Attention to Akeni Carolyn Todd SFM's newest addition to the writing staff takes an in-depth look at akeni, their history and production techniques Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda slides former yokozuna Minanogawa under his SFM microscope Eric Evaluates Eric Blair Eric's wit scythes through the SML and makes clear his opinion of where the future lies for online sumo forums. Eternal Banzuke Phase II Lon Howard Stats, equations and mathematics all lead to a list of sumo's most prolific up and downers Matta-Henka: Another View Lon Howard A row that will never be fully decided but Lon gives his impressions on it all the same Heya Peek Mark Buckton Mihogaseki, former home of Estonian sekitori Baruto is toured (and peeked at) by SFM's Editor-in-Chief SFM Interview Mark Buckton Mark interviews shin-komusubi Kokkai Photo Bonanza See the Nagoya basho and Akeni photo bonanzas Nagoya Basho Summary Lon Howard Lon gives us his Nagoya basho summary, along with the henka sightings results Lower Division Rikishi Mikko Mattila Mikko Mattila casts his watchful eye over lower division goings on in makushita and below. Aki Ones to Watch Carolyn Todd Carolyn takes over the job of rikishi job performance prediction for SFM as she looks at those to keep an eye on come September Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila Our man Mikko's latest trio of kimarite get thrown about the SFM literary dohyo Amateur Angles Howard Gilbert Howard returns with the second of his columns on the amateur sumo scene. Sumo Game SFM's very own quiz comes in for a bit of self scrutiny by our secretive man of questions. We'll call him 'X'. Sumo in Print Barbara Ann Klein SFM’s Editor reviews “The Little Yokozuna”, a book for “young” (and older) adults Kokugi Connections Todd Lambert Check out Todd's bimonthly focus on 3 of the WWW's best sumo sites Fan Debate Facilitator - Lon Howard Keri Sibley and Eduardo de Paz  ponder the concept of ‘to pay or not to pay’ makushita salaries SFM Cartoons Stephen Thompson Sit back and enjoy the offerings of one of sumo's premier artists Lets Hear From You What was it that made you a sumo fan? SFM’s own Todd Lambert details his path into sumofandom 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.

sports, events and athletes at each Games. It would seem that the IFS is a long way from convincing the rest of the world that amateur sumo is ready to be an Olympic sport. For starters, how many people actually know what amateur sumo is (apart from you, my dear readers)? And how many can actually say they know where to find a local sumo club? If sports such as golf, squash and karate are unable to attract enough attention among IOC members, despite their huge numbers of participants and followers, what hope is there for amateur sumo? What is needed to lift the sport to such exalted heights as the Olympic programme, and what should the IFS be doing in the meantime? It might appear the easiest answer, but I believe the IFS must wait. Only over time, and with good promotion, will the sport grow. Only after it grows, solidifies beyond Japan, Europe and the Americas, and enters public consciousness, can amateur sumo really be ready for the Olympic Games. Just because a sport meets IOC provisional recognition, as the 2005 IOC Session in Singapore has proven, does not mean that it is ready for the next step!

In the meantime, the world of amateur sumo has not been static, although this is not entirely of the IFS's making. Across the Pacific, in the eastern United States, an entirely different approach to popularising amateur sumo has taken place. Buoyed by the success of last October’s World S.U.M.O.  Challenge(1), held at Madison Square Garden in New York, the promotion company behind the event, Big Boy Productions, launched the World Sumo League (WSL). In the same vein as last year’s event, the WSL brings together top male amateur sumo athletes for open weight competitions with substantial prize money. The WSL planned to hold over 60 events worldwide, beginning in North America through May and June, continuing to Australia and New Zealand in August, stopping in South America in early September, and then heading to various dates in Europe until mid-October. Each athlete would accumulate points based on his ranking in each tournament, and the top 24-ranked athletes would square off in a Finals series to be held once again in late October in New York City. For the athletes, purses of US$10,000 were on offer, with a total prize pool of US$1 million worldwide. They would also receive living allowances while on the tour  and their daily expenses would be met, as well.

Here was an offer to perform in front of large crowds, in televised tournaments, and with the promise of prize money and something more than a medal or a pat on the back. The money being mentioned for just one tournament would be well more than many of the national sumo federations would see - let alone make - in a year. So, it was not surprising that some athletes and some federations, particularly European ones, were keen to be involved. Many of the world’s top open and heavyweight competitors are from Europe, and many had been invited to New York in 2005. However, there was one major difference between the World S.U.M.O. Challenge and the World Sumo League. The former, as a one-off event, had the backing of the IFS. The latter, however, drew the ire of the world-governing body due to disagreements over prize money, where it would go, and the ostensibly amateur nature of the sport. As such, the IFS did not give its support to the WSL. Indeed, there was talk of repercussions for those who were involved in the WSL (we have yet --- (1) Sumo Ultimate Masters Organisation Next