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The NSK meets NHK - 55 years on |
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Chris Gould
Without television, sumo would be an unknown sport performed before a tiny audience on islands off the edge of Asia, and as we reach the 55-year point since the first regular images of a honbasho hit the airwaves, CG takes a look at just what the NSK/NHK partnership has meant to sumo.
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Rikishi of Old |
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Joe Kuroda
The 80-year-old Wakanohana I (or is it?) falls under the spotlight of SFM's historian par excellence - Joe Kuroda. A tale of pain - both physical and mental - and of course that epic 17-minute battle with Chiyonoyama!
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SFM Interview #1 |
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Mark Buckton
Risa X, one of the Kokugikan's Guardian Angels during honbasho, gives us an insight into what it feels like to work the corridors and seating areas of sumo's mecca.
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SFM Interview #2 |
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Enatsu Watanabe / Mark Buckton
Musashigawa's former ozeki, Miyabiyama sits down to discuss his decade in sumo - a month ahead of Natsu.
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Eric Evaluates |
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Eric Blair
EB in a skirt! Erica Blair stands in a puddle and holds a metal rod high above her head on issues surrounding a stormy day for sumo down in Osaka.
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Haru Basho Summary |
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Lon Howard
Lon takes out his toothcomb and wipes it over the goings on down in Osaka - as ever, little if anything failing to escape his glare.
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Natsu Basho - Ones To Watch |
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Alexander Herrmann
SFM's seer of things to come - Alex Herrmann look at what we can expect when sumo heads back to Tokyo for the Natsu Basho in May.
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The Lower Divs - and all that stuff |
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Martina Lunau
The second part of Martina's look at a bunch of lads struggling up through the lower ranks as they - and she - try to prove sumo is not all about sekitori and yusho races.
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Heya Peek |
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Mark Buckton
On day one of his trip down to Osaka for the Haru Basho, and doing a little interview research, MB went off in search of Musashigawa's Kansai home from home - and found it damp and dreary.
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Photo Bonanzas |
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Carolyn Todd
SFM's Ed let her forefinger go crazy at the recent Haru Basho in Osaka as we put together a Haru Basho bonanza second to none.
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Sumo Menko / BBM cards |
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Ryan Laughton
BBM cards come under the spotlight as Ryan steps back from Sumo Menko for an issue and casts an expert eye over the modern card-collecting offerings.
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Kokugi Konnections |
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Todd Lambert
SFM's TL takes us through three lesser travelled sumo fan pages - a la Nihongo this time. Even if you can't read Japanese, do not miss these quirky offerings.
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I was there - I remember |
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Michiko Fukuda
Born and raised in rural Kagoshima in Kyushu, Michiko Fukuda lets us in on her own earliest memories surrounding the national sport - and throws in a little 'yubi-zumo' for good measure.
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Let's Hear From You |
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French, American and German fans down, we head back to sumo's homeland for this latest issue, and focus on the oldest fan we have ever featured - the 92-year-old Kinichi Suematsu.
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Morph Corner |
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Olivia Nagioff
Morphing part VI - unique to SFM - and thanks to the tech skills of our own Olivia Nagioff and the images of several of sumo's finest.
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SFM Cartoons |
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Stephen Thompson
Sit back and enjoy this issue's cartoon bonanza courtesy of SFM's Stephen Thompson.
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Sumo Odds & Ends |
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SFM's interactive elements, as always including Henka Sightings, Elevator Rikishi and Eternal Banzuke - Lon and Ben do their stuff.
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News Snippets!
Enatsu Watanabe
One of the longest serving makunouchi sekitori is Miyabiyama - former ozeki and Musashigawa stalwart.
In her first interview as an SFM staffer, Enatsu Watanabe sat down with the big man in
the Musashigawa Beya keikoba on a rainy April day to chew the proverbial fat
over his 10-years to date in Ozumo.
Read more...
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 Japanese Fan Focus
This issue has a Japanese theme -
Let's Hear from You
hears from a Japanese sumo fan with an extensive sumo memory.
I was there - I remember
treats us to the earliest sumo memories of a Japanese lady who did sumo at school.
Kokugi Konnections
focuses on the websites of three heya. |
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Olivia Nagioff
He may be small, but he thinks big!
See more...
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Chris Gould
Fifty-five years ago, the radio broadcaster Nihon Hoso Kyokai (NHK)
took the brave step of establishing Japan’s first national television
channel. Radio programmes which attracted hoards of listeners were
naturally among the first to transfer to the small screen. NHK Sumo,
long acclaimed for its live coverage of fabulous dohyo moments (not
least Futabayama-Akinoumi in 1939), was one such programme. In
wedding itself to television, Japan’s arch-traditional national
sport was about to change forever.
Read more...
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Joe Kuroda
Nicknamed the "Devil of the Dohyo" Wakanohana was known for his
fierce style of sumo and oftentimes ferocious training sessions.
Despite his limited size (179cm in height and peaking at 105kg),
Wakanohana never shied away from forward moving sumo against much
larger opponents. He was not only confident of his own technical
ability, but often he was usually able to overwhelm his opponents
using a level of brute force that was to become almost legendary.
Read more...
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For all the sumo related news, views, tournament
coverage and historical analysis you will ever need -
in English, French, German and Spanish.
We welcome your comments so if you have
something to say please mail us at
editor@sumofanmag.com.
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You Could Be Advertising Here!
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Sumo Fan Magazine (SFM) logo and slogan are © Copyright 2005 by Sumo
Fan Magazine. Furthermore, all submissions and other content found on
this site are © Copyright 2005-2008 SFM and the writers, photographers and
artists who produced them, except where otherwise indicated. No part
may be reproduced in any form, without express written permission of
SFM.
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Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director – Japan
Mark Buckton
Editor
Carolyn Todd
Assistant Editor
Olivia Nagioff
Staff Writers
Eric Blair
Howard Gilbert
Chris Gould
Lon Howard
Joe Kuroda
Todd Lambert
Ryan Laughton
Contributing Writer/Photographer
Martina Lunau
SFM Interactive
Ben Doolan
Website System Admin & Hosting
Alisdair Davey
Magazine & Website Layout Designer
Olivia Nagioff
Cartoonists
Benny Loh
Stephen Thompson
Staff Translators
Denis Chaton – French
Alexander Herrmann – German
Eduardo de Paz – Spanish
SFM Interpreter
Enatsu Watanabe
SUMO ARTIST
Lynn Matsuoka
Asanowaka
was a classic looking figure in sumo, and briefly carried the sword
during Akebono's dohyo-iri. He was incredibly funny and would say some
things other rikishi wouldn't dare say. He was, of course, famous for
his froglike shikiri for which the Kyokai kept reprimanding him, the
crowd loved it! This ink jet print, ed. 100, 9.5 x 11 inches is signed
and numbered by the artist, available for $550. from the studio. Please
contact artist@aloha.net
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