| Nagoya Nears Eric Blair |
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| Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda |
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| Heya Peek Barbara Ann Klein |
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| SFM Interview Mark Buckton |
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| Sumo 101 Barbara Ann Klein |
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| Photo Bonanza See the Natsu |
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| Natsu Basho Summary Lon Howard |
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| Lower Division Rikishi Mikko Mattila |
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| Nagoya Ones to Watch Mark Buckton |
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| Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila |
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| Amateur Angles Howard Gilbert |
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| Sumo Game Bruce Rae |
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| Sumo in Print Barbara Ann Klein |
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| Kokugi Connections Todd Lambert |
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| Fan Debate Facilitator – Lon Howard |
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| SFM Cartoons Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson |
| Let’s Hear From You What was it that |
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| Readers’ Letters |
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Sumo Quiz
The Quizmaster
Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.
Eternal Banzuke – Rules and Criteria
| 1. | A rikishi must have a string of at least 30 consecutive qualifying makuuchi basho in order to be listed on the Eternal Banzuke. |
| 2. | A string begins with the first makuuchi appearance and ends with the last appearance of a rikishi's career (intai basho). |
| 3. | The Highest Median Rank (HMR) is determined by counting the number of appearances in the rikishi's string and then dividing that number by 2, carrying the result over to the next highest whole number. This whole number will be called the determinator. Then, starting with the rikishi's highest held career rank; begin counting the total number of banzuke appearances at that and each succeeding lower rank, carrying the total as you go. Stop the count at the rank where the total equals or exceeds the determinator. That rank is the rikishi's HMR, and it is the rank at which he resides on the Eternal Banzuke. |
| 4. | When two or more rikishi occupy the same rank on the Banzuke, the order in which they appear is determined by adding the total appearances each of them had at the HMR and above, to obtain a tiebreaker number for each of them. They are then listed in tiebreaker number order – highest number on top. If that also results in a tie, make the same determination at the next highest rank, and keep going up in rank until the tie is broken, and no tie exists between or among any rikishi. If two or more rikishi are still tied at the rank of Ye, start at the next rank below the HMR and make the same determination, and keep going down in rank until all ties are broken. |
| 5. | Special rules apply to banzuke appearances at the yokozuna and ozeki ranks. A minimum level of performance is set for these appearances. For yokozuna it is 10 wins and for ozeki it is 8 wins. If this level is not met for any such banzuke appearance, then that basho is simply removed from the count of appearances in the rikishi's string, and correspondingly, no credit is given for an appearance at that rank. In other words – don't count the basho or the rank held – it's as if the basho never happened. |
