Yokozuna Comparisons
Joe Kuroda
SFM’s historian, JK, wraps his two-part article on the greatest of the tsuna wearers

Amateur Sumo's Global Aspirations
Courtesy: International Sumo Federation
What exactly is it and furthermore, what does it do? The ISF explain themselves and their purpose in existing

Rikishi of Old
Joe Kuroda
Man or myth? Sumo's first yokozuna comes under the spotlight

Heya Peek
Barbara Ann Klein
Tokitsukaze-beya and its famous find themselves the target of Barbara's peek into life inside the heya

SFM Interview
Mark Buckton
Featuring interviews with amateur sumo's European Sumo Union General Secretary and the President of the newly founded Irish Sumo Federation

Sumo 101
Barbara Ann Klein
Would chanko exist without sumo? What is chanko anyway? Find out in Sumo 101

Photo Bonanza
See the Haru
Basho through the eyes of the fans in the seats as SFM gives the mantle of photographer(s) for this basho to Barbara & Gerald Patten. And don't miss our all-Mongolian Bonanza supplied by our Editor, Barbara Ann Klein

Haru Basho Review
Lon Howard
Lon gives us his Haru Basho summary, along with the henka sightings results

Lower Division Rikishi
Mikko Mattila
Mikko Mattila covers the lower division goings on like nobody else around

Natsu Basho Forecast
Mark Buckton
Mark Buckton glances back to look forward in his ones to look out for come May

Kimarite Focus
Mikko Mattila
Our man Mikko takes us on a tour of his chosen kimarite

Sumo in Print
Mark Buckton
Our gaming thread takes a break for April so we can look at the Spanish language book on the sport not long since released

Kokugi Connections
Todd Lambert
Todd’s bimonthly focus on 3 of the WWW's best sumo sites today

Fan Debate
Facilitator – Lon Howard
April's man VS monkey debate covers the issue of reducing the number of honbasho

SFM Cartoons
Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson
Sit back and enjoy the offerings

Let’s Hear From You
What was it that
made you a sumo fan? Thierry Perran lets us in on his reasons for loving this sport

Readers’ Letters
See what some
See what our featured letter is for this issue

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

  SG – Yes. We have some excellent athletes and youth programmes but, sadly, the amount of foreign wrestlers now able to enter ozumo is limited. Japan needs rising stars to boost attendances and interest in the sport and, in my opinion, Europe can provide this. However, once again due to restrictions from Japan, this is not happening. If more Europeans were allowed to enter the professional game, then the world-marketing potential would be enormous. But if Japan wants to keep sumo Japanese, with only a sprinkling of European wrestlers, then that is the way its going to stay – a Japanese sport for the Japanese. It's their call to wake up and smell the green tea.

MB – A large number of federations around the world don't seem to be that active in the sport, but as General Secretary of the strongest continental body, how do you view this apparent lack of interest elsewhere?

SG – We are democratic in our approach to sumo in Europe and see a future for sumo here. We really do love the sport and want to see it as an Olympic sport. That's why we are investing as we do in sumo. If you are short-sighted and
sitting on the fence waiting for someone else to do something, it will never happen. Who else is developing the way we are in Europe? Without Europe, I am sure that sumo would only be represented at the top (amateur) level by Brazil, Japan and Mongolia.

MB – Do you see any room for improvement in global amateur sumo organizations and if so, along what lines?

SG – Yes – if continental federations are allowed to offer advice and help (to the IFS). We may not have a history of 1500 years of sumo but we are not living in the dark ages here. With expert advice on weight-
 training schedules and diet, plus the natural strength of the European athletes and our democratic federation structures, we could make an even bigger contribution to our beloved sport of sumo. Sadly, we are not given that chance. We, of course, respect sumo and the Japanese system, but all parties concerned must realise that they can learn from each other.

MB – Do you think the International Sumo Federation will be successful in its IOC bid?

SG – That depends on who is advising and contributing to the

Next

General Secretary Stephen Gadd meeting an amateur Japanese rikishi