SOS - Shinjinrui on Sumo Chris Gould Chris sinks his teeth deeper into how sumo can go about pulling in the younger fans in part two of a three-part series. Azumazeki up close and personal Steven Pascal-Joiner / William Titus A wiz with a pen and a wiz with a lens get together with SFM to share their time with Azumazeki Oyakata - Takamiyama as was - with the wider sumo following world. Rikishi of Old Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda takes a detailed look at the life and times of a former yokozuna forgotten by many - Maedayama. Eric Evaluates Eric Blair Eric calls the musubi-no-ichiban kimarite call on nakabi in Kyushu as perhaps only he could. Heya Peek Jeff Kennel First time heya visitor Jeff Kennel wrote about, photographed and even made a video of his time spent at Arashio Beya prior to the Kyushu Basho. All to be found within. SFM Interview Mark Buckton Mark interviews Russian up and comer Wakanoho of Magaki Beya. Photo Bonanzas See behind the scenes at the Kyushu Basho, morning training in Arashio Beya through the eyes of an artist and exactly what the Azumazeki lads had to eat halfway though the July Nagoya Basho. All originals, all seen here and nowhere else, and all for you. Kyushu Basho Summary Lon Howard Lon wraps the Kyushu Basho in Fukuoka 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 eyeing of life down below the salaried ranks. Hatsu Ones To Watch Carolyn Todd Carolyn ponders and puts fingers to keys on the ones to watch come January and the Hatsu Basho. Kimarite Focus Mikko Mattila Mikko's latest clarification of a handful of sumo's kimarite offers unequalled analysis and in depth explanations. Amateur Angles Howard Gilbert Howard looks at makushita tsukedashi and what it means in real terms. Kokugi Konnections Todd Lambert Click on Todd's bimonthly focus on three of the best sumo sites online. Fan Debate Facilitators - Lon Howard / Carolyn Todd Two SFMers talk over the yokozuna benefiting from weak opposition - or not as the case may be. SFM Cartoons Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson In this issue's cartoon bonanza, sit back and sample Stephen's artistic offerings. 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? Starting with issue #10, the SFM staff will reveal a little of their own routes into sumo fandom - starting with Benny Loh. 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.

soon vanished – after about a week. MB: You’ll be wearing a white mawashi soon. How do you feel about that? Expecting it to itch? WT: (grinning and obviously happy that the ‘white’ reference indicates his promotion to sekitori status) It’ll be OK. Give it a week and it won’t be too bad. MB: Going back to your first time in a mawashi at Otake beya, was it embarrassing? WT: Yes, waaaahhh! (he says demonstrating a lack of ‘cover’ and shaking his head) MB: Did your mother or father see any pictures from that time and how did they react? WT: Waaahhh (he says, embarrassed by what is to come next). “It really suits you,” was their main reaction but my father did judo so he understood. My mother just said, “Stop it, come home soon.” MB: Have your parents been to Japan yet? WT: No, not yet. It is too expensive. It costs about 200,000 yen. Too much. MB: Why did you enter Magaki beya? WT – directing his question at the female office staff member: Why did I enter Magaki beya? It was connected to Taiho oyakata wasn’t it? Office staff: Taiho oyakata and our oyakata are friends. They are very close and they worked it out between them for him to enter Magaki. WT: I was there (at Otake beya) for six months and Taiho oyakata really took care of me.

Wakanoho off duty

MB: Before you entered Magaki, did you know anything about the oyakata? (Magaki oyakata was formerly known as Wakanohana (II) – the 56th yokozuna) WT: I knew bits but not a lot. I did see some yokozuna from long ago on TV and they seemed really strong. MB: When you say ‘long ago’ who are you talking about? WT: A long time ago, you know, Takanohana, Wakanohana. Ah, not so long I guess. MB: Akebono? WT: Yeah him too as well as Musashimaru but I only heard about them (didn’t see them).I didn’t see anything of Wakanohana II. After I entered Magaki, that was the first film I saw of him. MB: Nowadays, do you do most of your training here (at Magaki) or do you go out on degeiko? WT: I don’t really do degeiko. We start serious training here after the 21st, - the day the banzuke is released. MB: Who has been your strongest keiko partner to date?

WT: ……… (several seconds of furrowed brow) Roho-zeki. He’s the strongest. MB: You are a previous winner of the jonidan yusho but how does that compare to the moment you realised you’d be promoted to juryo? WT: No comparison. Now (said in English) Now, (and back into Japanese) is the best feeling I’ve had in sumo. Even after this, if I make it to yokozuna, it will be this feeling I enjoy more than anything else. MB: A lot of sekitori talk about the makushita to juryo promotion as the happiest times of their sumo lives. WT: Yeah, Kokkai, Roho. Both said that even compared to sanyaku promotion, making it to juryo was a far happier time. MB: What do you think that is? WT: In juryo all the ‘benefits’ can be enjoyed for the first time. We get to wear white maashi during asageiko, silk shimekomi, kesho mawashi. I think that’s why it’s the happiest time. MB: Your promotion at such a young age will probably lead to Next