<DATE> Contents

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.


Avoiding the need
for long fingernails

by Eric Blair

room trying not to be noticed – all the time thinking how I could portray this as my usual early morning hangout to those I’d meet later.

RF5 – I was chatting with the lads at XXX-beya – I said “konnichiwa” as I walked in and “honto ni arigato gozaimashita” as I left.

RF6 – I heard from Blarneyama that XXX – Although the implication here involves hearing directly from Blarneyama, the reality is more along the lines of - I overheard him talking to his pal – Blarneynishiki - and saying XXX

RF7 – I had my photo taken with Blarneyama - I stood beside the rikishi in question as he was looking the other way and my friend snapped the pic. Blarney is now my friend!

RF8 – I saw Blarneyama at (location variable) - similar to / variation on RF1, only a little less RF’ish’.

RF9 – I have been watching sumo for 5 years – read 3. Figures over 10 years can be safely rounded down to the nearest ‘5’.

RF10 – I remember (historical sumo related event to be inserted here) – I have heard of it, read about it or seen the video. I wasn’t there but who needs the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? I have the T-shirt.

RF11 – I remember watching Blarneyama’s dad – Blarneysenior – on video.

RF12 – Blarneyama’s  place –
Next


We’ve all been there, be it online at one of the marvelous sumo related forums /  mailing lists or even face to face when visiting Japan and meeting up with one of the know it all fans with more experience and ‘connections’ in sumo than the rest of the world – combined.

You know the types – they’ve had more chats with more rikishi than you can shake a stick at and act as if they were the first gaijin to Google the guys in sumo today, yesterday or in an age before the Internet, and, sometimes, even before color TV was de-rigueur in certain parts of the world.

I’ve met a few myself over the years I have followed sumo and have suffered through hours of the “I was talking to so and so” or “I met so and so in a restaurant / shop / train station yesterday” stories. “I smelled his hair before I saw him. Did you know that isn’t really bintsuke?”

Most stories are exaggerated, some so largely figments of the teller’s imagination that I have become quite adept at feigning interest whilst digging one (purposely grown) fingernail into the center of my palm just deep enough to keep myself awake but not so deep as to draw blood.

So, to aid you all in detecting the daft story tellers following 
modern day sumo, and attempting to explain what each of the run of the mill statements they chuck out means, I have collated a basic list of 13 “raves of the fakes” and a handful of associated gems to keep with you in laminated form in case a quick referral is needed any time of the day or night.

I’ll call it the RF scale -  after “raves of the fakes” and throughout will use the imaginary shikona of Blarneyama

RF1 – I met Blarneyama – I saw him from cross the street.

RF2 – I was talking to Blarneyama / I said XXX to Blarneyama. – Blarneyama was this time on the same side of the street as myself and I said something along the lines of “ah, Blarneyama-zeki, Kyushu basho – gambarimasu.” The rikishi didn’t respond – thus the use of ‘to’.

RF3 – I had a word with Blarneyama - A step up from RF2 as the rikishi grunted (or perhaps attempted to clear his throat) and I took that to be his side of the conversation.

RF4 – I was at XXX-beya – I had asked, or asked a friend to call on my behalf and ask (for me), to be allowed in. I went in, touched my forelock to the floor when I arrived and sat at the back of the












































































 

















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