June Issue Contents
Aki Basho

French

German

Spanish
Rikishi of Old
Joe Kuroda
Hidenoyama, one of the sport's earliest 'real' yokozuna back in the early days comes under the all seeing glare of sumo's premier historian Joe Kuroda in an epic tale of then and now – some names you will still recognise while others have long since fallen into disuse.
Azumazeki or Jesse – call him what you will
Chris Gould
A boy from Hawaii once came to Japan and made enough waves and cut enough of a swathe through the local mindset of the time to be recognised as one of the most popular sekitori of all time. His name was Jesse – Azumazeki Oyakata of late – and this is a piece we have been keeping on ice for over two years.
Eric Evaluates
Eric Blair
Eric's observations go a long way in the world of sumo – the dying world of sumo in as far as WWW forum-based coverage goes – stats and all to back his point.
Natsu Basho Summary
Chris Gould
Chris G takes over Lon's slot and will hopefully prove to be a worthy successor to Lon's wonderful pieces these past few years. Have a read and see what you think but with Chris closer than most to sumo, you should get a few interesting insights.
Nagoya Basho 2009 - Ones To Watch
Alexander Herrmann
Nagoya and the oppressive heat of summer are already upon us and so too that means is the Nagoya OTW offering by our very own AH. Perhaps one of the more difficult jobs – predicting a rikishi's performance in an upcoming basho – AH has it down to a tee.
Heya Peek
Chris Gould
Isegahama-beya. The new building in Kinshicho may only have opened in late 2007, but it already plays host to an ozeki and a respected upper-maegashira.
Photo Bonanzas
Chris Gould
SFM's Ed CG puts his increasing camera skills through their paces with joint basho and museum bonanzas. With SFM the only non-Japanese language agency cleared to take images in the Sumo Museum – these are pics (of the Kokugikan's 100 years of history) you will see nowhere else. And, FWIW, the museum now turn to the SFM Ed and E-i-C for advice on exhibits and their labelling!
Sumo Menko
Ryan Laughton
Ryan completes his comprehensive menko database - the first of its kind on the WWW.
Amateur Angles
Howard Gilbert
Howard Gilbert makes a massive effort to cover both the recent Oceania tourney Down Under in Australia (where he took part himself) and also touches upon the latest ISF cancellation of a Sumo World Championship – the 2009 version intended for North Africa.
Kokugi Konnections
Chris Gould
Wicked, wicked, wicked – have a look and see what we mean. Arguably the very best yet!
Let's Hear From You
Ichiro Katsuta
Ichiro Katsuta, born in the 1970s and working in the city, explains how a relatively young Japanese man was converted into a sumo-lover.
Morph Corner
Olivia Nagioff
Morphing into form once more on SFM's hallowed dohyo - another collection of images unique in their ability to change shape, form and the like before 'reappearing' as they started out. An image of sumo unique to SFM.
Readers' Letters
See what one of our readers thought about our last issue – all in, but particularly on the Koten piece by Michiko Fukuda.
SFM Cartoons
Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson
Sit back and enjoy this issue's cartoon bonanza courtesy of the SFM men in Thailand and Malaysia.
Sumo Odds & Ends
One of the saddest parts of SFM for many a year. We will soon be losing one of our main men in form but not in spirit. Lon Howard writes to you all here to explain the situation.

Harumafuji picture show!

Tribute to Azumazeki

In honour of Azumazeki's recent retirement, we have two features: Heya Peek  describes a visit to his stable two years ago and Kokugi Konnections  focuses on key points in his career as Takamiyama and on his retirement from the ring.

Hidenoyama Raigoro

Joe Kuroda
One of Japan’s most popular hot spring areas, Kesennuma, in Miyagi Prefecture (the area known as the land of Rikuzen at the time) was Hidenoyama Raigoro’s birthplace. Born Tatsugoro Kukuta in 1808, he was the fifth son of a farmer...
Read more...

Morph Corner

Olivia Nagioff
- Can a rikishi have too
  much lunch?
- Who's having a ball?
- Who's as sweet as candy?
See more...

Amateur Angles

Howard Gilbert
I had been looking forward to writing this column for two months, as I was going to focus on the 2009 Oceania Sumo Championships held on May 31 on the Gold Coast, Australia. Part of my excitement in writing about this event is that I was involved as an athlete at my first truly overseas international event...   Read more...





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Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director – Japan
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Chris Gould

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Olivia Nagioff

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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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