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.

media pressure. How do you feel about that? WT. (There is) no pressure yet. Not at all – yet. Actually, no, there is some but it will really start from now (the now in English again). MB: Did you study English in school? WT: (all in Japanese) A long time ago I spoke English. Now I want to speak English but I live in a Japanese-only society so I think I’ll make mistakes if I use English. MB: You mean (you’d) mix English and Japanese? WT: Yes, mix mix (in English). Even if I want to use an English word, a Japanese word will come out. If I want to say ‘hello’ I will end up saying ‘konnichiwa’ MB: In the heya, all the rikishi and oyakata are Japanese so…… WT: Yeah, in all heya now the limit is one foreign rikishi. Everywhere. MB: What do you think about that rule? (limiting non-Japanese to one per heya) WT: Recently it seems sumo has become a lot stricter. We have to use geta, clean a lot, cook a lot. Senior rikishi give us (referring to himself as a junior) a hard time (amusing gestures of anideshi accompany this next part) “Do this, this, this, this” they say. MB: That’s all over now – for yourself at least. WT: Yeah, now it’s all different. (lots of laughter) MB: Let me ask you a question sent in by an SFM reader – Who will get the job of (Wakanoho’s) tsukebito?

WT: Ah, the day after tomorrow the oyakata will come here and he will choose somebody to start on Sunday. MB: So it isn’t your own choice? WT: He’ll ask me and I can say who I want but it is the oyakata’s choice. MB: Time for revenge? WT: (laughs again) Yeah, I’ll choose the person who treated me the worst. Nah, seriously, everyone has been great to me. Since I entered Magaki, I’ve not really had any problems. Everyone has been great. MB: Who are you closest to in sumo? Who would you call your best friend? WT: Roho-zeki. Hakurozan, Kokkai, Baruto. MB: Did you ever visit Baruto’s old place (Mihogaseki Beya) – the nearest stable to Magaki still in operation? WT: I’ve done keiko with him once at the big session. What is it called? MB: Souken? The yokozuna Souken? WT: That’s it. Also before the basho, and in the basho I lost a makushita play-off to Baruto. MB: What did that defeat feel like? WT: I was sad but you know….. I was a new makushita guy and Baruto is now already close to the sanyaku level. (NB: Baruto was in makushita as a result of a basho spent on the sidelines due to appendicitis and the basho after his makushita win he went 15-0 in juryo) MB: How do you like to spend your

free time? WT: I like Disneyland. MB: Have you been to Disney Sea? WT: No, only Disneyland. It’s really interesting. Also I like the parks (in English) near here. MB: What about night time? I hear you do a lot of weight training at night. WT: Yes, at a gym  …………. in ………. * MB: I understand Asasekiryu-zeki of Takasago beya goes there? WT: Yeah, that’s right. Asashoryu too. Musoyama comes. Everybody. MB: Musoyama? The former ozeki? WT: Yes, he does a lot of training. His arms are really big. It would have been great to go against him but it’s too late now. He’s really strong. He is the one I really wanted to fight but can’t now. I’d like to fight Kaio too. MB: If you get up to makuuchi quickly you’ll be able to go against Kaio of course. WT: Yeah, (grinning)………who knows? He is so strong (gestures). MB: Your shikona – Wakanoho – where did that come from? WT: The ‘Wakano’ comes from my own oyakata. The ‘ho’ comes from Taiho – the same ‘ho’. The * After a lot of thought, SFM has removed these names to respect the privacy of those rikishi and others attending said gym. Next