SOS - Shinjinrui on Sumo Chris Gould Chris sinks his teeth into how sumo can go about pulling in the younger fans - currently so noticeable by their absence. The first of a three-part series. Sumo World Championships Mark Buckton Mark Buckton reports from Sakai near Osaka, site of the latest Sumo World Championships. Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda finishes off his look at former yokozuna Minanogawa. Sumo 101 / Eric Evaluates Eric Blair Eric expains sumo fan terminology - with the inevitable twist - for those just getting into the sport and still subject to the know it alls. Age stands still for no man Joe Kuroda Former ozeki Kiyokuni will retire in November under the compulsory '65 and you are out' rule. JK takes a look at this quiet earth mover. Feel the Sumo Eduardo de Paz Read and feel the renowned Leonishiki's passion for all things sumo at his first live event. SFM Interview Mark Buckton Mark interviews Colin Carroll - again - Irish star of Sakai. Photo Bonanza See the Aki Basho bonanza as well as the largest collection of pics you are likely to see on the Sumo World Championships earlier in October. Aki Basho Summary   Lon Howard Lon wraps the September Aki Basho and throws in some henka sighting results for good measure. Lower Division Rikishi   Mikko Mattila The lower divisions, their members and results get the once over thanks to Mikko's eye of things 'beneath the curtain'. Kyushu Ones To Watch   Carolyn Todd Carolyn shares her thoughts on whom to keep an eye on in Fukuoka. Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila Mikko's latest clarification of several of the sport's plethora of kimarite. Amateur Angles   Howard Gilbert Howard Gilbert - manager of New Zealand's amateur sumo team takes a look at the approaching Russians. Kokugi Konnections   Todd Lambert Click on Todd's bimonthly focus on three of the best sumo sites online. Fan Debate   Facilitator - Lon Howard Jesse Lake and Rich Pardoe hammer out their differences on a current furor - promotion criteria. SFM Cartoons    Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson In this issue's cartoon bonanza, sit back and enjoy Benny Loh's offerings and put a caption to Stephen Thompson's picture to win yourselves a banzuke. Sumo Odds ’n’ Ends    SFM's interactive elements including Henka Sightings, Elevator Rikishi and Eternal Banzuke! Lets Hear From You   What was it that made you a sumo fan? Kevin Murphy reveals all. Readers' Letters   See what our readers had to say since we last hit your screens. Sumo Quiz    The Quizmaster Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.

Isegahama Seinosuke – Ozeki Kiyokuni Katsuo   by Joe Kuroda

Tadao struggled in makushita and he was soon passed by his  younger heya mate, Asasegawa (later M1) who was promoted to juryo at the November 1957 basho.  By this time, Tadao changed his shikona from Wakaikuni to Umenosato, and then to Kiyokuni, taken from two previous Isegahama oyakatas’ active names, Kiyosegawa (sekiwake) and Terukuni.  Asasegawa's promotion motivated Kiyokuni to train harder than ever before. As a result, finally, after 26 makushita basho, Kiyokuni was promoted to juryo at the May 1963 basho, and within three basho, was promoted to makuuchi. In his second makuuchi basho, ranked at M13e, he lost his final bout on the last day against sekiwake Daigo to finish with 14 wins and 1 loss. Since yokozuna Taiho won all of his bouts (one with a fusen win), Kiyokuni did not win the yusho. However, he was awarded the gino-sho prize and was promoted to sekiwake for the following basho, having been in the yusho race with Taiho until the final day. Next

Isegahama oyakata(former ozeki Kiyokuni) will be taking mandatory retirement from the Nihon Sumo Association during the Kyushu basho as he reaches his 65th birthday on November 20, 2006.     He was born Tadao Sato in Ogachi-machi (now known as Yuzawa-shi, Akita Prefecture). Tadao was a big child when he graduated from elementary school. He started judo in middle school and became quite proficient at the sport. Tadao was scouted by then-Araiso oyakata (later Isegahama oyakata and former yokozuna Terukuni), but he had no desire to become a rikishi. However, the oyakata wanted him to practice sumo and received permission from his parents for the young boy to join the heya without Tadao's knowledge. Subsequently, Araiso oyakata invited Tadao

to visit his heya during summer holiday, and, Tadao, thinking it was a great way to spend the summer, decided to go along. When he was ready to leave at the end of summer, he was told that his “visit” was to be permanent and that all the paperwork had already been completed. Tadao made his dohyo debut at the September 1956 basho as Wakaikuni from Araiso-beya. He was only 14 years of age and completed mae-zumo as a shin-jo niban deshi (a second level pass). His first jonokuchi basho was at the January 1957 basho, where he finished with 4 wins and 4 losses.  Yokozuna Taiho had his debut at the same time, but  progressed up the banzuke much faster than Tadao: Tadao was still hovering in makushita when Taiho was promoted to yokozuna.