Sumo's Foreign InvasionMark Buckton
Sumo - still Japanese or truly International?
Rikishi of Old
Joe Kuroda
A look at a rikishi of yesteryear with Umegatani II our man for June
Heya Peek
John Gunning
John attends asageiko at Takasago-beya to give us the first of his bimonthly looks at sumo's stables
Photo Bonanza
Kurt Easterwood & Quinlan Faris
Kurt & Quin treat us to some of the best sumo pics around - and seen nowhere else
May Basho Review
Lon Howard & John Gunning
Lon gives us his Natsu Basho summary and his take on upset of the tournament while John chips in with his 'gem' of the basho
Lower Division Rikishi
Mikko Mattila
Mikko provides his round up of the boys in Makushita and below at the Natsu Basho
July Basho Forecast
Pierre Wohlleben & Mark Buckton
Pierre predicts the Nagoya Basho banzuke while Mark previews the ones to watch next time out
Sumo 101
Barbara Ann Klein
Rhyme and reason behind the pre-tachiai rituals that mystified us all as beginners
Kimarite Focus
Mikko Mattila
Mikko walks us through A, B & C
Minusha
John McTague
John's unique view of news from outside the dohyo
Las Vegas Jungyo Teaser
Ngozi Robinson
Months away but like kids at Christmas we are still too excited not to mention it
Online Gaming
Moti Dichne
Hear from the founder of Guess the Banzuke (GTB) on exactly what makes it tick
Le Monde Du Sumo
The original team at MDS tell us how it all started
Sumo Mouse
Todd Lambert
Heya Links Galore and a focus on 3
Fan Debate
JR & EB square off: Right or Left - which should Asashoryu use when receiving kensho?
Let's Hear from You
What was it that made you a sumo fan?
Ngozi Asks
Question of the month - What is Sumo?
Sumo Quiz
The Quizmaster
Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho's banzuke
Ngozi Asks
by Yours Truly!
Ngozi’s Grade: B+ (he would have gotten an A- if he had said mawashi instead of loincloth), Very good for a non-fan. Good conversion potential here!
And the response that gave me the biggest laugh of them all…
Naked fat men rolling around on a mat in a ring.
- O.W.P., a professor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ngozi’s Grade: F, whether O.W.P’s secret fantasy or real opinion, what does it matter when you’re too busy laughing? Sadly, though, I must face the fact that she will probably never become a fan :(
That's it for this issue. See you in July!
Home
Ha,ha…what is sumo…uh…it’s very popular in Japan. Fat guys – hee, hee – pound against each other, try to knock each other out the ring or knock the other guy off his feet…er…very “honorable “ sport.
- K.D.C., a student from Mound, Minnesota
Ngozi’s Grade: B- not bad, though his constant giggling and the way he used his hands to put “honorable” in quotes as he spoke make the odds he can become a sumo fan low.
… a type of wrestling (that) originated in Asia. Two HUGE men go at each other, in an attempt to make the other lose balance and fall out of the ring, across red the line.
- S.A.M., a Legal Assistant from Washington, D.C.
Ngozi’s Grade: hmm, C- rikishi such as Ama are
actually winning regularly now in the sport’s top division so we can’t say sumo is all about the big men anymore, and the red line is used in those ‘play’ sumo rings that you rent out with the inflatable suits. Even so, she had some enthusiasm, so perhaps if exposed to the real thing…
Sumo wrestling originated in Japan and is still a highly popular sport. Actually I believe the only sport where being overweight is mandatory.
- L.A.P. a mailman from Washington, DC
Ngozi’s Grade: C+, but it made me laugh!
Sumo wrestling is an age-old Japanese contest of strength, speed, and balance. Two opponents face in a ring, wearing only something resembling a loincloth. The objective is to push, press, and/or lift the other to get them off balance such that they might step or fall out of the ring. Generally speaking, the opponent with more mass has the advantage.
- E.F.R. An Investment Portfolio Manager from New York City, New York
