanted to clear that up.

Mark, it seems that this debate has been one where both of us have seen the value of our differing opinions and have 		opted to go in different directions rather than face the fact that we are both right in some respects. Of course, I stayed away from your Takanohana argument because for the most part, it is valid, as far as the facts go. You got me there. What it does not do is present convincing evidence that intra-heya bouts will increase attendance and fan interest – which is the reason you said nothing in rebuttal of my statement that allowing intra-heya matches during the basho will only make them ho-hum regular, and do nothing to generate fan excitement. Once the initial buzz wears off, we will be not only back to where we are now, but probably worse off.

I will agree with you on your final point. Takanohana Oyakata is probably in favor of this concept. Perhaps we can invite him to the next debate on the subject. But, until then, leave the intra-heya bouts for senshuraku, and hope that the next, great Japanese yokozuna is just around the corner.


LH: Thanks to both Mark and especially Emmett for a lively discussion. Emmett was busy preparing for his deployment to Iraq but still found time to complete this debate. We are very grateful, and wish him a safe return.

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