Nagoya Nears
Eric Blair
As Nagoya nears, EB gets a head start on the pack by focussing on points of interest, past and present surrounding sumo's hottest basho

Rikishi of Old
Joe Kuroda
The 42nd yokozuna Kagamisato falls under the JK microscope

Heya Peek
Barbara Ann Klein
Kokonoe-beya and the Chiyo Boys

SFM Interview
Mark Buckton
SFM's Ed-in-Chief interviews Estonian up and comer Baruto

Sumo 101
Barbara Ann Klein
SFM's Editor looks at all the twists and turns involved in the tsunauchi-shiki and adds a photo bonanza to boot

Photo Bonanza
See the Natsu
Basho and Kokonoe-beya photo bonanzas

Natsu Basho Summary
Lon Howard
Lon gives us his Natsu Basho summary, along with the henka sightings results

Lower Division Rikishi
Mikko Mattila
Mikko Mattila lets you know what is going on down below the curtain

Nagoya Ones to Watch
Mark Buckton
MB's mixed bag of things to look out for in Nagoya

Kimarite Focus
Mikko Mattila
Our man Mikko takes us on a tour of several defensive oriented kimarite

Amateur Angles
Howard Gilbert
The first of our regular column pieces on the amateur sumo scene from a man who knows more than most

Sumo Game
Bruce Rae
For a look at his very own: PTYW (Pick The Yusho Winners)

Sumo in Print
Barbara Ann Klein
SFM's Editor reviews the newly published biography of Akebono, Gaijin Yokozuna – but sees it as more than just a biography

Kokugi Connections
Todd Lambert
Check out Todd's bimonthly focus on 3 of the WWW's best sumo sites around

Fan Debate
Facilitator – Lon Howard
Sumo author Mina Hall and long long time fan Jim Bitgood discuss how to make sumo more entertaining – if such a concept is even necessary

SFM Cartoons
Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson		  
Sit back and enjoy the offerings of sumo's premier artists

Let’s Hear From You
What was it that
made you a sumo fan? James Vath in rural Japan lets us in on his gateway to the sport

Readers’ Letters
See what our readers had to say since we last went out

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

  B: No secret. Russian is my best (after Estonian), then English. German is last. More than four years – no speaking German.

MB: Off the dohyo, what do you enjoy doing? Hobbies etc?

B: Fishing. I like fishing, he says thoughtfully before adding but not in the Sumida River. (The north-south river fronting the Ryogoku Kokugikan which is not far from Mihogaseki-beya.)

MB: Do you have a best friend in Japan?

B: One Estonian guy in Japan. Japanese guy – no best friend, but all rikishi my friends.

MB: Tell me about the ANA commercial you made with Hakurozan-zeki and Takamisakari-zeki?

B: It was fun. Strange, but fun.

MB: Have you heard of your popularity among foreign fans both in Japan and overseas? If so, what do you think of it?

B: (shrugging) Heard but not special. If they have lot of money, why not come and watch sumo?

MB: At the recent Natsu basho, how did you feel as you went into your first ever makunouchi bout?
 B: I wanna win. Only.

MB: You had an excellent basho last time out and a lot of attention was centered on your bouts throughout the tournament. How did you feel when you woke up the day after the basho ended?

B: I feel like every day, nothing special feeling.

MB: What about all the media hype, does it get to you?
 B: Japanese media all food, food, food. What do you like, how do you feel. he says gesturing and making a few faces.

MB: What has been the high point of your time in Japan to date?

B: Best is winning – every day I win is good.

MB: And the low point?

Next

Baruto original tegata