SOS - Shinjinrui on Sumo   Chris Gould Wrapping up his look at increasing the popularity of sumo, Chris Gould caps a series the NSK would do well to refer to. Sumo Souvenirs   Mark Buckton Souvenirs are a part of every sport and sumo is no different - or is it? A look at collectibles and the downright trashy, the bona fide versus the unproven. Rikishi of Old   Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda's latest look at times past focuses on former makunouchi man Dewagatake. Eric Evaluates   Eric Blair Eric takes a no-nonsense look at the claims of fixed bouts in the Japanese media. Rikishi Diary   Mark Kent Mark Kent - English pro-wrestler and amateur heavyweight sumotori - takes us through the first month or so of his training and preparation for the various European events lined up in in 2007. Heya Peek   Chris Gould SFM's Chris Gould was in Japan for the Hatsu Basho and popped along to the new Shikoroyama Beya to give SFM an online exclusive peek into sumo's newest heya. SFM Interview   Mark Buckton Mark interviews Mark - Buckton on Kent that is as Mark Kent, the UK's only active heavyweight amateur answers a few questions on his own recent entry into the sport. Photo Bonanzas   Sumo Forum stepped in to take the weight off the shoulders of SFM as far as Hatsu went so we could sit back, relax, enjoy the sumo and take a few more select pics you won't see anywhere else. Hatsu Basho Summary Lon Howard Lon wraps the Hatsu Basho and chucks in a few bits on the rush of henka that threatens to sully the good name of at least one foreign ozeki. Sumo Menko   Ryan Laughton Sumo cards of old brought to life by expert collector Ryan Laughton. None of your BBM here. Haru Ones To Watch Carolyn Todd Carolyn ponders and puts fingers to keys on the ones to watch come March and the Haru Basho. Kimarite Focus   Mikko Mattila Mikko's latest look at sumo's kimarite offers unequalled analysis and in depth explanations. Amateur Angles   Howard Gilbert Howard looks at the 'sumo factory' of lore - Nichidai. Kokugi Konnections Todd Lambert Click on Todd's bimonthly focus on three of the best the WWW has to offer. Fan Debate Facilitator - Carolyn Todd Moti Dichne comes back for more and takes on Bradley Sutton on the subject of 'Modernize the heya - yea or nay?' SFM Cartoons Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson In this issue's cartoon bonanza, sit back and sample Benny's artistic offerings. Sumo Odds & Ends SFM's interactive elements - as always includes Henka Sightings, Elevator Rikishi and Eternal Banzuke! Let's Hear From You What was it that made you a sumo fan? Ryan Laughton - sumo fan and menko expert reveals all. 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 a genuine banzuke.

their college years; however, the legacy of Nichidai during Mr Tanaka’s time is the number of rikishi that have been produced under his guidance. To consider the current strength of Nichidai, we perhaps only need to consider that there are currently 21 rikishi from that school on the banzuke. Seven of these are currently sekitori, including such well-known names as Kotomitsuki, Futeno, Kaiho and Takamisakari. Another five, including Takahama (Hamanishiki), have had experience in juryo or above. Furthermore, the trio of Sakaizawa, Shimoda, and Ichihara, all contemporaries at Nichidai, are in high makushita and seem destined to be future sekitori as well. Such a ratio of sekitori to the number of Nichidai old boys in professional sumo suggests that the school is doing something right in the way it trains its athletes. Perhaps more impressively, there are also ten current oyakata who attended Nichidai. These oyakata have been instrumental in continuing the dynasty of Nichidai talent in ōzumō. Oitekaze, Kise, Irumagawa, Hanaregoma and Onoe stables were all set up by Nichidai men (Daishoyama, Higonoumi, Tochitsukasa, Kaiketsu1 and

Hamanoshima, respectively) and have gone on to nurture the next generation from that school in ōzumō. Beyond the current oyakata, there are other former sekitori who are still involved in sumo in some capacity. Mainoumi is now a television talent and sumo commentator, and disgraced former yokozuna Wajima offers advice to rikishi and amateur athletes alike. Nichidai’s spirit of training the next generation is also strong in amateur sumo. Dewataira, a star in college sumo and a former juryo rikishi, is now one of the coaches at Nichidai, while at high schools and clubs around Japan there are a number of ex-Nichidai men giving instruction. Recently, also, Satomi Ishigaya, a World Champion in women’s competition, has joined the staff of Nichidai while continuing to train there and compete in national and international competitions. Her experience and insight are guiding the next group of female athletes at the university. What then is the secret behind the university’s success? One definite advantage is that it is a private university able to devote funds into its sports programmes and perhaps use that money for scholarships to

attract top pupils; however, almost all of the strong sumo universities in Japan are in the same situation. Certainly the success of Nichidai in amateur sumo competitions lures top athletes to its sumo club, but the large numbers in the club mean that only a few can make it to the top team or achieve national glory. Indeed, the chances of making the top team at another university with fewer sumo club members would seem better. Success begets success, and the attraction of attending Nichidai and the prestige of the sumo club surely does attract a number of interested fee-paying students; however, the relentless attitude to training, the competition within the sumo club’s ranks, and the expert guidance from knowledgeable and experienced coaches turns the already very capable Nichidai recruits into outstanding sumo athletes. Such success and strong fundamental sumo skills then help prepare the cream of the crop for a move into ōzumō, should they so desire. 1 Former Ozeki Kaiketsu is actually a product of Nichidai’s judo club, not the sumo club. Home Print version